The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-10-12
SCORES WE'RE RESCUED.
Many Dwelling Houses Collapsed at
Paterson.

Many Dwelling Houses Collapsed at
Paterson.
Paterson. N. J.. oct. u.-FlOod condi-
tions at Paterson improved but little
throughout the night. Early morning
saw the waters at their maximum. and
although the danger to life and proper
~ still is great there was a general
feeling of relief today because of the
fact that several OF the bigger retain
ing walls and water gates had been
able TO Withstand the rush Of the food.
Throughout the day hundreds Of men
under the superintendent of Mayor
HinchClife were at work strengthen
ing these walls and gates.
Scores of persons were rescued from
their homes. A great many dwelling
houses collapsed, and many more are
ready to collapse. but it is believed that
there has been little loss Of life.
Hill Crumbling Away.
For nearly forty-eight hours Paterson
has been at the mercy of the Passaic
river. The waters have maintained a
height sufficient TO cut the western half
OF the city from the eastern. and al
most all means Of communication by
bridges have been destroyed. Two
bridges above the falls remain. but ap-
preach 10 them is impossible. Three
bridges below the valley of the rocks
still stand, but it is impossible to live
in reaching them. Seven other bridges
in the city have been carried away and
their loss alone is 5000. 900. The inunda-
tion of the low lying districts Of the
city has resulted i'm incOnceivable dam
age to property. The flood. however. is
beginning to reCede. Besides the build
ings that fell today. many others have
been undermined and if they do not
fall they viii be at least untenable
Spruce street hill is falling away piece
meal. and only q 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 rushing every hour The
gate house is in very weakened con-
dition and is liable to go If Spruce street
hill breaks much more.
Situation Critical.
Mayor Hinchcliffe regards the stu
alton as most critical. one hopeful sign
a this place is that the water has fall
cu several inches since morning. All
day thousands or persons have lined
the falls cliffs watching the flood. and
the police have had great didiculty in
keeping the crowd from encrOaching
on the danger line. All day long boat
men have been al work rescuing people
from the flooded districts. The suffer
ing I'm the First and Second wards has
been intense. as 10 was almost impos-
Siblc to reach the residents here. Sew
eral hundred persons were removed
from houses completely surrounded by
the flood and ready To collapse at any
moment. A dozen more Of these houses
later did collapse and fioated down the
stream The damage TO mill property
is chiefly from the submersiOn of por-
uons Of the plants and great quantities
OF products. Thousands of men. women
and children viii be out of employment
for long time. and it seems altogether
probable that this flood viii cause to
the city of Paterson a greater direct
loss OF money and property than the
fire Of nearly two years ago. The gross
loss then was $4,000 600 with an insur-
ance Of more than 100000 The loss
today is estimated al considerably more
than S2.OOOO00. with no insurance.
Many Families Homeless.
Last nights rain renewed the flood
somewhat and the waters were at their
maximum this morning At that time
there was considerable water in the
boiler room OF the Edison electric light
station. there being only about four
irches Of clear space between the crate
bars and the water. II is from this
station that the city receives it's entire
supply Of light and motor power.
Five hundred families are homeless.
or these about $50 families are being
sheltered I'm the Apollo hall, while the
others Will be taken care Of in the
armOry. Governor Murphy having is
sued orders today that the armory be
thrown open for this purpose
The city Of Passaic passed sleepless
Slight Il being feared that the Dundee
dam would give way. That would have