The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-02-07
PAWTUXET VALLEY.
Yesterdays Storm the Most Severe
For Eleven Years.
Brooks Much Swollen and the River Rose
Rapidly.

The storm which visited the Pawtuxet
Valley yesterday was the most severe
since that of 1885, when many OF the
bridges were carried away and miles of
country inundated by the freshet which
ii caused. Yesterdays storm was not
severe until noon, commencing with a
fine rain which speedily melted the snow
and ice. Just before IL o'clock the rain
fall became heavier and In an hour the
rain was falling in torrents. The brooks
were soon changed into small rivers and
the water in the Pawtuxet rose rapidly.
The Lippitt brook soon overlooked Its
banks and Wakefield street and the land
adjacent to it resembles a lake. The house
occupied by Owen McShane was COM
pletely surrounded by the water which
reached the first floor and the occupants
were obliged to vacate the house. The
Quidneck brook also became a raging tor
rent but did no damage. At six o'clock
the Lippitt brook had risen to an unpre-
cedented height and was flowing across
the main street near the Clyde depot.
The water in the river had risen over 10
inches. The streets, especially those on
the hills were badly washed and quilted,
the water bringing down the dirt from
them and ~depositing IL on the lower
streets. High street and Fairview avenue in
Phenix, Wakefield street in Lippitt, N
the Pike road at Crompton were badly
damaged while Allen street, near the Arctic
depot, was washed and quilted 20 as to
render 1t impossible. The electric cars
ran on time until three O'Clock, when
the dirt began to wash on the tracks.
The first accident occurred at Liippitt at
$3.50 o'clock when the car from Fiskville
ran of the track near Carroll's black
smith shop. Word was sent to the barn
and a wrecking car in charge of Superin-
tendent Goodwin was brought to the
scene of the accident, and the car was
replaced on the rails. In a short time
another car jumped the track on Allen
street, and from that time until Z o'clock
the wrecking gang had their hands full
in replacing the cars on the track, at ore
time four being deraiied. The Washing
ton car was uunable to reach either Wash
ington or R~iverpoint and was run be-
tween Arctic Center and Anthony until
8 O'Clock, when 1t managed to reach the
car shed at Clyde.
About s O'Clock Superintendent Good
win started out a car furnished with
wrecking gear and carrying q gang OF
shovelers, and after several hours hard
work managed to place the track in a
passable condition. Councilman A. W.
knight put several teams ut work in the
afternoon filling the washouts in the prin-
cipsl streets, and barricades and lanterns
were placed around the dangerous places
which II was not possible to repair. Some
difficulty was experienced with the local
telephone wires but not as much as might
have been expected.
The tracks OF the New York, New Haven
&..Hartford railroad were washed out in
some places but not enough to cause a
serious delay OF traffic.
PHENIX.
John Brown, who has for many years
had charge of the slashers at the Lippitt
mill is confined TO the house by sick
ness. His place Is being filed by his son,
Charles Brown.
On account of the storm there was but
one session of the public schools yester-
day.
McGregor Post meets in q. A. II. Hall
this evening.
The II. W. Sewing Circle will hold a
social in G. A. X. Hall tomorrw evening.
for the past W days have raised the
water in the river over Is inches.
The funeral OF Horace Lawton, for many
years a resident Of this palce, was solemn
lied at the residence of his uncle. Arnold
Lawton, at Biscuit Hill, Foster. vester-
day, Rev. Warren Moon, off cia ing.
The intermept was at Greenwood Ceme-
terry, on Phenix hill.
One of the electro cars in charge of
conductor Franklin was d~erailed by the
SAND which had washed on the tracks,
near C~arroll's blacksmith shop, yesterday
afternoon. A wrecking car was sent
from the car shed and the car was soon
replaced on the rail.
The Lippit; brook is higher than il has
been since the freshet 10 years ago this
month.
The Colombian Whist Club did not
meet last evening OF account of the
storm.
The electric lights on High street were
not burning last evening on account of the
brea king OF the wires.
ARKWRIGHT.
What is evidently the first step toward
the erection Of the new mill here is the
proposed Strengthening of the main street
between what 4. known as saltwater,
near the residence Of Mrs. Christopher
Greene, n the Arkwright store. The
present road Will be closed and a new
one constructed to the north OF the pres
ent one and the land between the new
road and the river will probably be util-
izeo.as the site OF the new mill The work
on the read will probably be commenced
early in the spring.
PONTIAC.
The primary and intermediate schools
closed today for a weeks vacation. The
attendance during the past term has been
good ana many of the pupils did not
miss a session. In the primary depart
ment, taught by Miss Emma Il. A. Pfan-
ner, 20 scholars were registered with an
average daily attendance of 81. Lille