The silver blade. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1895-1903, 1896-03-07
Great Flood Caused BY Breaking
Dam at Bristol, Conn. 4
IT MADE A MIGHTY ROAR.
The Torrent From the Reservoir po,
Into the Swollen River-Tha
Damage.

Bristol Conn. March 2.-The gr4atos+
flood in the history Of Bristol SWAMI
down the Pequaback valley this morn
ing. spreading ruin ana desolation -
every hand.
The town Of Bristol was heavy snf.
ferer during the storm Of a few weAr.
ago, when six men lost their lives
but the waste of waters before dav.
light this morning eclipses all previous
records.
The heavy rain and melting snow on
the mountains swelled the basin Of the
old Copper mine dam IN Wiggsyille. the
northern section OF this town. until il
burst, tearing away 100 feet wide ia the
granite masonry and letting volume
of water covering rs acres and 40 feet
high, into the river below, which itself
was a roaring torrent.
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.
We're no buildings near the river, and
the water poured out on the marshes
and plains.
At Forestville, four miles below, peo-
pie living near the river were obliged
to abandon their residences, as the wa
ter 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.
The New England roadbed was I'M
dermined in many places, and wreck
ing crews have been at work all day.
Hartford, March 1.-The great rain.
storm which was in progress all day
Saturday, Saturday night and today,
caused the greatest damage to property
throughout the state known in 20 years.
Many serious accidents, washouts and
wrecks were reported. The Connecticut
river is swollen until it has reached
point three times greater than its nor
NAL proportions The big iron bridge
at Middleton was in great danger all.
this 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 morn
ing caused the greatest flood ever
known in this section, and it is estlmal-
ed the damage will reach over $lOOoVo
from this alone.
People living along the banks OF lhe
Pequaback river were obliged to leave
their homes in the darkness, and many
lost nearly everything they possesseu
The tracks Of the New England Taii
way We're washed out in many places.
A bad freight wreck occurred carry
this morning near Forestville Inc en-
CINE of a special freight ran INTO
| Washout and was capsized. oeVela.
cars were smashed, and one OF w
train men was badly injured. Inc ioa~
has been blocked all day.
| AT Brookline we'll known mill owl
err lost his life, and other accidents 80
| reported from many sections. i,
New York, March 1.-The warm
most continuous rain of yesterday. ~
| night and today throughout New ~. 80
| state served to bring the frost ou' ~
| the ground, break up the ice III a.
Hudson and smaller streams, anu :,
| considerable damage to propefs Wv
| flooding cellars and carrying
| bridges. IAN
The traffic on many railroads mas q !,
seriously delayed by washouts. az .,,,ce
| a number of cities street car ,,oh
has been suspended on account u 80
| water.