The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1903-10-14
LAMBERTYILLE IN
THE GRIP OF FLOOD
Great Destruction Along the River Front.
DELAWARE BRIDGE WASHED AWAY.

Oue VI tne WORST HOouS III the MS
tory of the Delaware Valley occurred
on Saturday, when the river charg-
ed with tons of water poured into it by
its swollen tributaries, overlooked its
banks carrying all of the bridges from
their foundations between Trenton
and Easton, with the exception of the
one at Stockton.
All along its course buildings Of all
kinds were carried away, and in many
instances with the contents in them.
Such flood "a hours before it came
seemed impossible. There is no other
flood with which to compare it in
height of water and destruetiveness,
except the great flood of 1871. This
did not approach it by over four feet
in height and by many hundreds of
thousands of dollars in lost property.
At this time it is impossible to even
guess at the loss 1t can only be APP
proximated when the water goes down
enough to reveal the entire destruc-
ton.
The river which begun to rise on
Friday night continued its upward
course with alarming rapidity. Old
rivermen shook their heads ominously
and predicted very high water. Warn
ing had been telegraphed from the
headwaters of the river that the storm
of Thursday and Friday was accom-
panied by very heavy rainfall and
that great flood WAS on its way down
the river. BY 8 o'clock on Saturday
morning the flood had already assum-
ed alarming proportions. People en-
ployed in this city and living along the
river front stopped their work and set
about the task of saving their house
hold effects. 1t was none too soon.
The food arose like resistess tide
Inch by inch, nearly foot an hour, it
crept first into the rear yards of the
river residents, then into their cellars
and finally it began running into the
ends of Union street, which parallels
the river front.
IL was now noon aud still the food
of muddy waters whirled and surged
closer and closer about the homes of
hundreds of residents. Those who
thought it wouldn't be much of food
after all, began to see their error. The
water had filled yards and cellars and
was about running into the first stories
of the houses. Those who had not al
ready moved their furniture began TO
hastily rip up their carpets and drag
them and their first-fioor furniture TO
the second story for safety. In the
early hours of the afternoon the work
went on. People began leaving their
houses. There was two feet of water
in Union street and boats had to be
pressed into service. Houses on the
river side of Lambert street, north of
Bridge street, were surrounded by
water.
The residents of South Union street
were also having their troubles. At
places the dwellings here stood much
lower than those farther up the river
Houses submerged to the second story
window were n common sight.
With o'clock night came on, add e
ing new terrors for the affrighted in
habitants. An old resident who had
seen the 1S4l food said the water was
now foot higher than then. People
who all afternoon had been anIi-
ously watching the Delaware bridge
began to realize that that structure
WAS doomed. The attention of the ex-
cited citizens was diverted from their
own personal losses and inconvenience
to the greater impending public Gala
nifty. The centre Of thought was the
bridge.
For an hour and half the swift
flowing current had been pounding
away on the upper side Of the structure
until the spray reached half way to the
roof. Occasionally, heavy timber
would strike the structure with the re-
port almost as loud as cannon. One
by one holes were punched in the
weather boarding and the water pour
ed through the openings in streams.
Higher rose the water in the river,
but the old structure was making a
gallant fight for existence. 1t was
pitch dark out on the wild waters, but
the continual booming and laundering
indicated that great masses Of timber
and other drift were constantly hurled
against the bridge.
The Delaware bridge made heroic
resistance standing the force OF the
water for long time, and it was
thought early Saturday evening that
it would most likely stand the shock,
but when news was reported that the
other bridges both up and down the
river had gone, hope was given up.
At 10 o'clock there seemed to be a
pause in the rise Hundreds of peo-
pie strained their eyes to penetrate the
uChsC daf htbb Dub thEJ tOulu Stt
nothing. The bridge had stood the
strain so long, why should it not hold
out ? people asked each other. But
the resistless waters took new lease
of energy, and the structure was
doomed.
AT five minutes OF II o'clock an omi-
nous report told the watchers that the
crisis was at hand and this was follow
ed by mighty crashing that rever-
berated from shore to shore, which for
a moment drowned out even the per-
sistent roar of the seething food
There goes the bridge !" came from
a hundred throats.
The first part of the structure to go,
was on the New Hope side and it left
the piers Saturday evening about II 90
o'clock. The timbers commenced
screaking about minutes before the
final crash came Then with a MIGHT u