Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-07-31
DAMAGE BY RAIN

UAC1AOE 0I MAIN
 Brid6sperts Loss Will D 0as Million
 Dollars and Several Llvss. Bridgeport, July 311This city was the center of tremendous rain storm Saturday and Saturday night, the most severe in its history, so far as any local record runs. It seemed as if 1t was under a cloud burst all the time, and the down pour from 2 o'clock in the afternoon till late, at night was continuous and excessively heavy. So hard was the rain fall that the streets became rivers and the sew age system of the city was entirely inadequate to carry off the water.
 The fire department was busy dur. ing the storm and all day yesterday Tn pumping out flooded cellars and basements in the business and manu- facturing sections of the city. Tho storm practically inundated the en. tire city causing damage that can- not be easily computed, it is so wide spread.
 To add to the general damage two of the distributing reservoirs in the north part of the city broke, letting lose volume of water into the Pc. quonnock river that added destruction to property, to shipping, and injured all the bridges on the river except the railroad lift bridge. Two lives were lost. The estimated property damage was placed last night at something like $1,00O00O. Earlier in the day it had been placed at half million, but reports of damage continue to come in, and well posted business men who have reviewed the situationA carefully say it will be days before 'the total loss can be estimated with anything like completeness.
 At the intersection of Boston and North avenues, Andrew Lesko's one story house stood before the freshet. The current, after sweeping over Rin. glehand's place, struck Lesko's house and swept it away with the flood.
 Lesko, his wife and daughter, the latter IA years of age. occupied the house. This morning the house was found down on River street. on the banks of the river, having travelled over half a mile, considerably the worse for the journey.
 The early reports were to the ef- feet that Lesko and his family slept during the ride on the river, the lamp continuing burning on the kitchen table, and the family knew nothing of the trip until they woke up this morn. ing and found change of base
 Did know of the trip?' exclaimeL Lesko, in speaking to Telegram re porter.
 II guess I did"
 He continued: "There is nothing to such a story as you tell me. was Up and about the house some time before the water struck us. l was aroused first by the cries of the ducks. They were terror stricken and appeared to know that something was about to happen. I got my family together and we pulled bed into one corner of the kitchen to keep out of the water that was running in the house. We rode in that position until we were taken out of the windows of the house on River street.
 q don't know who pulled us out. We lost the ducks, the furniture is smashed and ruined, and I lost purse of money that kept in the chiffonier. The bills foated about in the water. There was some $50 in all and I re- covered about $1.5O in change"
 The flood struck the banks of the river near the home of George Sipos and devastated the section extending to the bridge abutments of the house occupied by Joseph McDermott as q tenement and saloon.
 The flood struck the section with awful force. There was loud report that indicated the smashing of frame structures and the crushing of the debris swept by the current against the bank of the pond. It was not un. by the residents of the street, for the heavy rains and the re- ports from further up the line of the pond made every one uneasy, and few were able to rest.
 The underplnning of small shanty occupied by Michael Moran, adjoining the home of George Sipos, was washed away and Moran swept down in the torrent. He was undoubtedly drowned and it is believed his body is in the wreckage piled up under the new BerkSnlre avenue Drldge.
 George Brown of B River street was probably the last man to talk ts the unfortunate Moran. He cried {, him about o'clock yesterday morning and inquired if he was all right and a few moments after the house was swept away, portion of 1t going with the flood toward the bridge and anotl. CT section being carried over to the opposite side of River street. X dili. gent search yesterday failed to fnd any trace of Moran.
 The flood struck D. 0. Bartram's place at 192 River street with awful force. It carried barn which stood on the bank of the pond from itS sweeping it to the street line and turning it upside down. A small portion of the barn was taken up evidently by whirlpool and land. ed nearly third of mile up the pond on the banks of Island Brook avenue.
 In that portion of the barn that re. mained about Dayton's premises a horse was extricated about ] o'clock yesterday morning alive. and with no apparent injury. It did not show a scratch. although it had been tumbled about the strcuture while 1t was on its journey of several hundred fet an then turned wrong side up.
 DAMAGE IN DERBY.
 Derby. July 3l.-Damsee amounting to S40.OOo Is estimated to have been .lza- ksl .-n. t- e.