The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1896-03-02
big DANAGE by FLOODS.
Many Bridges Washed Away by
the Rushing Waters,
COPPER LINE DAM BREAKS LOOSE,

Causing the Greatest Flood Ever Known
in the History of BristoI--Inhabitants
Forced to Flee from Their Homes-The
Floods in New York state.
HARTFORD, March 2.--The great rain
storm which was in progress all day Sat
urday, Saturday night and yesterday
caused the greatest damage to property
throughout the state known in twenty
years. Many serious accidents, washouts
and wrecks are reported The Connecti-
cut river is swollen until it has reached a
point three times greater than its normal
proportions The big iron bridge at Mid
dletown was in great danger all the after
noon, and a portion of the false work was
swept away, but the main structure is
still intact.
The bursting of the old copper mine
dam in the town of Bristol yesterday
caused the greatest food ever known in
that section, and it is estimated the dam
age will reach over 100000 from this
alone. The town of Bristol was a heavy
sufferer during the storm of n few weeks
ago, when six men lost their lives, but the
waste of waters before daylight yesterday
morning eclipses all previous records. The
heavy rain and melted snow on the noun
tains swelled the basin of the old copper
mine dam in Whiggsville, the northern
section of this town, until it burst, tearing
away 100 feet wide in the granite masonry
and letting volume of water covering
seventy-fiye acres and forty feet high, into
the river below, which itself was a roar
ing torrent. The break occurred about 2
o'clock.
The great body Of water tore down the
valley with a roar that was heard above
the noise of the storm for miles away. For
the first two miles there were no build
ings near the river, and the water poured
out on the marshes and plains At Forest
vile, four miles below, people living near
the river were obliged to abandon their
residences, and the water broke into the
lower stories in many cases before the in
mates were out of bed. The roar of the
flood aroused families for miles around,
and many people whose houses the flood
had not reached packed up What effects
they could, in anticipation of being sum-
| marily evicted.
The highway bridges on nearly all roads
crossing the Pequaback were swept away
Ten in all have gone out and others are
badly damaged. The streets of Bristol
and the village of Forestville were badly
washed in many places The New Eng
land roadbed was undermined in many
places, and wrecking crews were at work
all day 1t is estimated that the town Of
Bristol will lose from $50, 900 to S75, 900 by
| damage to the bridges and roads
A bad freight wreck occurred near For
restville. The engine of special freight
ran into a washout and was capszed
Seven cars were smashed to atoms and one
of the trainmen badly injured.
The storm in Winsted and other section.
of Litchfeld county was very severe. The
Philadelphia, Reading and New England
railroad tracks are under water in many
places, and traffic has been suspended
The loss in Litchileld county alone is esti
mated at nearly 100000.
At Brooklyn a well known mill owner
lost his life. and several accidents are re
ported from many sections