The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-05-14
FLORIDA
CITY IS
SUBMERGED.
Jacksonville Visited by a
Severe Cl0udburst.
RESIDENTS ARE
DRIVEN TROMBONE
Electric Light Plant Put Out
Of Commission.
MULE DROWNED ON
PRINCIPAL STREET ZEE:
skIfs and Naphtha Launches Went
About Removing People from Sub
merged Houses Damage Can
not Be Accurately Estimated.
Railroad Traffic Badly
Handicapped.
MULE DROWNED ON
PRINCIPAL STREET
j Naphtha Launches Went
tBy Associated press.)

JACKSONVILLE. FLA. May 13.-The
rain which had been falling incessantly
all day yesterday and all last night as
sumed this morning about daybreak all
most the proportions Of a cloud-burst
and when the citizens prepared to leave
for their places OF business many Of them
found their homes completely surrounded
by water.
But these were not the unfortunates.
Many were driven from their residences
or forced to go to upper stories by the
water that in some cases reached the lev
el OF the first story windows In all as
much as one square mile of the town
was under water. Fully u half mile Of
Bay Street, the principal thoroughfare
OF the city was under water and much
damage WAS done to stocks OF goods. On
this street. a mule hitched to a wagon
got beyond Its depth and was drowned
and the driver attempting to cut It from
the vehicle nearly lost his life.
Skins and later in the day naphtha
launch were plying. on Bay Street, re-
moving people from their submerged
homes. The water was two feet deep
in the walung-room of the Union Depot
and every track entering the city was
under water, Ono train each over the
East Coast Line and Atlantic Coast Line
came into Jacksonville in the morning and
one each over the two roads and the
seaboard Air Line and East Coast trains
departed at night. The damage to rail-
roads in and near the city is considerable
but 1t is believed that It will be repaired
by morning and trains will make their
regular schedule tomorrow.
IN TOTAL DARKNESS.
The rain in its intensity seemed to be
local and the railroads are not dana ged
except In or near the city. The city Is in
total darkness tonight. The water was
foot deep In the electric light power
house and stopped the 1ynamos. The dam
age to the powerhouse. which belongs to
the city, is estimated at 5000. It will take
probably 10000 to put the streets and
bridges In repair. The railroads suffered
losses probably amounting to 500 900. The
losses Of individuals cannot be accurate
" estimated. Many bridges in the coun-
try were washed away The total loss
will probably not be less than 100000. In
addition to this It is feared that Bridge
| Street viaduct, which cost SEQ, 900. has been
made dangerous by the flood. The water
OF McCoy's Creek was all day rising un-
| til 1t became a broad and rapid stream
and 1t is feared that the supports of the
bridge have been SO weakened that 1t will
| be unsafe. However. II was soon to have
| been replaced by new one. Ropes were
| stretched across the v1aduct to keep the
crowd off. Whether 1t will be weakened
seriously can only be determined after
| the waters subside.
Five houses were overturned or demol-
ished near the banks OF Hogs Creek In
the negro part of the city. They were al
small. The foundations OF many others
| In the same locality were undermined
and they were rendered uninhabitable. A
number Of negro families We're rendered
| homeless. The food was caused by the
heavy downpour in Jacksonville and a
few miles to the north and west. Three
small creeks now into the river from the