New-York tribune., 1901-12-11

The chief water main of the aqueduct pipes
for supplying water to Madison-ave. houses and
those adjoining streets broke at Fifty-ffth-s St
and Madson-ave. at $50 o'clock last night,
flooding the streets blocks. and causing dam
age of wide exter to the cellars and Easements
of many houses in the neighborhood- The water
from the time of the break until after midnight
from three to six inches deep in Madison
ave from F'ifty-ffth to Fifty-eighth- and on
crSss streets nearly to Park-ave, and for some
distance on the other side of Madison-ave- tow
ard Fifth-ave. The loss to property will he great
it is believed. There many fine apartment
and private houses and several public institu-
tons in these streets in all of which cellars
and Easements we're flooded.
The cause of the break could not be ascer-
tained. The water was too deep allow of any
investigation last night. ]. Tucker, of No 81
East Fifty-ffth-st was walking at Fifty-fifth-
St and Madison-ave. at $50 o'clock when he
heard a queer noise and turning, a minia-
ture geyser spring out of the asphalt as II
thrown up by some volcanic upheavai
WATER RISES LIKE A GEYsER.
He says the water arose to a height of nearly
ten feet, fell and then rushed down the avenue
and street like Il millrace. In five minutes
dozens of cellars were flooded. People came
rushing out from their homes only to find them
selves prisoners Water was overfowing the
steps curbs and sidewalks and was finding It's
way to Fifty-sixth. Fifty-seventh and Fifty
eighth sis. rapidly
Mr.. Tucker thought sending in fire alarm
the best move ami acted on it. soon Actihs
Chief Friel was hand He ordered his run
ber-booted men to open every manhoie cover 10
be found and to throw open the sewers in every
direction in order that the water might escape
as fast as possible. He sent word to the Depart
INN iata
As soon as the sewers were opened there was
A little relief but the water soon gained again
1t gushed out of the break. which at the surface
was about nine feet square, and poured IKE
swollen river great freshet down the lncine
of Madison-ave. toward Fifty-ninth- St and down
Fifty and the other streets tc Flfty-elshth
making it's way into all the cellars on both sides
of MadisoE-ave. and both sides of the numbered
streets on the east side of Madison-ave
The MadiSon-ave. conduits were inlIne-
dately flooded and the power cut off Car No
1517 came to a stop at Fifty-ffth-st the
uptown track and Car No. 1,3SO marked the
stop of the downtown traffic at that point
Thirty cars were soon lined UP in the block
The cars were banked close all the way
FLOODED HOUSEHOLDERS ASK AID.
The reserves of the East Fifty-frst-st. station
were sent out to police the situation and aid In
whatever way they could. They and the firemen
and Acting Chief Friel were besought by occu-
pants of houses all through the flooded district
to help them by stopping the water from flow
ing into their homes. The fremen and police
had TO plead that they were helpless
1t was about II o'clock before any representa-
tives of the Water Department showed up.
They were two men. driver and Il laborer
They said they could not afford any aid for at
least an hour and half, as they would have
to shut off the water at the stations at Forty
second-st. and Fifty -ninth-st. Some women wept
as they heard this and back into their
flooded homes
Telephone for somebody that knows what to