The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-03-05
RIVERS OUT OF BANK AS A RE
SUIT OF THE RECENT
HEAVY RAINS.
A Dam GIVES WAY NEAR BRISTOL.
The Released Water Tore Down the
Valley, Sweeping Everything In
It's Course-Ten Bridges
Were Washed Away.

rainstOrm which was in progress all day
Saturday and Saturday night and today
caused the greatest damage to property
throughout the State known in 20 years.
Many serious accidents, washouts and
wrecks are reported. The Connecticut
river was swollen until it reached
point three times greater than its nor
NAL proportions. The big iron bridge
at Middlestown was in great danger all
afternoon and 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 this
morning caused the greatest flood ever
known in that section. People living
along the banks of the Pequaback river
were obliged to leave their homes, and
many lost everything they possessed.
Ten highway bridges across the river
were swept away and the tracks of the
New England railroad were washed out
in many places. A bad freight wreck
occurred early this morning near Forest
vile. The engine of a special freight
ran into the washout and was capsized.
Seven cars were smashed to atoms and
one of the trainmen was badly injured.
The storm in Winsted and other sections
of Litchfield county was very severe.
The loss in Litchfield county alone will
amount to 100000.
At Bristol well known mill owner
lost his life, and several accidents are
reported from many sections
FLOOD AT BRISTOL.
Bristol, Conn, March 1.-The greatest
flood in the history of Bristol swept
down the valley this morning, spreading
desolatiOn on every hand. The town of
Bristol was a heavy sufferer during the
storm of Il few weeks ago, when men lost
their lives, but the waste of waters before
daylight this morning eclipses all previ
Gus records. The heavy rain and melt
ing snow on the mountains swelled the
basin of the old copper mine dam i'll
Wiggsville, the northern section of this
town, until it burst, tearing Il hole 100
feet wide in the masonry and letting II
volume of water covering 10 acres and
40 feet high into the river below, which
itself was II roaring torrent. The break
occurred about = O'Clock. The great
body of water tore down the valley with
roar that was heard above the noise
of the storm for miles away. For the
first two miles there was no river, and
the water poured out on the marshes and
plain.
At Marshallsvillc, five miles below
to abandon their residences. as the water
broke into the lower stories, in many
cases before the inmates were out of
bed. The roar of the flood aroused
families for miles around. and many peo-
pie whose houses the flood had not
| reached picked up what effects they
| could, in anticipation of being summary
evicted.
The highway bridges on nearly all
| Il ccin bn in ,n
| swept away. Ten in all have gone out
and the others are badly damaged. The
streets of Bristol and the village of
Forestvillc were badly washed in many
| places. The lower stories of dozens of
| houses were covered with water all the
morning, and much property in the eel
lars was ruined. The New England rail
| road was undermined in many places,
and wrecking crews have been at work
all day.
The Bristol Brass and Coke company's
| factory was flooded, the water at the
dam gorgng a channel 80 feet wide and
| II feet deep. 1t is estimated that the
town of Bristol will lose $4,000 to
| $75, 900 by damages to bridges and roads.
| FLOODS IN NEW YORK.
New York. March 1.-The almost con-
| tinuous rain of the last two days through
out New York State served to bring the
frost out of the ground, break up the
ice in the Hudson and smaller streams
and do considerable damage to property
by flooding cellars and carrying away
bridges. Traffic on many railroads has
been seriously delayed by washouts and
in Il number of cities street car service
has been entirely suspended ON account
| of the high water. Very little damage,
| if any. was sustained in this city.
| At Saratoga, cellars were filled with
water and the streets badly flooded.
| At Whitehall the large plant of the
| Champlin silk mills has been swept away
and over 300 men will be thrown out of
work. The damage to property there
will be 100000.
| At Amsterdam much damage was
done to mills and buildings.
| At Hudson the docks are under water
and considerable damage has resulted to
cotton in warehouses.