Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-03-02

NestoIooN, harch ~ rs IfesutnpscUt
river is rapidly rising, and has been
swollen to a height of II feet above the
average in % hours. Two small bridges.
a building occupied as Il club room and q
shoe store have been carried away be
sides large stone building of the s d.
Warren n Co. paper mills, used as gate
house to regulate the flow Of water. Cakes
Of Ice nine inches thick. and sheds and
rubbish are being washed down at the
rate of 20 miles an hour The situation
presents very serious aspects
a temporary bridge used by the Maine
Central during the construction Of an iron
bridge, is bent 10 feet In the middle by
the blocked ice. 1t is expected to be car
ricd away within 10 hours. If it is, it will
carry away the team bridge, also large
part of the paper manufacturing buildings
recently erected by 5. -. Warren & Co
1t is the highest water since little Sebago
rising Mt 6 o'clock, at the rate of 10 inches
an hour above, while below the dam the
water is nearly level causing much fear
The loss cannot be estimated now.
The shoe store and club room carried
away caused $500 loss. A man in the
building at the time, escaped to the roof
and made the shore. running over the ice.
1t was still raining al 6 O'Clock. the
ffeshct is not at It's worst and much dam
age is expected to follow.
The old Pride's bridge over the Pre-
sumpscot rivsr at Pridc's Corner, Is re
ported as carried az way in the afternoon y
the ffcshet Much damage is reported all
along.
1915 A. NJ, March 9-Rain still CON
tiuues to fall The water above the main
dam is still rising ATT O'Clock several
places on main street were flooded foot
deep. About that time the Maine Cen
trail railroad bridge was washed away.
Wreckage and ice in the rapid current
carried away the iron carriage bridge on
Cumberland street and tore a gap in Wer
rcn's 1894 paper mill The walls Of the
1898 mill were also carried away. This
caused the water to subslde in the streets
somewhat, where it was found that the
road bed and brick sidewalks were washed
out.
There are men imprisoned in W. Is
Dana mills and Wcstbrook Electric Light
Co. station, owing to the bridges being
carried away They are in no immediate
danger but should the flood continue to
increase their position would be most
hazardous.
Mr.. Dana had a narrow escape, Sunday
moning. He was at the mill when the
bridge was swept away, and in order to get
provisions for his men, he returned in a
boat on the ice to the shore, and obtaining
the provisions, went back in the same man
ncr, and had scarcely reached his building
when the ice went out with a crash. If he
had been 30 seconds later he would have
certainly lost his life.
An official of s. ID. Warren x Co. sets |
their loss at 81, 900, 600. Loss to other
property owners in the city $500, coo more |
1t is rumored that several small houses |
occupied by French families were washed
away on the forth side of the river. On
account Of the bridges being down, all
communication with them is cut off No
loss of life has yet been reported
The city is in darkness, and large force
of extra police is guarding the damaged |
districts of the city. The water is rush
ing down the river at u terrific rate, with
no signs of subsiding. and considerable
damage is expected before daylight. The |
city is briefly cut up into small islands. |
A. M-The noint of danger is now
past. The river has fallen incncs. No
further damage is anticipated. The wards |
are so split up by demolished bridges that |
the probability is that Westbsook' citizens
will use but one polling place for Mon
days election.