The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1903-10-14
LOSS IS ENORMOUS
DAMAGE BY FLOODS AT PATER
SON WILL REACH MILLIONS
OF DOLLARS.
THOUSANDS or PEOPLE HOMELESS
APPREHENSION OF FURTHER
GREAT DISASTER ALMOST
DISAPPEARS.
THE loss OF LIFE IS VERY small
MANY BUILDINGS COLLAPSE AND
SMALL BRIDGES ARE
SWEPT AWAY.


the rate of an inch an hour above the
falls and at double that rate below
the apprehension of further great
disaster to the city from the flood has
almost disappeared, the sole question
being whether Spruce street hill, the
narrow embankment which holds the
waters above the fall. can continue to
Withstand the strain until the river re-
cedes to it's normal proportions. At
the height of the food this hill. stand
ing between the river basin above the
falls and the lower valley, was rapidly
caving away into the gorge below the
falls, Lineman Horace Riley losing his
life in one such cavern, and it was
feared yesterday that the flood would
wash away the dyke and precipitate
itself in huge wall upon that portion
of the city lying below. A dyke but
little wider than the Spruce street
roadway stood between the city and
this disaster, but last night it
Was Holding Firm
and the police felt reasonably sure of
its permanency, though prohibiting
access to it for fear that it might be
undermined. Below the falls large
part of the city, situated in the valley
on either side of the river, is still in
undated, but the waters are receding
rapidly
Thousands of persons are tenn
porarily homeless. most of them be-
ing received at the homes of friends
in the unfooded districts, while 1900
were sheltered at the armory, fed and
cared for by the organized charity of
the city. No assistance has been
asked for outside and the city will
look after it's destitute.
Yesterday many persons who had
rem aimed in their homes in the flood
ed districts were removed and food
was conveyed to those who remained.
1t will be impossible to closely esti-
mate the loss until the flood sub
sides, but it
VIII Exceed 100000.
But three bridges and part OF a
fourth of the seven below the falls
remain, and the cost to the county tn
replace those destroyed will be at
least 100000. The three bridges
standing are on substantial concrete.
They are completely covered by
water. Only three fatalities have
been reported.
Many buildings have collapsed and
the foundations of many have been
weakened by the flood and some OF
these may fall. The total will also
be largely augmented by the loss
throughout fassaic county, reports OF
bridges washed away, roads destroyed
and property and crops ruined com.
ing from all points. The loss in the
county outside of Paterson will equal
that inside of the city.
On account Of the exposure OF
many of the sufferers to the downpour
of cold rain Saturday night an cpl.
demic of pneumonia is feared.
Ten Thousand homeless.
Passaic is a greater sufferer from
the food that even Paterson. Twenty
mills in Passaic alone are under
water and 5000 workers are out OF
employment Ten thousand persons
have left their homes. Eeight hun
dred houses are flooded to the caves
and In all 1000 acres are covered with
water from a depth Of few inches tc
| twenty feet.
Many Bridges Washed Away.
Toronto, Ont, Oct. ia cable dis
tent of damage done by the flood In
this section is now beginning to bt
fully realized. At least six and pos
sibly all nine of the wagon and foot
bridges across the Delaware river be
tween this place and Easton, Pa. have
been carried away.
Railroad traffic on the Belvidere di
vision of the Pennsylvania railroad
between this city and Easton has beer
entirely suspended Many washouts
are reported from different points ant
in some places the tracks are sub
merged by the overlooking of thu
river.
Burlington, N. j., Oct. 10. - Thi:
town is suffering from the worst fioot
in it's history, approximately four
fifths of the place being under water
caused by the tremendous food in thu
Delaware river. The highest point o
the town Is only three feet above thu
flood in some of the streets, and a
the river Is still rising 1t is feared thu
situation viii become more serious
Tho southern section Of the town u
flooded to depth of from two to si'
feet. and much of the surrounding
country Is also under water. In Eas
Burlington 1t is estimated that q
per cent of the houses are Inundated