Morning journal and courier., 1891-01-23
THE BIG DAM SUCCUMBs.

The damage done Will count up greater
than any disaster which has fallen upon |
this community for great many years. |
The most serious was the damage done by
washing away between $50 and 200 feet
from the east end of the big dam across
the Housatonic. This happened between
Z and 8 o'clock this evening; the volume of
water coming down the river then was be-
yond description. That the entire dam
did not give way is almost miracle. And
it is thought the remainder, some 900 feet,
will stand, though there is still an enor
nous pressure brought to bear. Provided
there is no further damage done to the
structure, it is estimated that it will cost
800, 900 to make the necessary repairs.
This is the first misfortune of the kind
it was built in 1870 The recent ice flood
was severe test for it's powers of resist
ance and probably weakened it somewhat.
The work of repairing it will be an expen-
sive and tedious undertaking. The dam is
nearly twenty-five feet in height and was
supposed to be impregnable. The loss will
fall upon the Ousatonic Water company,
which is composed of the leading men Of
the place, including Edward N. Shelton,
David Plumb, G. II. Nettleton, "A. B. Ruggles
and others.
The water rose with alarming quickness
and reached height about 8 o'clock that
had not been reached before in many years.
Fears were entertained regarding the safe
ham and Shelton, but that old landmark,
which has caused so much worry in times
gone by, has not been apparently injured.
The New Haven and Derby railroad e1-
perienced more trouble. The company
had been making active efforts to repair
the damage done their long bridge across
the Housatonic river by the last ice flood.
A piledriver was brought up the river and
put into operation, but this as well as
about six hundred feet of the trestle went
down the river together. The stone bridge
over the bed of the river was still standing
at 10 o'clock, but doubts were expressed if
it would be in it's usual place this morning.
Trains ran all wrong. They could only
reach Derby from New Haven, as the tres
tie bridge across the meadows to Birming
ham was submerged under several feet of
water. Conductor Bradley's train is stalled
between Birmingham and Ansonia, the
water on the track being of such depth
as to extinguish the fire Of the engine
The meadows were one vast lake and
water came up nearly to the flooring of
the Birmingham railroad station. Some
of the houses at the narrows were entirely
surrounded by the rapidly rising water
and women stood in the doorways fran
tically waving their hands and calling
for assistance. In many cases they were
removed to places of safety in boats.
The bridge on the Derby railroad near
Ansonia has been materially weakened it
is feared. The last train this evening for
Navr 1ofk Gov hnf0
o'clock from Derby and to reach it num-
Der of passengers in Birmingham had
quite an exciting time. To get to Derby
they either had to cross the causeway
which was submerged or walk over the
trestle bridge which by this time had
reached nearly the same condition. They
were we'll known New Haven people,
They had gotten part way when one Of
them turned back afraid of the rising
foods, but two continued crossing and
reached the Derby side just as the water
began to dash over the ties The train did
not leave the station before the water had
risen upon the. track, threatening to ex-
| tinguish the fires.
Below Point of Rocks serious washout
on the Naugatuck road is reported. The
| water is said to have risen six inches in
seven minutes. About 10 o'clock the wa
ter had fallen foot.
THE SITUATION THREATENING
| Fears Entertained that the Whole o
the HousatOn1c Dam Will Go, a
Well as Several More Brfdges-Th,
Water Still Rising.
BIRMINGHAM, Jan. 22.-2:30 a. NTH
situation grows rapidly more threatening
The dam crumbles away all the time and i
is feared now the entire structure will b.
demolished. There are few bridges in thi
vicinity now considered trustworthy. Tn
Huntington bridge has been abandoned b,
even foot-passengers, and the extension
railroad bridge, the iron span over the be-
of the river, will probably be gone b.
morning. The railroad bridge near Anso
mia is also in critical condition. There
"water, water everywhere" and lots NOR
coming. The Tingue skating rink is nov
more than two-thirds under water. Tn
paper mill gong sounded the alarm whel
the dam first broke away and continues
blowing for considerable time. Many nar
row escapes from drowning are reporte'
and some fatal cases are feared. The tota
damage by the flood in this vicinity vii
| amount to several hundred thousand dol
lars.
Washouts Elsewhere.
wASHOUT ON THE CANAL RAILROAD.
A serious washout occurred on tn
Northampton division of the Consolidate
read yesterday near Pennington. Abou
thirty feet of embankment was washe
away and it was impossible to run train
through all right A transfer of passen
gers was made at the place of the washou
and the train due here at 8 o'clock arrive
past II o'clock.
Trains on the other divisions had bette
luck, the "Gilt Edge" on the Shore Lin
coming in only seven minutes late. Wash
outs also occurred on the New Englan
division. One of most serious natur
took place near Plainfeld
More Damage Done.
THE HEAVY RAIN YESTERDAY CAUSES
wAsHoUT AT sPRINGFIELD-TRAINs DE
LAYED-MoRE TROUBLE AMONG TELE
PHONE WIRES.
The heavy downpour of rain yesterda,
caused bad washout on the railroad a
Springfield which delayed trains consider
ably. The evening train due hereat 80
did not arrive until 9:20 and other train
each way between here and Boston wer
correspondingly delayed.
The Southern New England telephon
wires are not all working yet, althoug
every exertion has been made. There i
no communication with Branford yet an
East Haven is yet shut off from Ne,
Haven. The high winds yesterday aggrs
waited the troubles with the wires in thi
city causing further mingling of tele
phone and electric light wires. The South
ern New England company will not res
until all its local wires are of copper. A
present about fve-sixths of the New Havel
telephone wires are copper.
Il The Flood in Seymour.
SEYMOUR, Jan. 22.-The great raj
storm which prevailed to-day has cause
the largest flood known in many year.
The Naugatuck river is rushing torrent
Broad street is submerged and man
houses flooded.
Bridge Carried Away.