Daily Kennebec journal., 1901-12-17
ENORMOUS DAMAGE.

Portland Me.. Dec. 16.-Ths state
tonight. is suffering from-Jhe effects
O.. one of the most severe storms in its
history ana every hour brings reports
OF disasters that add thousands Of dol
lars to the aggregate damage. The
three principal rivers Of The State and
innumerabl bic smaller streams have
overlowed their banks, submerging
thousands Of acres of territory. wash
ing away bridges. buildings ana great
quantities Of logs and lumber. and
.louding factories. mills and dwellings.
over q large portion of the Maine
central railroad no trains have moved
since carly yesterday morning. and
the eastern section Of the State is en-
tirely cut of from communication by
rail With the western part. II is not
expected that through trains viii be
running between this city and Bangor
earlier than next Thursday.
The Bangor & Aroostook Railroad
ana the Canadian Pacific Railroad
lines in this State are in nearly as bad
condition. ana nearly all the smaller
steam roads have abandoned the at
tempt to operate their trains for the
time being. With few exceptions. the
great mills on the Androsc0ggin. Ken
nnhec and PenoDsCot river; We're un
able To start their machinery this
naorning. because Of the great depth OF
water in the rivers ana thousands of
men are temporarily without work.
In many OF the cities and towns por-
tons Of The principal streets were Gov
cl cd with water. cellars and stores
we're flooded. ana families We're driven
frGn; their homes Street railway beds
We're under water and it was impos-
sib,r to operate cars. In the farming
districts the roads are impassable for
teams.
During the height Of the storm the
teI, graph and telephone communica-
tion was interrupted between many
points, out the wires stood the strain
well and with few exceptions We're
working all right. today. Up the Ken
uebec valley. beyond Augusta, how
ever. the telephone wires We're out of
communication until late tonight.
Up to tonight three deaths had
been reported as a result Of the storm.
one victim was a fireman named Pat
zen. whose engine on the Canadian Pa
cific plunged into a washout. A SINH
ar accident on the Maine Central rail
road resulted in the injury Of three
one Of whom may die. The (
others were Mr.. and Mrs. a X r. 4
Roberts drowned at Garland.
Madison, Il small manufacturing town
On the Kcnnebec river. was the scene of .
the greatest damage and it is estimated /
that the money loss in that place alone X
will reach nearly half 4 million dollars. J.
The entire lower section Of the town. i'll 4
which several large manufacturing plants /
are situated. was for hours at the mere
Of the rushing waters. Logs and ice
whiried along in the current. carrying
away the tol! bridge. crushing some
and oveTturnln5 others The
iume at the pumping station was carried .
away and the residents are without
drinking water. Tonight. the village
presents a scene of desolation
When the water was at its greatest
height. last night. at o'clock. the high
est previous mark. recorded during the
srea; pumpkin freshet" Of co, was three
feet beneath the surface. on both sides
of the river the water flowed through
7welling houses half way up to the first
window sashes and many persons were
aiken from their homes through windows
IN the second story and removed to places
1f safety in row boats
Just at this time a great pile OF logs.
containing 10000 feeI. swung away
from tie Shore ana went down the river.
CONTINUED on page -