The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-08-24
STORM SWEPT STATE.
Jersey Towns and Villages
Inundated and Railroad
Traffic Delayed by
Floods.
RAIN CAUSES DISASTROUS FIRE
Sidewalk Washed Away on Month
cello Avenue-Much Damage
Done in the Bergen Section.

New Brunswick, Elizabeth, Railway ano
Woodbridge were flooded. and that there
was not a great loss of life appears al
most miraculous. Railway, Linden and
Woodbridge were Inundated.
Houses We're flooded, giant trees uproot-
ed, railroad tracks covered by sliding
land, all traffic suspended and crops liter
ally destroyed.
The storm did considerable damage IN
the Bergen section of this city. 1t would
probably have produced still more disas-
trous results were it not for the fact
that merchants in that locality have
learned a lesson from previous expert
ences with the elements and have placed
all the goods it is necessary for them to
keep below the level of the sidewalk on
stilts from one to three feet high. While
the bakers and others on Monticello ave-
nue. and Jackson avenue did not suffer
any considerable pecuniary loss because
of the storm today, they were caused
considerable trouble and labor by the
pouring of the water in perfect torrents
into the Easements In the bake shops
the barrels of flour and sugar rested
high and dry above small-sized ponds.
The bakers found it difficult to carry on
their work.
AT the eastern end Of Coffin House
Square, at the Junction, the cellars were
flooded by the water, which came po0-
ing down Grand street and Communipaw
avenue. The sewer in Communipaw ave-
nue. could not carry off the heavy flow
of water and from Harrison avenue to
Grand street the manholes were blown
out and the water spurted high while the
storm lasted.
The worst accident resulting from the
storm, which was reported at the Com
munipaw avenue police station, was the
caving in of the sidewalk in front of
EmilWeilbacher's saloon, at No. 12S
Monticello avenue The saloon is at the
foot of Emory street. The heavy rush
of water down the hill flooded Monticello
avenue. rushed over sidewalks, filled
Weilbacher's cellar and backing up wore
away the ground beneath the sidewalk
and caused it to cave in, making dam
gerous hole twenty feet long, four feet
2 wide and fourfeet deep Nearly all the
cellars of Jackson avenue, from the New
ark and New York Railroad bride to
Bramnall avenue were flooded.
A large crop of celery in Edward
Karleys, market garden. at Fairmount
and Cornelison avenues, were inundated
and destroyed
The limb of dead tree in front of
Freeholder McCombs store, at Bergen
and Storm avenues, was blown down. In
falling it crashed into the roof and broke
large hole in it, through which the rain
poured doing much damage TO the
stool The rain washed considerable
san, 5wn the side streets and upon the
Yves ide avenue tracks of the Console
date raction Company. A gang of men
We're a hand. however, for just such an
emei .ncy and prevented any serious
della. I the cars.
TT. Iarion section was flooded. Every
manl.4le cover from James avenue to the
Hackensack River.
West Newark avenue was flown out by
the rush of water
Rahvay, from all accounts, suffered the
most in this section of the State.
The cloudburst first made itself felt in
that city at two o'clock this morning
There were several terrific crashes OF
thunder, followed Immediately by reg
ular boTnbardrnent by liyid streaks OF
lightning that seemed to touch the
ground in the form of bah of fire, which
exploded with a loud report when it came
in contact with the earth.
The streaks of lightning, which were
almost perpendicular, seemed to come
out of the ball, which was a fiery red in
color. In each instance the ball of fire
scattered into small fragments. and re-
minded one of the flying sparks sent out
by the blows of hammer in the hands
of blacksmith.
The electrical display was followed by
a terrific crash, and then came a sudden
flood of water. It seemed as if a dozen
heavy showers had been compressed
into one. The water poured down ir
long streaks until shortly after five
O'Clock this morning, when the storm
moderated to the proportions of heavy
shower.
BY that time the inhabitants were in q
state of alarm. The water had riser
rapidly until it was six feet above the
high-water mark. The entire lower par:
Of the town was Hooded
Tha water rushed against the Irving
street and Bridge Street bridges SO fierce
~ that they swayed. The foundations
OF both bridges were weakened in the
food of a month ago. The town author
tiles expect that both bridges will &C
dcwn If the water gets any higher.
On ST. George avenue, near the poor
house, the water was rushing along this
morning Two feet deep. There is an en-
bank,nent to prevent the water from
flooding the district. The river overliowe6
the efnbankment. II formed a perfect
torrent OH the avenue from the poor.
house to the Third Ward school, a quar-
ter of mile away
Further along on ST. George avenue
near the stone bridge, the thoroughfare
is impa assa ble The water is so deep thai
horses could not keep their feet in it.
The families that occupied houses along
the river front in the centre of the town
were Obliged to fee to the upper floors
Of their homes In order to escape drown
ing. They perched in the upper stories
and in 4 couple Of instances on the
roofs. Parties of men hurried to theil
rescue III boats and took them Oft.
The La Forge Cloak Works, which cover
largest shops of their kind in the conn-
!. try and oile Of the lading industries OF
the place, are in danger.
The grounds were inundated at an early
hour. as the water rose the lower hool
Of tile main building was flooded to the
depth of six feet and every one was
driven OUT Of the main building.
The main building is of brick three
stories high. There are several smaller
shops on the grounds.
Tie flood caused an explosion and 2
bad fire in Woodbridge. four miles from
Railway. The water rushed into the