Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-23

Damage Caused In New England and on the
Coast.

Damage Caused I'm New England and on the
Coast.
terrific rain storm swept over the Wyoming
valley yesterday morning. continuing until
p. m. and working extensive damage in the low
lying districts. Over one third of Wilkesbarre
was under water and traffic was completely
suspended on the Scott street extension Of the
suburban street railway. Along Canal and
North Washington streets every cellar was
flooded to the first floor. The steam heating
plant was completely submerged.
The gorge in the Susquehanna extends from
Tunkhannock to Nanticoke, distance of thirty
seven miles, and it is feared that the storm may
cause the river to back up and flood the valley
from end to end.
The combination Of heavy fall Of rain, a
very high tide and a strong wind blowing the
water in from the sound caused the Housa-
tonic and Naugatuck rivers to rise yesterday
fourteen feet
Heavy freshets have occurred in western
New York, washing away the bridges. Two
ladies and team were swept down with a
bridge and drowned.
The rain which fell Tuesday night and until
O'Clock yesterday afternoon has done consid-
cradle damage in western Massachusetts,. The
river rose SIX feet and many houses and barns
and cellars along the banks are flooded. The
main road to Monsoon is two feet under water
and packed with ice cakes. mile east of the
village the road to Springfield is under water,
and the floating ice has cut off telephone poles
and dropped them across the highway.
At Great Darlington, Mass, in cellars the
water rose TO the level of the sidewalks pour
ing ont through the gratings into the street.
The Housatonic track at the lower end of the
village was submerged to depth of foot and
the Middle road to Sheffield was covered with
several feet of water.
At Three Rivers, Vt, it was feared that the
bridge Of the New London Northern railroad
might be carried away. Two miles east Of the
village the tracks of the Boston and Albany
Many cellars were flooded and the water was
five feet deep in the basement Of the Union pas
senger station. Roads there we're badly washed
and the dam at the reservoir of the Palmer
Water Company came near being washed out
There was a washout on the New London
Northern road. mile north of Palmer, Mass,
but it was discovered in time to prevent accl-
dents. One man had a narrow escape from
drowning while trying to wade through Com
mercial street, being rescued just as the water
was taking him off his feet.
Great loads of ice are filling the rivers at
Waterbury, Conn.,, the storm increases and the
water is rising continually. Nearly fifty mer-
chants are suffering from flooded cellars and
the damage to stocks will aggregate $1,000.
Several factories have been obliged to stop
tnen power on account OF nigh water.
The rain caused very high water and some
serious damage in the vicinity of Poughkeepsie.
A dam at Hibernia on Mapping creek broke at
Of clock. adding the water Of a large pond to
the already swollen stream. The rush of ice
and water struck the large iron bridge on the
Central New England and Western railroad
just below the dam and moved it several feet
out Of line, stopping trains. An iron highway
bridge was destroyed and part of the mill at
Hibernia torn away. At Pleasant Valley few
miles below, the lower floor of the cotton mill
was flooded. The people Of the village were
driven into the second stories Of their houses
and were only able to get about in boats but
no property was carried away. It is feared
that injury may be done further down the
creek. Two or three bridges were carried away
on the New York and Massachusetts, railroad
near Pine Plains.
Yesterday the ice in Speedwell lake, New
Jersey, began to break up. A great volume of
water swept over the dam, and in a short time
break was made. A little later the dam gave
formerly owned by Stephen Van, the builder
of the first steam vessel to cross the Atlantic
In this building Morse's telegraph instrument
was stationed when the first message over a
telegraph wire was sent to Boston in 1885. The
building was an antiquated wooden structure.
Within the last few years many New Workers
have endeavored to purchase it on account of
its historical associations
The ice and wreckage from Speedwell lake
rushed into Lake Pocahontas, and few min
utes later had broken the dam at the lower end
and inundated the low-lying district Of Morris
town. Many horses and cattle were drowned
and two-score houses we're half submerged
The occupants Of the houses were taken out in