The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-08-14
FLOODS IN. new JERSEY,
Many Cities and Villages Dam
aged by Raging Waters.
Seven Dams Burst and Sweep
Away Houses and Bridges.

The food gates were lifted during the late
heavy rain in New Jersey, and, since the
Johnstown disaster was fresh in the minds
Of all, it would be hard to gauge the amount
of terror that existed in some parts of that
State for few hours. The streams were
already running full, and succession of
deluging showers in the afternoon and
fall was especially heavy on the Orange
Mountains, and the result was that cities
like Newark, Plainfield and Elizabeth on the
low land which received the mountains s
streams suffered from floods. Bridges, dams
and houses were washed away, trains stalled,
and other damage done.
The greatest flood Plainfeld, N. j., has
ever known followed this heavy downpour
of rain, and wash-outs and broken dams
were the result. At o'clock Codington's
dam, on Stony Brook, gave way, and the
large body Of water thus freed carried
away Cedingtons icehouse and threatened
the Green Valley Mills with destruction.
The damage along the course Of this stream
was heavy, for many barns and other build
ings we're washed away.
At 4:30 o'clock the great dam at Feltvllle
gave way, and the rush of tho water down
the valley proved too much for the little
part Of it made its way to Cedar Brook. This
brook flows through the choicest resident
portion of Plainfeld, and the elegant houses
there were badly damaged. An urea in the
town covering three square miles was entire
ly submerged.
At $40 Tiers dam in Green Brook gave
way, precipitating a great body Of water
through the center Of the town, This brook
divides the two counties of Somerset and
1rsn and ItyIo oh 10
is built entirely over. When the water, in a
great torrent, rushed down the stream and
found its way blocked by buildings it turned
into the street. Somerset street became
raging food, and where the brook was
bridged the street was washed out badly.
Many small wooden buildings were washed
away and demolished.
Several houses situated along the brook
were flooded and the inhabitants compelled
to move in short order. Trenches mill and
carriage factory were threatened with des-
truction. All the cellars and first floors Of
the stores in Somerset street were flooded and
the damage to property was great.
Most of the houses were occupied when the
&. water came rushing down, and the greatest
alarm prevailed among the occupants, who
felt sure that the fate Of the people of Johns
screams of the women could be heard above
the noise Of the torrents, and scenes such as
have never been witnessed in that part Of the
country before were enacted.
So far as known, at least seven dams were
carried away. The last one to 60 was that
near Cadmus's mill below Plainfeld. The
= mill was reported to be wrecked.
Bloomfield, N. j., especially its business
centre. is wreck from the great food. The
ware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad
Depot, has given way and the land for two
miles around was submerged. Stores and
residences were flooded and thousands of dol
Lars worth Of property destroyed. John P.
Scherf, druggist, lost $4,000 worth Of drugs
and other erticles; Robert M. Stiles, feed
merchant is also heavy loser, while nearly
all on the north side Of Glenwood avenue
have lost from $500 upward each. One or
two lives were reported lost.
The breaking Of Fritz's Dam on Parrow
Brook near Orange, flooded and entirely de-
stroyed Eppley's Park, which was recently
laid out at cost Of $4,000. The damage in
Essex County will amount to over 500, 600.
Reports from Morris County intInated that
even greater damage has been done there.
The worst effects Of the storm were felt in
towns and villages lying at their eastern
base All the ponds and brooks on the
mountains contained moro water than
usual at this time Of the year be-
cause Of the unprecedented rains Of
the past few weeks. This downpour
overaowed them and atone time early in the
evening disasters were feared in Milburn,
Moplewood, Wyoming and South Orange as
the reservoir Of the Orange Water Works
was unusually full, and it was feared it would
burst. In this reservoir the waters Of several
mountain streams are damned up for future
use, as drink water in Orange East Orange,
West Orange and South Orange. Ii is 800
feet above high water mark, and about two
miles and half west of South Orange, the
elevation Of which Is about IFS feet.
In South Orange several buildings, includ-
tnS the postofhce, were carried away, and
$50 barrels Of flour were washed out
the water was up to the second-story
windows, and great damage has been done
to the stock in the numerous hat factories
there. People were compelled to paddle
around On p1anks and to swim in order to
reach places of safety on high ground.
Rutherford, N. j., was flooded badly and
large portions Of three of the prominent
streets were washed out entirely.
Several prominent streets at Callstadt,
n. j. were turned into millraces and will be
impossible until repaired Large portions Of
the sidewalks We're carried away. Passaic
also came in for her share of the cloudburst.
At Hackensack many Of tho prominent
thorSughfares were entirely washed out and.
made impossible. The Hackensack River
had risen considerably and many Of the cell
lars in the lower portion Of the town were
flooded.
:, The pretty villageo of Ridgewood Park Jared
badly. The finest streets in the town were
totally ruined by the torrents. Cellars were
flooded and great holes and bitches made in
several private gardens. The storm, on the
whole, was the heaviest that has visited those
points for twelve years. i
Landslides and washouts occurred on near
ly all tho main railroads in New Jersey and
the movement of trains was stopped.
TM0 MuPnEREPS uAMnEn