The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-12
Hundreds of Persons Rescued with
Difficulty from Homes That Were
Crumbline In Water.
GREAT DAMAGE ELSEWHERE
PENNSYLVANIA RAILWAY CRIPPLED
BY THE FLOOD AT TRENTON.
Millions i'm Money Required to supply
New Bridges and Repair Roads
in Pennsylvania.

PATTERSON, ~. J., Oct. u.-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 east
ern, and almost all means of communica-
tion by bridges have been destroyed. Two
bridges above the falls remain, but ap-
proach 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 half
a million dollars.
The inundation of the Iow-lying districts
of the city has resulted in inconceivable
damage to property. The flood. however. is
beginning to recede. a number of buildings
fell to-day and many others have been un-
dermined. If they do not fall they will be
at least untenantable. Spruce-street hill is
falling away. piecemeal. and only little
more than two feet of dirt and stone sepa-
rate 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 condition and
is liable TO go If Spruce-street hill breaks
much more. Mayor Hinchcliffe. who was
at this point all night and to-day superin-
tending the work Of Strengthening the dykes
and water gates. regards the situation as
most critical. One hopeful sign at this
place is that the water has fallen several
inches since morning.
All day thousands of persons have viewed
the falls cliff. watching the flood, and the
police had great difficulty in keeping the
crowd from encroaching on the danger line
All day long boatmen have been at work
10 IA
The suffering in the First and Second wards
has been intense, as it almost impossi-
bic to reach the residents there. Several
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
foated down the stream.
LOSS OVER TWO MILLIONS
The damage TO mill property is chiefly
from the submersion of portions of the
plants and great quantities of products.
Thousands of men. women and children will
be out OF employment for long time, and
81 seems altogether probable that the flood
will 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 six millions of dollars, with
insurance of more than four millions
The loss to-day Is estimated at consider
ably more than two millions of dollars with
no insurance.
Last nights rain renewed the flood
somewhat. and the waters 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 inches OF clear space
between the CRATE bars and the water 1t
IS from this station that the city receives
fits entire supply OF light and motor power.
Thousands OF persons are temporarily
homeless most of them being received at
the houses of friends in the unfiooded dis
tricts, while 1900 were sheltered tonight
at the armory. fed and cared for by the or
ganized charity of the city. No assistance
has been asked from outside and the city
will look after it's destitute. To-day many
persons who had remained in their homes
IN the flooded districts were removed and
food was conveyed to those who remained
the fire department rigging up emergency
lines from roof to roof with cars suspended
thereon for this purpose.
PASSAIC STILL SAFE.
The city OF Passaic passed sIeepless
night, IL being feared that the Dundee dam
would give way. That would have relieved
the river at Paterson at the expense of
the cities below. Fortunately. however.
Dundee dam Is still intact. The suffering i'm
waIlington and Duttonville has been very
great. as no relief has been able TO reach
these places. All through this district
houses and outbuildings, together with "A
great quantity ef dead stock, may be seen
floating about
Twenty-Five bridges are down in Passaic
and Sussex counties on the Susquehanna
Railroad. Street Commissioner Brett fears
that many houses on River. Main and West
streets will fall.
Only three fatalities have heen reported
at Trenton. This afternoon seven men who
had been imprisoned in KearnS Brothers
dye house on the river margin since Friday
without food Were rescued by Charles and
Leopold Mutter in small boat. The Nut
ter brothers also saved Captain William
Clark and John Breen, of the fire depart
ment, who had been upset in an earlier at
tempt at rescue. Three tugs were nesces-
sary to bring all To the shore Venturesome
boatmen assisted the firemen and police in
removing the inmates OF the flooded houses,
q gun used I'm shooting life lines TO the
roofs of burning buildings, borrowed
from Newark. being employed as we'll
On account OF the exposure OF many OF
the sufferers 10 the downpour of cold rain
last night an epidemic OF pneumonia is
feared.