The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-08-07
INUNDATED WITH CROTON.
SHOPPERS DRIVEN OUT OF THE BASE
MENT OF MACY'S ANNEX.

Twelve.inch Main Had Broken IN the
Excavation Outside-Fires Put Out, Ele.
vators Stopped-A Forty.foot Geyser In
tho street and = Great Scurrying.
Awhistling cnrtman dumped load Of rough
stone. at 1886 o'clock yesterday afternoon. on
the verge OF the excavation in front Of Mays
uncomrleted annex, on the Thirteenth street
side OF the building so familiar TO shopkeep-
ers. Ono OF the big Jagged pieces OF stone fell
into the great hole which extends from the
curbstone nearly to the middle OF the street,
and is to be used for vault.
Tho stone struck the twelve-inch water main
that had been uncovered by the vault dlegers.
1t knocked hole as big rs mans fat in the
cast-iron pipe. Instantly a geyser Of Croton
Kissed forty feet skyward, higher thun tho
roofs Of some OF the houses around.
This was great surprise to the whistling
cartman. who ceased whistlipg and mado
fruitless effort to dodge the biggest shower
bath on record hereabout. He and his horse
were drenched. The Sixth avenue end OF tho
block between Filth and Sixth avenues be-
came damned with people In less than
half minute. They viewed the show with
manifestations OF pleasure. Contractor A. A.
Andruss and his mon. who are putting up the
ting of. the dclmGe. The tower Of water COL
lhpF6u III 1858 tnnn TWO minutes.
The water. exert ny u pressure OF 45 pounds
TO the square inch. soon tore the little hole
into such q big one that whole section OF
shot from the broken ends OF the main and
met in watery conflict. boiling. hubblne. seetl-
ton. The rushing volume from one end came
that from tho other flowed from the Fifth
This contractors men were not, the only
persons dseply eoneerne;ai, In the flood;
il would. take the water. rushing
undats at u tie s to
Then he rushed to Telephone ns and called up
messer ger to the shops.
breas in N VEST * @ Hs str"et I They
were found. and fourteen Of them came tear
Ing down town IL two wagons, James O'Con;;
Daniel Downing and his he pers were in an.th-
or It was amad race down Sixth avenue, The
rang bells. beat ripes, and made folks think
tina! they were connerted with the Fire De.
cot 81 the Tqf ss
ings less than block behind. Roth horses
were fecked with foam. aud steamirR and
The mon looked at tho brenk a moment and
then shut on the gates at the sixth and Filth
ceased. AMI tie murky waters in the eXcava-
ton became still
While Iii. men from the repair shops were
flying southwark the water from the Lig. hole.
flowing through into the basement OF Macys:
All the available force OF boys Were called
down into the three departments below tho leve!
OF the sidewalk to help put things in dry
places: Pnckages awaiting delivery were
was put ON shelves. and things IN the house,
furnishing department were piled on tables
and carried up stairs.
Before this work was begun the shoppers
They Went, but they were so filled with curl
Osity that they crowded around the stairways
and peoped down. blocking business on the
first floor. Curtains were spread across the
tor, of the stairways. and the blockade was
The water ran into tho vaults on the Thir-
teenth street side OF the building. flooding
them to depth OF six feet and putting out the
under he, basement floors and msde Sis
pond OF the basement In some places the
floors were covered six inches and in others
i ~ inches; The water alsS got imto
aaan, ' Woe S"sf. soFea nag
force 81 men. girls. and BOYS put the
Sunerintendent liidgwny tried to get a Fire
nsnartmsnt engine to he ella pn H out ths
legally, do anything for him. Then he got
bucket brigade. VIII hich did NOZZLE WORK at the
Thirteenth street basement entrance from S
ocNGk Until midnight Sheppssss will be able
lille actual damage to the basement. 1t was
were not delivered because OF the confusion
resulting from the invasion OF water.