The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1896-02-08
Rising Waters Have Caused
Great Damage to New Jersey
Property.
The Raritan River Rose Twenty.
Five Feet, and Inundated
Villages.
Fire Broke Out at Bound Brook
Destroying a Score of
Houses.

SoMMERvILI.E, j., Feb. S.-While
the loss of property at Bound Brook by
fire aad food will be we'll up to expec-
tation, based OH the meagre informa-
tion obtainable in season for the morn.
ing papers, it is now reasonably certain
that but one life was lost. This man,
whose name was Miller, perished in
the attempt to aid people in distress.
While the flood was at its height
Miller entered row-boat, intending to
rescue family whom the rising waters
had driven to take refuge in the upper
part of their home. Before he had
gone far the swift current upset the
boat, and Miller was not seen from that
time. When the last messenger who
has reached this city left Bound Brook
the food had begun to subside. The
water had spread backwards from the
river about 1000 feet and residents
within the submerged section had been
forced to leave the lower parts Of their
houses and take refuge in the upper
stories. At 3 o'clock a. IN. the water
was nearly
Ten Feet High in tho Main Street
of the town. The food was caused by
the heavy rainfall overf1owing the
Raritan river. The water in Meadow
brook, about quarter Of q mile from
the heart of Bound Brook, also over
flowed its banks. 1t swept on both
sides of the Central railroad bridge,
submerging the bridge and rushing
along the tracks The surrounding
country for quarter of mile on each
side of the heart of the village was
flooded. The three main blocks in the
village were flooded with water, and
while the citizens were tryingto rescue
people from houses that were in danger
of being swept away in their houses by
the food, a fire was discovered. 1t was
first seen in the lumber yard of L. ID.
Cook 81 Co. An alarm was turned in.
but the volunteer tiremen of Bound
Brook, thinking they would be unable
to cope with the fire, sent word to
Sommerville and Plainfield for assist
ance Engines were started for Bound
Brook, but they had not gotten far out
side the limits of their respective towns
when they were forced to return, the
roads being impossible on account of
the floods.
Had to Burn Itsclf Out.
Citizens were unable to do anything
in the direction Of fighting the flames
or rescuing property because of the
swiftness of the current of water rush.
ing through the streets which threat
ened to carry men off their feet. Under
these conditions the fire had simply to
burn itself out. 1t is thought that 20
houses have either been destroyed by
fire or were wrecked by the flood. Many
small outhouses belonging to farmers
on the outskirts of Bound Brook were
carried away by the food and were
swept down the Raritan river. There
are reports current of loss of life in
Bound Brood beyond that of Mr.. Miller,
but the basis of the rumor cannot at
present be ascertained. Much live
stock belonging to farmers on the out
skirts of Bound Brook was carried
away by the food.
Twenty Five Feet Above Normal.
The water got SO high that it put out
the fires in the Raritan water works,
and this leaves Raritan and Somerville
without water The Raritan river was
over 20 feet higher than it normal level.
The river and the canal which were
200 yards apart before the water began
to rise are all one, The woolen mills
in Somerville were flooded and work
hol 70 h,