Delaware gazette and state journal., 1897-07-15
FLOOD IN NEW YORK STATE
Was Caused by an Immense
Reservoir Bursting.
TERRIBLE DISASTER YESTERDAY
Nine People Drowned and
Some Missing.
Torrent Descended the Fishkiii Mountains
without Warning, and Tore Buildings
to Pieces and Carried Their Occupants
Awny-The damage Considerable.
Associated Press Dispatch by Special wiroa.

Associated Press Dispatch by Special Wires.
Newburg, N. ". July IA. -Melzin-
gap reservoir, in Fishkili Mountains
near Matteawan, burst at o'clock this
morning owing to the heavy rains. The
water ran into the creek. and two miles
below, near Duchess junction, washed
away brickyard buildings, including a
boarding house occupied by laborers.
1t is reported here that nine persons
were drowned and that others are miss
ing.
The food, at Duchess Junction,
washed away 200 yards of the hudson
River railroad track. Trains are stalled
ON each sile of the breach.
There were two reservoirs in the
mountains, the lower ono half a mile
distant from the other. The upper
dam gave way, letting the volume of
water into the lower reservoir. This
also burst. and tho water rushed down
through a ravino. Van Buron'H and
Timoney's brick yards, on the Hudson
just below Duchess Junction, are
mile distant frum the site of the lower
reservoir. Without warming the flood
reached them through the ravine and
made terrible havoc. Buildings were
torn in piecys and their occupants
AWAY III tho IOods Lhb
water works system was operated by a
private company, and supplied tho Vii.
lagos of Matteawan and Fishkill-on-
Hudson.
Tho reservoir. the bursting Of which
caused the havoc at Dutchess junction.
is situated in the Fishkill Mountains
about II mile eRst Of the Junction. 1t
collects the surface water from the
north eide of South Beacon and the
south sids Of a neighboring mountain,
and is h00 feet above tide water. Its
overflow reaches the Hudson by way Of
small stream known as Towanda
Greek. At the west end of the ravine
are devastated brickyards. Tho reser-
voir is OF oval shape, about 500 feet
long, and 300 feet wide, aud 80 or 40
feet Deep, 1t is used as an auxiliary
supply to, the regular water works
system at Matteawan and Fishkill
| Landing, Sfroin the main source of
which it is distant about four miles.
The largest reservoir of this system is
a considerable lake near North Beacon,
| which has massive masonry and 10 in
tact. A second reservoir. situated
much lower down the mountain, which
was built TO reduce the pressure into
the pipes, is also unbroken. These
two have no direct connection with
| Dutchess Junction reservoir, though all
three feed into the same pipes.
New6urg, N. Y, July 14.--A tenn.
pUrary treBtle has been built at the
break in the Hudson River railroad
track. und the Montreal express south
bound has passed over. 1t will be late
this afternoon before trains can be run
on time.
The loss of life at Timoney's brick
yard. Dutchess Junction, is now stated
at niue. There were about 40 laborers
in the boarding houses that were swept
away. All escaped but the nine. One
man had an arm broken, and others
suffered minor injuries.
The identity of the nine bodies re.
covered has been established as follows
Peter Mulligan and wife; Mrs. John
Ounroy, wife of the engineer OF the
reservoir, and her two children, Julia,
aged years. and John, ll2 years; Mrs.
Annie Ferry, widow. and her 9-yearR-
old son, Willie; Selma Lowrie. aged G
years, and John Sinker, a Hungarian
laborer.
Poughkeepsie, N. Y, July IA. = News
OF the bursting of the Beacon Mountain
reservoirs received here says that three
buildings, OF which two were boarding
houses, were swept away by the rush-
ing water and that 20 people are miss
ing.
New York, July l4.--Superintonden
Van Etten of this New York Central
railroad says that the accident to the
Central's tracks ut Fiehkill Landing,
| caused hy tho burHtiun of the BEACON
Mountain reservoirs, involved tho wash
ing out of 1000 feot of roadbed varying
in depth from, throu TO 10 feet. All
traffic was stopped when the accident
occurred and the fret train aouthbound