Omaha daily bee., 1896-03-02
PE0UABUCK VALLEY FLOODED
Immense Dam in Bristol Breaks During {
Storm.
DAMAGE ESTIMATED AT A MILLION
Volume of water Rushes Down the
valley, Carrying Everything In
Its Path and Causing Ter
riblc Destruction.


valley, Carrying Everything In
Its Path and Causing Ter
ribIc Destruction.
BRISTOL, Conn, March 1.-The greatest
food in the history Of Bristol swept down
ing ruin and desolaton on every
hand The town of Bristol was
heavy sufferer during the storm
OF a few weeks ago, when six men
lost their lives, but the waste OF waters be-
fore daylight this morning eclipses all pre-
vious records. The heavy rain and melting
snow on the mountains swelled the basin oil
the old copper mine dam in Whiggsville, the
northern section of this town, until 1t burst
tearing away 100 feet wide in the granite
masonry and letting volume Of water cover
seventy-five acres and forty feet high, into
the river below, which itself was a roaring
torrent The break occurred about 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 buildings
near the river and the water poured out on
miles below, people living near the river
were obliged 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 people whose
houses the flood had not reached packed up
what effects they could, in anticipation OF
being summarily evicted. The highway
bridges on nearly all roads crossing the Pc
Quabuck 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 lower stories of dozens Of
houses were covered with water in the morn
ing and much property in the cellars was
ruined. The New England roadbed was
undermined in many places and wreckine
crews have been at work all day. The Bris-
tol Brass and Coke company's factory was
flooded the water cutting a channel fifty
feet wide and twelve feet deep. The high
way bridge at Forestville Center sagged sew
eral feet and is in an impossible condition
1t is estimated that the town of Bristol will
lose from $50 900 to $4,000 by the damage
to the bridges and roads.
AT OTHER POINTS.
HARTFORD, Conn, March 1.-The great
rainstorm, which was in progress all day
Saturday, Saturday night and today, caused
the greatest damage to property through
out the state known in twenty years. Many
serious accidents, washouts and wrecks were
reported. The Connecticut river is swollen
until it has reached a point three times
greater than its normal proportions. The
big iron bridge at Mddletown was in great
danger all the afternoon, and 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 this morning, caused
the greatest flood in that section and 1t is
Azl H. Io,,, mill IA nx,ar
600 from this alone. People living along
the banks of the Pequabuck river were
obliged to leave their homes in the dark,
ness and many lost nearly everything they
possessed. Highway bridges across the river
were swept away to the number of ten, and
the tracks of the New England railroad were
washed out in many places. bad freight
wreck occurred this morning near Forestville
The engine of a special freight ran into &
washout and was capsized. Several cars
were smashed to atoms and one of the
trainmen badly injured. The road has beer
blocked all day. The storm In Winstet
and other sections of Ltchfleld was very
severe The Philadelphia, Reading New
England railroad tracks are under water II
many places, and traffic has been suspended
The loss in Litchfield county alone is esti
mated at nearly 100000. At Brooklyne,
we'll known mill owner lost his life and othel
accidents are reported from many sections
NEW YORK VALLEYS DELUGED.
NEW YORK, March 1.-The warm, almos
! continuous rain of yesterday, last night ant
| today. throughout New York state, served
| to bring the frost out Of the ground, breal
| up the ice in the Hudson and smaller streams
and do considerable damage to property b!
| flooding cellars and carrying away bridges
Traffic on many railroads has been seriousl!
| delayed by washouts and in a number q
| cities street car service has been suspended
| on account of high water. Very little, If any
| damage was sustained in this city. The ict
| IN the North and East rivers and New
| York harbor has about all disappeared.
| At Saratoga cellars were filled with watel
| and the streets badly flooded
Three dams at Schuylerville and all tn,
bridges between Ballston, Spa and Rocl
| City falls are carried away.
At White Hall the water In Wood creel
ls higher than it has been for the pas
( twenty years.
The large iume of the Champlin silk mill
| has been swept away and over 300 men VII
| be thrown out of work. The damage Il
property in White Hall alone Will exceed
| 900.
At Amsterdam much damage was done Il
mills and buildings
The Mohawk river is very high and ha
| overnowed its banks in the lowlands, doinl
| considerable damage in the vicinity OF FONDA
| At Hudson the docks are unCer water an
| considerable damage has resulted to cotto