The Somerset reporter., 1901-12-19
A GREAT FLOOD.
THE RIVERS AND STREAMS
OVERFLOW THEIR
BANKS.
Trains and Electrics Stalled.
Heavy Damage All Over Maine
and Elaewhero.
Trains and EIectrics Stalled.

The heavy storm of Saturday, Sunday
and Sunday night with the almost an.
precedented freshet resulted in wide.
spread damage and loss In all sections of
Maine, particularly along the valleys of
Kennebec, Penobscot and Androscoggin.
In Augusta, the lower rooms of all the
mills were flooded and the loss on the
Keunebec on the river side of Water
street to stocks OF goods, buildings, etc.
was large. The freight shed Of the Ken
nebec Steamboat Company was fioated
down river. Traffic on the Maine Gen.
trail was at a standstill all day, Monday.
No trains entered or left the city IN
either direction. The big wsshout at
Farmingdale prevented the Portland
train from coming farther east.
The lower floors of the post office
building were flooded.
The belts, etc., in the lower part of
the Edwards mills were badly damaged
by the water which backed up from the
river. 1t is understood that it will be at
least week before the mill will be able
to start up.
At Watervlle, the new street foot
bridge across the Kennebec from the
city to the paper mills on the Winslow
side was carried away. This causes a
loss Of 1000 for w. T. Haines and H.
d. Eaton, who had backed the scheme
and who owned equal shares. The bridge
was completed last spring. 10 the spring
freshet two Of Its piers were damaged,
one Of them seriously.
There were plenty of wrecking trains,
and Of special engines hurrying over the
road In all directions. The only train be-
sides these to leave the city consisted OF
an engine and caboose and was unfor-
tunate. 1t left for Clinton early in the
morning with crew of men for the
Clinton trouble. When little above
Benton and at a point that was appar-
emily all right, the engine and car sud
denly left the track and went into the
ditch. Walter H. Bridges, brakeman,
was seriously injured. He was picked
up In an unconscious condition and car
ried to farm house near by. A special
train was sent up from Waterville with
Mr.. Bridges mother and the physicians.
1t was found that he had suffered several
bad cuts on the head and the fracture of
one leg.
The freshet effectually blockaded busi-
hNSS az OH hCiui although bO"h ditl
not suffer so very much. The wooden
tramway bridge of the Somerset &
kennebec Fibre Co., across the upper
end Of the canal WAS carried away and
fioated down against the small iron
bridge at the foot of the canal. The lat
ter was severely shaken but was left in u
passable condition.
The bulkheads of the dam at the lower
end of the canal have been badly dam
aged. The basement of the wooden MILL
was flooded although little damage re-
suited.
The heaviest loss on the Androscog-
gin river was sustained by the Interna-
tional Paper Company at Rumford Falls
This company lost more than 1000, 900
feet Of logs. Considerable damage WAS
also done in that section to the farming
interests, large tracts of farm land being
over flowed and quilted, barns flooded and
harvested crops ruined.
The loss of logs on the Penobscot will
reach total Of not over 100000 feet
and money value of from $50, 900 to
$l00, 900, These logs are a part of the
west branch drive which was so late in
getting down this year.
The old bridge across the Sebasticook
at Winslow was carried away.
Trains were delayed on all roads. 1t
is doubtful il the Maine Central Is able
to run trains from Augusta to Waterville
and from Waterville to Bangor before
Friday.