The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-09-30
Streets of City Turned Into
Raging Torrents by
Heavy Downpour.
DAMAGE RESULTED
To Large Amount in Stores
and Residences.
NEARLY SEVEN INCHES OF RAIN
FELL BETWEEN 6 AND $50 A.
NJ, AND STREETS WERE FILLED
FROM CURB TO CURB-COURT-
HOUSE AN ISLAND.

Following close upon the track OF
the terrific tropical hurricane which
wrought such devastation in Pensa-
cola and the surrounding Sec
ton, this city was on Sat
urday morning treated to the
heaviest rainfall in its history.
the time the storm lasted.
According to the records of the local
branch of the United States weather
bureau the precipitation between 6
and $50 a. m. was 6.94 inches over
half of which fell between 6:15 and
7:15, breaking all records. The rain
fall from to noon was 7.9 inches.
Only once in the history of the
weather bureau has the precipitation
exceeded this amount for "a hours,
this being on June 1929, 1887, when
the rainfall measured 1910 inches.
The rain Saturday morning amount
ed to practically cloudburst, and al
though accompanied by no wind. fell
in binding sheets which soon turned
the streets into raging torrents, made
lakes in the lower portion of the city
and caused much damage, especially
to merchants and others whose
places of business or residences had
been injured by the terrific hurri-
cane which swept over the city on
Wednesday and Thursday.
Torrent in Streets.
A mighty torrent coursed down
Palafox street, and other streets
leading to the bay, the water being
over knee deep in many places, wash
ing clear over the sidewalks, flood
ing stores and easements and max
ing communication either on foot or
wagon almost impossible. Garden
street was a river. being full of water
from curb to curb.
The heaviest losers by the flood
were the Palafox street merchants
whose places of bushes had been
fmnurooted by the gale earlier in the
week, VIM. Johnson & Son. sustain
ing the heaviest loss, as the roof or
their building was practically carried
away. but they We're not alone. as
the losses by reason Of the terrific
downpour are general all over the
city, many of the buildings and resi-
dences which were but slightly in
jured by the hurricane, suffering far
greater damage by reason OF the
cloudburSt.
Pumping Plant Stopped.
The pumping plant of the Pensacola
Water Co, situated in Long Hollow.
was inundated by the torrents that
poured in from the higher ground and
was compelled to smut down until
the flood abated. But little incon-
venience was experienced by the pub
lie on this account, however, as pump
ing was resumed before the supply
in the standpipe and East Hill tank
was completely exhausted.
The streets leading to the lower
portion of the city from East, North
and West Hills, had all the character
istics of raging mountain torrents.
being filed from walk to walk with
foaming currents which cut them
away and carried immense quaint
ties of sand and light debris to the
lower levels.
The entire low-lying section south
and east of st. MichaePs cemetery
was turned into a lake and many
small cottages, nearly all or when
! were occupied by negroes. inundated,
/ in some instances being entirely llf'ed
from their foundations.
Court House an Island
; The county court house. which was
already partially surrounded by wa.
ter was transformed into an island
and access 10 the building was only
possible BY means of plank bridges
which were laid early in the day.
/ On the low portions of DeVlllier
street and in many of the lots in the
western portion Of the city. the wa
tor was ALI the way from ankle 10
waist deem East Government street
along Seville Square, was absolutely
imnassable 10 pedestrians. the water
stretching from the yards OF resi-
dences on the north side OF the street
oiaa acrosc the square, being still
in that condition at late hour last
| night.
Tho ward surrounding the Convent
NJ Mercy. was flooded. the water
| coaching TO the floor OF the porch.
and MANY stores on the west side OF
iPaIafox street in this vicinity were
flooded Many of the Palafox street
stores and Offices also suffered great
damage on account OF the water com
inc through injured roofs and brok-
en- windows.
II ia difficult to make an estimate
| ~ tho total damage caused by the