New-York tribune., 1896-12-05
PRICE THREE CENTS.
A FLOOD IN FIFTH AVENUE.
BLASTING AT rIFTIETH-sT. SKATERS \
WATER MAIN.


DAMAGE TO THE AMOUNT OF THOU
SANDS or DOLLARS DONE IN TH-
BUCKINGHAM AND NEIGH
BORING HOUSES
miniature geyser. throwing stream fuHy
two feet in diameter into the air. and flooding
the pavements. sidewalks and areaways In the
vicinity of Fiftieth-st. and Fifth-ave. was the
novel sight that attracted the attention Of hun
dreds OF pedestrians in the city's fashionable
thoroughfare yesterday afternoon. The unusual
spectacle the result Of the touchng-on OF .
heavy charge of dynamite by worknen who
were engaged in blasting rock between Forty
ninth and Fiftieth sts.. where water mains are
being laid along he avenue. The concussion
caused by the extra heavy blast burst a thirty
inch main. and in another minute the water was
rushing into the pipes which are not yet ready
for use 1t flowed through them down to Forty
ffth-st.. where there is a bow-off. forcing the
cover. and bursting into the air TO a height Of
four feet. while at the place Of the original break
the water foamed over the sidewalks. and DEL
uged the Easements and cellars of some Of the
most palatial residences in the avenue
WHERE THE BREAK OCCURRED.
The break occurred In that part Of Flfth-avs
which Is in the worst condition. the street being
impossible Cunningham. the contractor who
laid the sewer-p.pes. had Jus; filed In the ex-
cavaton when Matthew Baird. who recently
cured contracts for putting in the water main.
began digging up The block for his new forty
inch main. Baird's men yesterday morning
huge bowlder in front OF the
Democratic Club house. and about ten feet below
the street surface. They were not aware of the
close proximity of the old thirty-inch water
main. and to expedite their work. determined
to blast. charge OF dynamite made ready
and at 3 o'clock in the afternoon it was set off.
The explosion was loud one and an instan:
afterward the water began to flow UP into the
trench at a rapid rate flooding the avenue from
Fifteth-st down to Forty -ffth-st. The clay.
made soft by it's recent reIaying. mingled with
the water and was carried into the cellars OF
the various houses on the block. The
water was assisted in seeking a level at
the DeDocratic Club by a coalhole. which
let more Of the water into the cellar of the
club than found its way into adjoining cell
lars. In half az hour the water was up TO the
flooring Of the main story. 1t flowed over the
threshold Of the cellar door and al one time
looked as II it would get into the parlors Of the
club. 1t went down a little, and at o'clock was
six feet deep.
BOTTLES OF WINE AFLOAI.
The cellar contains the entire valuable stock
Of wines Of the club. and as the water rose
higher and higher the bottles and demijohns
foated from their resting places on voya-
ges TO various parts of the cellar In their
Journeys they many times encountered one an
other the meeting often resulting in the de-
struction OF both foars7s zn1 affnost invariably
Of at least one Bottles Of port met bottles or
mingled with croton
Two of the hallboys diyested themselves OF
part Of their clothing and waded into the bath
TO save what wine they could. They worked
at catching floating bottles for about fifteen min
utes. by which time the water was above their
waists. and they were compelled to stop They
managed to save about a third OF the stock In
this way.
The electric plant of the club is in the cellar.
with the engines for working it. and these were
rendered useless by the food. The electric
lights turned on throughout the house went out
all at once and the dozen members who were
in the building. hearing the kissing of the steam.
rushed downstairs in CONSERVATION. few gas
Jets lighted but these too went out. the
meter in the cellar being affected by the water.
In the excitement the gas Jets were left turned
on and with the sewer gas from the street caused
could not be struck in many of the rooms for fear
Of explosion Members were compelled to
seek quarters elsewhere last night.
THE BUCKINGHAM FLOODED
In the Hotel Buckingham the water flowed into
the basement so rapidly that that part OF the
house had three feet OF water in it in half an
hour All the rooms in the basement were dam
aged by the water. The entire force Of help In
the house consisting Of nearly 100 persons was
set at work TO get rid of the water. All sorts
OF pumps d receptacles were used. In other
houses III. osses consisted chiefly of foods and
other perishabe goods.
w. G.. Bull engineer in charge Of the work.
communicated with the engineers Of the res
ervoir in Central Park a; soon as the break oc-
Cured 1t took some time get word to them.
and when they were Informed. the Central Park
engineer refused to stop the flow OF water in any
of the mains. except by order OF the Chief En-
gneer OF the Department of Public Works.
George w. Birdsall After two hours work. Mr.
Birdsall communicated with. and the dis
covery made that 1t was the 30inch main
which had burst. and Engineer Birdsall sent
word TO have the flow stopped
THE PIPE CRACKED ALL THE WAY AROUND
The pipe that burst cracked almost in the
middle and all the way around. II made
Of cast iron This main runs from the reservoir
to the lower part CT the city without an interven-
ing outlet 1t supplies the lower part Of the city.
but the residents vii! not suffer any loss of water
as the six-inch and the twenty Inch mains In
Fifth-ave also feed that part Of the city
Some of the members of the Democratic Club
during the evening expressed the belief that
either Mr. Baird the city would be sued by
the club for its loss. 1t is said that some Of the
others who incurred losses will also bring suits
for damages.
The losses caused by the food have not been
fully estimated bv the property owners. but the
following their present approximate esti-
mates: Democratic Club. No. 61t Fifth-ave..
hrlS No
NJ f. Garrison. No G1S Fifth-ave.. 81 900: Buck.
ingham Hotel, No. 621 Fifth-ave. $2.WW; the
George Kemp estate. Nos. Gil to 6lJ Fifth-ave.,
including the Belgravia apartment house 81 900;
General Daniel Butter1ed. No GIG Fifth-ave..