The Springfield herald., 1902-03-07
FLOODS lN-:THE EAST
IAunDREos OF FAMILIES HOME
- -l...l.l- LESS.
Paterson, New Jersey, the Chief suf-
ferer-Railroad Traffic imPeded.
Influenza In London.

. New York. March 3.-The Hood i'll
northern New York state Is reported
in many places 10 be the Morst since
that of 1sU5 Railroad traffic Is tied
up and trains between New York ana
Rochester are stalled.
In Paterson, New Jersey, the suffer
Ing caused by the ,inundation to the
city Is more intense than that occa-
stoned by the Eight. milton dollar fire
of three. weeks ago.
From all parts of the flooded section
come reports of disaster and only III.
Philadelphia, -,litfsDuys and Allegheny
is the situation improving. 80. "A
The floods along the iinc of the New
York Central Il Hudson. River rnilfoaa
are Interfering extensively with traf-
fic, according to reports given out at
the Grand Central. sfationiin this city
No through trains for the West We're
being despatched In 'the afternoon and
evening. The 3:35 p. IN. train fot AL
baby left :oii time, but went only 10
Hudson. No passengers would be
taken beyond the point, ils bridges are
down and tracks washed away be-
tween Hudson and Albany. -
Fort Plain, N, V. March 3.-The
hamlet of !Sprakers, six miles east or
here, has been almost entirely wiped
out by the combined forces of water
and tire. Sprakers Is made up of fifty
families, and has beer under water
for two days. Great imasses OF ice
came down the river and struck the
houses, some of which We're so shaken
that stoves were overturned and the
dwellings were burned.
? Paterson, n. L.. March 3.-rhis city.
so recently swept by fire, lis now over
whelmed by flood. Three weeks ago
the greater part OF Its business section
was burned. ont and to-day the quar-
ter occupied by the houses of'the poor
er class Is Inundated. Hundreds of
families .haye been niadeN homeless BY
the overflow Of the Passaic' river and
the country for 'miles around the city
is under wafer.
So far but one death has been re-
The great peEif now is that the Spruce
street raceway, which supplies water
power for most Of the mills along the
water front, will overflow. This would
cause great loss to the manufacturing
district. Expert engineers have placed
dynamite beld&: the SPRUCE street.
bridge and II necessary it will be
touched off. This will open new
channel for ihe immense volume OF
water held there and diverting it, save
good deal of property. e ~
The fire of, three weeks ago.: while
causing damage to property to the
extent of nearly $S,0O0,O0O,. did not
create such suffering and widespread
desolntion as the flood of to-day. The
district for. a. mile along !, the river
front from Spruce street hill TO
Straighfs street, and two, blocks north
-and Ave blockH south of the river, near
ly half mile In width. is covered with
water which in MANY instances.
reached to the; second :story of the
dwellings. In this district are Situated
the Rogers locomotive. works and sew
erul silk mills and dye works. Nearby
live fully COO families who have been
driven from their. teneinents, Several
hundred, of these people We're taken
from Their i6iises In boats aud barges:.
amid scenes OF much. excitement:
Tonight . moro than Il 'hundfed
homeless families are sheltered in the
Fifth Regiment. armory. Citizens
from all parts of; the city liaye.pe,rea'
In loads of,blankesss clothing and pro-
visions. City employees of every de-
partment worked like beavers In their
efforts to relieve the distress. There
was d lack of boats to; cope with the
emergency and u wagon load was sent
over from Newark in good time TO give
excellent service. .Alsish g.