New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-09-05
CLOUDBUR>TS UP STATE
Taoo ViLages Nearly Destroyed
Houses Afoat-Church Marooned.

Utica, N. Y, Sept. 4.-The villages of New
Berlin and Edmeston were nearly destroyed by
a cIoudburst last evening. 1t had been raining
all day and the streams were high. About 1:3O
O'Clock there was a terrific fall Of rain. and in
less than thirty minutes the streams became
torrents, which swept buildings from their foun-
dations. uprooted trees. washed out telegraph
and telephone poles destroyed the railroads run
ming through those villages and made impass-
able highways for miles by washing out great
sections of the roads and dozens of bridges The
extent of the damage cannot be detailed, as
communication was cut off early this morning
and little news can be obtained from the flooded
district.
In New-Berlin large house occupied by
Mrs. J. NJ. Deung washed through the
main street and carried away. The woman has
not been rescued and it is supposed that she
has been drowned. Three barns containing
horses and other stock, a blacksmith shop, car
rage shops and two small houses also were
washed down the main street Persons who
had gone to the Presbyterian Church to attend
services were imprisoned during the night with
their pastor and could not be rescued until day
light this morning. when they were taken out on
raft Cellars in ali the business places are
filed with water The damage to the business
part Of the village is large
The food that came down the Kings Settle
ment Creek, when the Sherburne Water Works
Reservoir burst, struck the house Of Mrs. Cush-
man, near New-Berlin- 1t is supposed that the
woman was asleep in the house, which was
washed away and broken to pieces 1t is thought
that the woman was drowned, although it has
been impossible yet TO obtain a trace of her.
1t Is said that there is no prospect Of the rail-
roads being open in several days. and the high
ways are so badly cut that Il is impossible to
follow them. The Utica branches Of the Ontario
and Western and the Delaware and Lackawanna
are washed out near Sherburne. Earlville and
Norwich, and no trains will be run over them
to-day.
Several other small towns have suffered
verely, but news cannot be got from them. In
Edmeston it is said to have been the worst
flood ever known in that valley, and the report
received says that thousands Of dollars OF dam
age has been caused as the whole town had been
torn I'D
At Sherburne one Of the reservoirs of the vii
lage system was washed out causing damage to
the system to the extent of $4,000. The est-
mate is that bridges worth $4,000 have been
washed away in that township and that In Sher-
burne village the damage is $4,000. 1t is re-
ported that several whole diaries were carried
down stream by the food
The large dairy Of Roscoe Johnson, on the
Kings Settlement Creek was entirely destroyed,
the barns and other buildings being washed
away and all Of his cattle drowned.
A clOudburst in the farming country south
Of Fort Plain early to-day caused damage to
the extent of many thousands OF dollars. OF
squagO Creek ordinarily Insignificant stream,
suddenly assumed dangerous proportions. Its
banks were overlooked for miles. Several bridges
were destroyed and many were badly dam
aged, highways were washed out, a few build
ings were demolished and carried away, or
chards were uprooted and great damage was
caused to growing crops of grain. to hop yards
and to gardens.
Debris Of nearly every description was brought
to the Mohawk Valley by Otsquago Creek, and
was damned into the openings under the bottom
OF the Erie Canal, which permit the creek to
reach the Mohawk River. The water held back
by the jam overflow ed into the canal. A big
tree struck the banks Of the canal with great
force, threatening 10 tear it away, but fortu-
nateIy the canal saved. The breaking
would have enptied the twelve mile level into
Fort Plain and caused much danger