The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-03-03
CITY is TWICE AFFLICTED.
Flood Follows Fire in Devastation

PATTERSON, N. j., March 2-This city,
so recently swept by fire is now over
whelmed by flood Three weeks ago the
greater part of it's business section was
burned out, and today the quarter occu-
pied by the houses of the poorer class
is Inundated. Hundreds of families have
been made homeless by the overflow of
the Passaic river, and the country for
miles around the city is under water
So far but one death has been reported
The great peril now is that the Spruce
street rdceWay may overflow, in which
event great loss of property in the man
ufacturing district is sure to ensue The
raceway supplies water power for most
Of the mills along the water front At
this point the city authorities have placed
expert engineers who are instructed If
necessary, to touch off blast Of dyna-
mite, which will open new channel for
the immense volume of water held there,
and by diverting it to the bed of the river
N new direction the authorities hope to
save great deal of valuable property
In cliff about seventy feet below the
Spruce street bridge the experts have
placed the mines of dynamite
The fire of three weeks ago, while caus-
ing damage to property to the extent of
nearly $S,010,0O0 did not create such suf-
fering and widespread desolation as the
flood of today. The district for a mile
along the river front, from Spruce street
hill to Straight street, and two blocks
north and five blocks south of the river.
nearly half mile in width, is covered
with water, which in many instances
reached to the second story of the dwell
ings.
Appeal to the Governor
In this district are situated the Rogers
sScernotive works, and several silk mills
ana dye works In the immediate vicin-
ity OF them fully 600 families have been
driven from their tenements. Of these
unfortunates several hundred were taken
from their houses in boats and barges
The officials tried to reach Gov. Murphy
today but failed to locate him. The act
ing mayor then took upon himself to open
the Firth regiment armory as a tempor-
airy residence for the homeless families
more than 100 of whom are housed there
tonight The citiZers of Paterson were
more than generous in their gifts to the
sufferers. Sveral wagon loads Of blan-
Kets, clothing and provisions arrived at
Inc armory from all quarters of the city.
the most prominent of the donors being
Mrs Hobart, widow of the late vice pres
ident
In the work Of rescue one of the most
earnest toilers lost his life. This was
Henry R1cnards, a carpenter, forty wears
ola, who lived on Franklin street After
OF which he brought three or four persons
from the neeghborhood of Kearns Bros. !,
aye works on Shady street, his boat was
upset and he was swept away III the
waters which were rushing with the force
OF a mill race. He clung to the branch
OF tree for nearly half an hour, but in
spite of many attempts to reach him he
hnally disappeared in the muddy waters
chief of Police f. G. Graul and Fire
Chief John Stagg Were interchangeable in
their eXertion for the relief Of the dis
tressed and were ably assisted by the
city employees of every department There
was lack of boats to cope with the
emergency, and Secretary Dill telephoned
to Newark for help in this direction. This
request was quickly answered hy the
Newark people, who sent a wagon load
OF boats, dozen in all, which arrived
IN good time to give excellent service.
Fire Adds to Terror.
The cry of fire was heard ab5u-
O'Clock in the afternoon, and If I0Dked
as II the elements were combining to de-
stroy the city. The fire broke cur in
oates drug store at the corner of Ham
llton avenue and Main street The fire
men, many of whom We're helping 10. r.
move the people from the deluged dis
l1ct' jumped to their posts and We're
soon hard at work fighting the flames.
blaze was confined to the drug store
building, which was burned out. Tha loss
was estimated at S5 1850
During the three hours that tha men
were working another alarm was turaed
in, but the blaze was insignificant.
On Hamilton avenue, near the river the
foundations of two new buildings were
undermined by the flood, and the strue-
lures collapsed and were swept away in
the stream. The Arch street bridge col
lapsed in the afternoon, the abutGlents
on both shores being swept away. All the
other bridges are completely submerg
cutting off communication between the
two sections of the city The boilers and
engine rooms of several Of the big mills
are ten feet under water Many of The
mills are said to be covered by flood IN
surance. So far the mills are believed to
be safe, and the main loss will be caused
by the enforced cessation of work uutil
the waters recede.
Whole City in Darkness.
The flood in the Wellington section of
the city seems to be slowly rising. and
the whole low-lying quarter OF the city
is submerged. The city is in darkness.
owing 10 the flooding of the plant Of the
electric light company
Fifty city blocks are under water Two
thirds of all the mills are under water.
and the river, which is usually 300 feet
wide, is now three-quarters of a mile
wide at Wellington. There have been
several houses swept away at Walling-
ton. all in straight line. or nearly so,
and 1t IS thought the river is eating a
new. channel through the heart Aof the
section.
By the action of the water which
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