The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-29
PRICE TWO CENTS.
FLOOD SWEPT ELIZABETH.
WATERS SHUT OFF 7RAFFIC-CITY
LEFT IN DARKNESS.

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The Heaviest Rainfall In Many YearA
ELIZABETH, N. J., July 2s.-Tho most severe
flood that has occurred here In over twenty
years was experienced this afternoon and even
ing. Tho rainfall from 8 o'clock to z o'clock,
according 10 the Government station rain gauge.
broke all previous records here.
The principal streets were flooded and business
was generally suspended at 9 o'clock. Many Of
the stores were flooded and valuable stocks
have been ruined. The Elizabeth River n
swollen. Small buildings along its banks have
been washed away and streets near 1t are under
water. Many houses are threatened with do
struction.
The flood has practically separated tho city
into two parts. one of which, the northern. In de-
prived of service by the Fire Department and
trolley cars and is virtually isolated. 1t can DO
reached only by long detours. All streets but
two, running north and south, arc depressed
under the tracks OF the New Jersey Central Rail-
road. Into these deprcssions the water has
poured from oil directions and stands from six
to eight feet deep, making communication by
vehicle impossible. The two streets not affected
are in the western portion Of the city and arc
little used.
Tho heaviest damage by the flood was in the
Broad street depression. There traffic has been
suspended since 4:3O and the water is eight feet
deep and still rising. The flood reached the
stores in the depression at 9 o'clock and then
rose SO quickly that the merchants did not have
time to save their stocks on the street floor. Tho
wall paper and paint establishment of Edwards
& King was the first to suffer. LOCKER & Ford's
furniture store next door was also flooded to the
depth of four feet, and Whitehead's drug store
has three feet OF water above the floor. Across
the street Prescheur& Bettncr's liquor store has
been closed since $50 o'clock and the water 10
as high as the bar. All the stores within q hun
bred feet are flooded.
In First street, the downtown business
thoroughfare, only one store escaped damage.
So great was the pressure OF the water that in
many instances the gas meters in the store cel-
lars were torn from their pipes and the gas 10
escaping. creating danger from fire. Tho gas
men are unable to get in the cellars to shut OF
the leaks.
The Elizabeth River overflowed its banks
early in the evening and houses nearby were
flooded. In Price street the water was six feet
deep at g o'clock, and the families had moved to
the upper floors. The water had undermined
the foundations Of the houses at 8 o'clock, and
the families were obliged to wade through thu
water in order to reach places Of safety.
The plant of the Suburban Electric Company,
which supplies the electric lights for this city,
Roselle. Crawford, and Westfeld. is located on
the bank of the river on Murray street. The
water reached the boiler room at 8 o'clock, and
at $3.50 put out the fires. The electric lights
throughout the city went out ten minutes later
and the city is in darkness,
The pumping station of the ElizabethtoWn
Water Company was also flooded early In the
evening, and as q consequence NO water can b
obtained in houses In the higher sections of the
city. Tho high water in the river has already
carried away thousands Of feet OF lumber
from lumber yards along its banks. Milford &
Co. being heavy losers. This lumber. together
with other heavy debris, pounding against tn
upper bridges along the river. threatens destruo-
ton.
Along the shore Of Staten Island Sound there
has been great damage by the flood and high
tide. The tide was exceptionally high, the
heavy east wind driving the water In. Tho
foundry Of the II. r. Worthington Pump Com
pany is badly damaged. Many valuable patterns
and much work in an unfinished state were
destroyed. Superintendent Prince estimates tho
loss at sec, 600. Heidritter's lumber yard lost
great quantities Of lumber. which was washed
away.
Trolley car traffic was suspended about 0
o'clock. The cars had not been running over
their entire route since half pastA 4. The only
street car line In the city Is still in operation.
although for nearly half a mile on East Grand
street tho cars ran through water 30 deep that
the racks on the floor hoated and tho feet Of
passengers were wet.
A Miss Wilson attempted TO alight from one
of the cars In the flooded district, slipped. and
fell headlong in the water, which was up to her
knees. The driver leaped to her rescue and as
sisted her to the porch Of a house.
1t IL roughly estimated that the loss will reach
at least $50. 900. At IL o'clock the water had
not fallen, although the rain had ceased and the
stars began to peep through tho riffs IN the
clouds. Traffic on the trolley roads was resumed
at IL o'clock. when tho storm ceased.
1t Is reported that the tremendous rainfall
between 8 o'clock and IL, surpasses any
days record shown at the Government sta
ton. The water in the Broad street depres-
sion kept rising until 1890 o'clock, and at that
hour had reached the Clark Hotel and tho Dig
building, flooding their first floors to q depth of
six inches. The Gilbert s. Chester bicycle store
was also flooded.
At IL o'clock the water Is within a few inches
OF tho dynamo floor of the Suburban electric
plant, threatening the destruction Of the value
BILE machinery there.
Between 10 and IL O'Clock the embankment
Of the Pennsylvania Railroad was badly washed
about 200 feet north of the station, and two
tracks, one the west.bound passenger, had to be
abandoned.
The Jersey Central freight tracks were blocked
in a cut just west Of the station where the banks
were washed down.
The shipyard of Lewis Nixon was flooded early
in the evening, but little damage was done. Al
Bowker's fertilizer works, the Grasselli chemi-
cal works, and several oil retineries along the
sound considerable damage was DONE.
AT midnight a flood OF water was still pouring
into Broad street from the northeastern part OF
the city. 1t ran through the middle OF East
Broad street, and not only filled the cellars, bus
undermined the foundations.
About 10 O'Clock q number Of houses located
on the banks OF the Elizabeth River, near Waeh.
ington avenue. began to sway. About 1O:S0
they became dangerous and the families were
rescued In boats and on rails.
Ono party OF six men wero In a barber ahop
on the second floor Of a building on Broad street.
The water rose while they were in the place.
and in order 10 get out without swimming they
were Obliged to crawl twenty-five feet along z
ladder from the window TO the embanRment OF
the Pennsylvania Railroad.
There arc rumors at 1880 that one Of the
reservoirs two miles north OF the city has
broken. but this cannot be confirmed.
The Elizabeth River feeds and flows from the
coming down the river No word has been re-
coivcd from the reservoir at this hour.
shortly after midnight the Elizabeth River