The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-09-05
Many FIetcher-Avenue Residents
Found the Water Surrounding
Their Beds Yesterday Morning.
BUSINESS HOUSE LOSSES
sTREET-CAR SERVICE on SEVERAL
LINES WAS CUT OFF For HOURS.
The Tunnel Was Fil1ed-L. s. Ayres &
Co. Will Probably Lose $1,000
Character of the Storm.


yesterday morning. most certainly broke
the city record, almost seven inches of
water falling in less than ten hours. The
rain came up suddenly about O'Clock Tues
day night, although the real downpour did
not commence until after midnight, and
the unusual amount of water mostly fell to
Nthe earth between that time and clock
The rain was without doubt the heaviest
that ever fell In this vicinity. 1t was en-
tirely local, little no rain falling twenty
miles from the city. BY o'clock yesterday
morning many streets were under water. as
related in the Journal extra at $50. The
streets and thoroughfares presented much
the appearance of a Venice. and it would
have been possible to go through many
parts Of the city through streets and al
leys in boats at 5 o'clock. There were few
cellars in any portion Of the city which
did not receive at least a portion of the
seven inches of rain which fell, and in
parts Of the city the cellars were not
sufficiently large TO swallow up all the
water apportioned out to that particular
neighborhood, and as consequence the
lower floors cf such houses were completely
flooded. Fletcher avenue, near Pine street.
was one such locality. and Gresham and
Iowa streets were not far behind. In these
streets, especially, did the inmates of the
houses suffer, and great deal of damage
was done to carpets and household goods.
In several instances the occupants Of the
houses were in actual danger for a time,
but all were rescued without loss or acci-
dent of particularly serious nature.
The downtown business houses also came
In for their share of the loss. Washington
street was. during the early morning hours,
rushing river and the easements of
many of the business houses were
filled with several feet of water,
doing great damage to the goods which
were stored there. number of the build
ings in the wholesale district were also
flooded most Of the damage in that part
being due TO the water in the main sewers
backing up and forcing the water through
the private connections in the Easements.
Several of these buildings had special man.
holes through which waste water, which
might be used in cleansing the Easements,
might escape. and through these manholes
great volumes of muddy water was forced
into the buildings, aiding in the 'destruc-
ton.
All the streets of the city were flooded,
but the greatest volume of water was in
the streets in the vicinity of Pogues run,
whose reputation in times Of heavy rain
falls is wei, known. Yesterday was no
exception, and before o'clock there were
from 3 TO feet OF water In all the streets
near that turbulent stream. Washington
| street, at the intersection of the stream,
| was swirling river, and the street cars
from Irvington and other points east were
| the morning. The tunnel under the Union
Station was also filled to the brim with
noon yesterday before the street cars for
! the south and west could make their regu-
lar trips. Everything IN the vicinity of the
| time. The railroad offices and freight
| houses in the vicinity of the viaduct were
| completely surrounded until late in the
| morning.
LAKES INSTEAD OF YARDS.
| But the floods were not confined to the
central part of the city, for the streets
and yards throughout the city. which had
never before been submerged, were COM
pletely hidden from sight by muddy water.
Those persons who were blessed with the
ability to sleep through the terrific rain
storm arose to look out of their windows
at real lakes in their own yards and when
| they made further investigation they found
that their cisterns. which had been for the
most part empty. were overfiowing. 1t was
a common sight over the city. throughout
trying to drain his cellar with small
hand pump. Many calls were sent to the
1re department Tor the steam IRE engines
to give assistance. but only in the more
urgent cases were responses made.
The street car system was badly inter-
fered with by the food. and great many
| work early in the morning found it impos-
| sibie to get cars to their destinations, es-
pecially those who were compelled TO cross
The cars at Mapleton were stopped on ac-
count of a dangerous washout under the
track, and numerous other like Instances
/ were reported.
The storm itself was the most severe ex-
perienced in this section for years For a
falling, but instead millions of steady
streams of water The water fell
a. great rea' height after striking the pavement,
making almost a solid volume Of water
near the earth. There was little wind ac-
iyi tireIy Unexpected, ,s, as at O'Clock Tuesday
night there was no sign or rain in the
vicinity. The authorities at the local
weather. They state that the storm was
| phenomenal in that 1t did not come toward
city from any rsey above ba cv
The rain was local. shown by the fact
| that there was no rain at Louisville. only
III. sixty-four hundredths at st. Louis.
trace at Cairo and 81 inches in this city.
THE HEAVIEST LOSS.
The greatest financial loss was expert
enced by the business firms on Washington
street. between Pennsylvania and Illinois
streets The sewer connections between
many of the buildings became flooded and
the water poured through them into the
Easements of the buildings The most DAM
age was done in the buildings on the south
side of the street. The amount OF damage
done cannot be estimated, as few Of the
firms were able yesterday TO say what their
losses would be, but stated in the evening
that the damage done was much greater
than they had thought earlier In the day.
At first they supposed their goods were
only water-soaked, but later, upon making
a closer examination or the damaged stock.
they ascertained that the water which had
been washed in through the sewer connec-
tions had carried with 1t a large amount
of dirt which will cause much more of a
less than at first considered. l.. S. Ayres
x Co. are perhaps the heaviest losers and
ii is probable that 5000 will barely cover
their loss. They had large amount Of
fancy dress goods stored in the basement OF
their building, and although placed on
shelves somewhat raised from the ground
the water standing from one TO three feet
deep in the basement. soaked large guam
tity OF the goods. The Bowen-Merrill Com
pany viii probably be the next heaviest
in, great reaus from the coarsest wrapping
paper to the finest writing tablets is stored
there. a great deal of IL lying fiat On
the floor OF the basement. There was
about six inches OF water on the floor
for time. ls4Ee stock OF