St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-03-02
DESTRUCTION CAUSED BY THE
BURSTING OF A DAM IN CON-
NECTICUT.
TEN BRIDGES SWEPT AWAY.
MANY PEOPLE LOSE HOMES AND
sToCk-WRECKS IN THE
WASHOUTs.
FLOODS THROUGHOUT NEW YORK.
Large SILK Mills Destroyed-SmaU
Loss OF Life Re-
ported.

HARTFORD, Conn, March 1.-The
great rainstorm which was in progress
all day Saturday, Saturday night and
today caused the greatest damage to
property throughout the state known
in twenty years. Many serious ac-
cldents, Washouts and wrecks are re-
ported. The Connecticut river is swol-
len until it has reached a point three
times greater than it's normal pro-
portions. The big iron bridge at Mid
dletoWn was in great danger all the
afternoon, and a 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 flooo ever
known in that section, ana it is esti-
mated the damage will reach over
100000 from this alone People living
along the banks of the Pequabeck
river were obliged to leave their homes
in the darkness, and many lost nearly
everything they possessed. The high
way bridges across the river were
swept away. and the tracks of the
New England railway were washed
out in many places. A bad freight
wreck occurred early this morning
near Forestville. The engine of spe-
cial freight ran into a washout and
was capsized. Seven cars were
smashed to atoms. and one of the
trainmen badly injured. The road has
been blocked all day
The storm in Winsted and other Sec
tions of Litchfeld county was very
severe. The Philadelphia, Reading &
NaUv ENGLAND raiIrOa6
der water in many places, and traffic
has been suspended. The loss in
Litchfeld county alone is estimated at
nearly 100000. At Brooklyn, a we'll
known mill owner lost his life, and
several accidents are reported from
many sections.
BRISTOL A HEAVY SUFFERER.
BRISTOL, March 1.-The greatest
food in the history Of Bristol swept
down the Pequabeck valley this morn
ing. spreading ruin and desolation on
every hand. The town of Bristol was
ah eavy sufferer during the storm Of
few weeks ago, when six men lost
their lives, but the waste of waters
before daylight this morning eclipses
all previous records. The heavy rains
and melting snow on the mountains
SMSllcu lIc UdSlH OI Tie Olu copper
mine dam in Whiggsville, the northern
section of this town, until it burst,
tearing away 100 feet wide in the
granite masonry, letting a volume of
water covering 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 andi
the water poured out on the marshes
and plains. At Forestville, forty miles
below. people living near the river
were obliged to abandon their resi-
dences, 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 evict-
ed. The highway bridges on nearly
all roads crossing the Pequabeck were
swept away. Ten in all have been
washed out, and others are badly DAM
aged. The streets of Bristol and the
village of Forestville were badly
washed in many places. The lower
stories of dozens of houses were COW
cred with water all the morning, and
much property in the cellars was
ruined.
The New England roadbed was un-
dermined in many places and wreckins
crews have been at work all day.
The Bristol Brass and Coke CONS
pany's factory was flooded, the water
at the dam gorging a channel fifty
feet wide and twelve feet deep. This
highway at Forestville Center sagged
several feet, and is in an impossible
condition. 1t is estimated that the
town of Bristol will lose from $4,000
to $4,000 by damage to the bridges
and roads.
SILK MILLS SWEPT AWAY.