River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1903-10-15
FLOODS CAUSE
GRAVE PERIL
Dams at Paterson, N. J., Weakened
by High Water.
DISASTER is GREATLY FEARED
Much Damage Has Already Resulted
Many Buildings ColIapse-LittIe
Loss of Life Reported-Ruin
at other Points.

Paterson, N. j., Oct. 12.-For nearly
48 hours Paterson has been at the mer-
cy of the Passaic river. The waters
have maintained a height sufficient to
cut the western half of the city from
the eastern and almost all means of
communication by bridges have been
destroyed. Two bridges above the falls
remain, but approach to them is i'm
possible. Three bridges below the val
ley of the rocks still stand, but it is
impossible to reach them. Seven
other bridges in the city have been car
ried away and their loss alone is half a
million dollars The inundation of the
lowlying districts of the city has re-
suited in inconceiyable damage to
property.
Many Buildings Fall.
The flood, however, is beginning to
recede. A number of buildings fell
Sunday and many others have been
undermined. If they do not fall they
will be at least untenable. Spruce
street hill is falling away ricemeal,
and only little more than two feet of
dirt and stone separate the falls basin
from the big black race through which
millions of gallons of water are rush
ing every hour The gate house is in
a very weakened condition and liable
to go if Spruce street hill breaks much
more.
work of Rescue.
All day long boatmen have been at
work rescuing people from the flooded
districts. The suffering in the first and
second wards has been intense, as it
was almost impossible to reach the
residents here. Several hundred per-
sons were removed from houses COM
pIetely surrounded by the flood and
ready to collapse at any moment. A
dozen or more of these houses later did
collapse and floated down the stream.
Worse Than the Big Fire.
The damage to mill property g
chiefly from the submersion of por-
tons of the plants and great quantities
of products Thousands of men, wom-
en- ard children will be out of employ
ment for a long time and it seems alto
gether probable That this flood will
cause the city of Paterson a greater
loss of money and property than the
fire of nearly two years ago. The gross
loss then was $6,000,000, with an in
surance of more than $4,0OO,OOO. The
loss to-day is estimated at consider
ably more than $2,0000Oo, with no in
surance.
Five hundred families are homeless.
OF these about $50 families are being
sheltered in the Apollo hall, while the
others will be taken care of in the
armory Gov. Murphy having issued
orders that the armory be thrown open
for this purpose.
Seven Men i'm Danger.
Seven men are now in great peril of
their lives in the Kearns brothers dye
house on the river margin near Pater-
son. A part of the works has been car
ried away. The men have been in that
part which remains standing since Fri
day at noon. While they were trying
to save thousands of dollars worth of
silks, by carrying them to the top of
the building, the structure was sur
rounded by water and the men cut off
from all assistance because of the tor
rent that has been rushing by ever
since. 1t is believed that the entire
building will be carried from its foun-
dation unless the flood subsidies very
soon.