The sun., 1905-09-05
CLouDBURST UP TIE STATE.
GREAT DAMAGE IN THE UNADILLA
AND CHENANGO VALLEYS.
Two Lives Lost-Many Bridges Destroyed
and Railroad Tramc suspended-A
washout Wrecks Ontario and Western
Coal Train-The Engineer Drowned.

Two Lives Many Bridges Destroyed
and Railroad Tramc suspended-A
washout Wrecks Ontario and Western
Coal Train-The Engineer Drowned.
UTICA, Sept. IA record breakin 8 fall Of
water was experienced throu ghout central
New York yesterday. last night and to day.
In some sections Of wide territory great
damage has been done. The most severe
damage To life and property 10 over long
strip OF country twenty or thirty miles IN
width and reaching from Norwich and
Sherburne on the west eastwardly over
tho Unadilla Valley doing great harm IN
New Berlin and Edmeston, striking score
OF small villages and sweeping on to Coopers-
town and Schuyler Lake.
Two lives are known to have been lost
In this terrific cloudburst. Railroad lines
have been washed away, telegraph and
telephone wires thrown down, highways
destroyed 40 badly that they cannot be
followed, houses and barns torn from their
foundations and carried down with the
torrents, farms damaged by the destruction
Of crops that were ready for the harvest,
and trees uprooted.
1t is most difficult to secure accurate
and full reports. Neither the telegraph
nor telephone wires are In working order
TO large number Of places. Mail Is out OF
the question for several days. The rail-
roads in the Chenango Valley the Unadilla
Valley and the trolley line to Cooperstown
are not In condition to be operated to-day
and possibly for several days.
northbound freight train on the Ontario
and Western Railroad went down with
the roadbed at Woods Corners, about a
mile and half north Of Norwich, about
o'clock last evening. There were two
engines hauling the train, made up In part
of coal cars. Engineer Norton OF Norwich
was drowned in the Chenango River after
jumping from his engine. Engineer AL
bert Borden Of Norwich was seriously in
jured and will probably die. Fireman
Frank Ferris Of Norwich. on Engineer
'Norton's engine and Brakeman Winfield
Cotton Of Norwich were injured. but will
recover. About 500 feet In all Of the On
tario and Western Railroad track was
washed out.
The damage to the 1Acka wanna railroad
will probably be the largest in It's history
cally the entire road between North Brook
Is reported that there are from twelve to
fifteen separate washouts. The Chenanso
River runs alongside the tracks at many
points and the large volume Of water worked
under the roadbed until it slipped away.
The tracks in many places are still under
water tonight.
In the village OF New Berlin a house occu-
pied by Mrs: j. M. Deering was washed
down through the main street and Mrs.
Deering was drowned. Dozens Of houses
and barns were toppled from their founda-
tions and in many instances foated con-
siderable distance away.
During the service in the New Berlin
Presbyterian Church last night the water
came up so suddenly that the worshipers
could not leave the building and remained
there until after daylight with the pastor.
They were taken out on a raft.
Every bridge and culvert on the Unadilla
Valley Railroad has been washed out and
II may be . week before the road Is again
running. The road is completely tied up.
The loss will be $4,000.
Last night was a night OF terror to the
residents OF Sherburne. The reservoir
burst and did an immense amount OF
damage and at the same time the river
rose. Between the flood tumbling down
from the hills. and the menacing waters
backing up from the rapidly rising river.
last night was one which will never be
forgotten by those who were in the village.
The damage done is, at a rough estimate.
placed at 346, 900. Warning Of the bursting
Of the reservoir had been telephoned to
the village and loss Of life was thus averted.
The village Of Edmeston was swept,
houses and barns being carried away in the
torrent. In the village Of Schuyler Lake
church bells were rung to warn sleeping
residents Of their peril.
Many miles OF track and roadbed on the
electric railroad running between Mohawk
and Oneonta were washed away and traffic
will be interrupted for week. The damage
in the Sauquoo valley will be upward Of
go, ,0O0 while the total damage to railroads
and other property in the strip Of territory
between Utica and Norwich will exceed
$500, 900.
The cloudburst swept down upon Schuyler
Lake. near Riohfeld Springs, at midnight.
Herhner Creek overfiowed its boundaries
and flooded the village to the depth Of three
or four feet. The lower story Of the Bullion
Hotel was completely submerged, and the in
mates would have been drowned had the dis
oovery Of the flood been delayed few mo-
ments longer. When the door Of the hotel
was opened the water poured into the house
in volumes. The streets are filed with the
vreckage Of trees and driitwood. r',.
Damage at Cooperstown will reach sew.
eral thousand dollars. The reservoir at
Sherburne burst under the terrific pressure
and swept away fields Of vegetables. bridges
and roads, and ~ tho village without q
water supply. The cloudburet is one Of
the most costly and damaging in the history
Of the IAckavanna and Ontario and West.
ern railroads. Water to the depth OF three
feet is flowing over the tracks between
Waterville and Norwich on both railroads
and the work OF repair has to halt unit
the flood subsidies. u
The Chenango River is at It's highest
point In fifty years and still rising at New
Berlin. The flood surpassed the one oi
! three years ago, doing great damage te
streets and buildings.
A large derrick, boats and drilling ap
paratus used in making soundings for ths
proposed State barge canal. and which
were stationed in the Mohawk River a
Fort Hunter were carried away by tn,
high water early to-day. There Is a wash
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