Perth Amboy evening news., 1912-06-20
PLANTATION
OF DOCTOR
IS>FL00DED
G. w. Tyrrell Returns From
Florida Report $1,000 Da-
mage Big Disappointment

Heavy r|ainfalls which have ter
minated into a flood have caused
$1,000 damage to the large planta-
ton owned by DR.. G. w. Tyrrell, of
this city, located on the west coast
of Florida on the CaloosahatChee.
DR.. Tyrrell returned last night from
a short visit to his plantation, which
is now under seven feet of water,
and at the residence of Mrs. Tyrrell's
parents in Norfolk, Va. Although
the farm has been damaged extern
siVely by the heavy rains, the local
physician has not lost hope in the
Idea of establishing one of the finest
orange and grapefruit groves in the
South, and will shortly order his
men to resume work on the place.
Charters Naphtha Launch.
DR.. Tyrrell left here early in the
morning of June 10, and shortly af-
ter his departure a telegram was
received at his State street residence
from his foreman in Florida, bear
ing news of the flood and the dam
age caused. DR.. Tyrrell, therefore,
was uniformed of the conditions
down South until he arrived at En-
gleside, Fla, which is the nearest
railroad station to the Tyrrell plan
tation. The planter Immediately
chartered a naphtha launch and
made the run of twenty-five miles
to the plantation in remarkably
quick time. He found everything
except the highest trees and build
ings under water, averaging between
seven and twelve feet in depth. 1t
is safe to say that the local physi-
clans face showed signs of keen dis
appointment.
Has $4,000 Worth of Machinery.
Two bridges about eighty feet in
length, which had been swept down
stream by the torrent, were pulled
back by the launch and tied to trees.
DR.. Tyrrell found the crops or TWEEN
ty-seven acres of cultivated land de-
stroyed, as well as much damage to
the $4,000 worth of machinery re-
Gently stored on the farm. The
crops consisted of alfalfa, corn,
crimson clover and COW peas. DR..
Tyrrell expected to store the yield
in a 60 by 20 cattle shed, now in the
course of construction, for the use
of live stock which he expected to
add to his establishment within the
coming year. He figures that the
machinery can be repaired at a cost
OF 5000.
An Expensive Luxury.
Fourteen men had been working
on the place this winter, totalling a
monthly payroll of $50, exclusive
of $3.50 pei month for board. DR..
Tyrrell found such q large corps
useless under present conditions and
Immediately discharged seven of the
hands. The others will continue on
the place and bring order out of
chaos when the flood subsidies. The
place has been an expensive luxury
for the local physician, who' expects
to move down there in about ten
years from date and spend the days
In peace and comfort. He says he is
not discouraged, however, but will
continue his operations with the an
ticipation of seeing everything in
ship-shape by next winter, when he
will probably return for another
visit. DR.. Tyrrell did not expect to
return until next month, but he
longed for dry land again.
DR.. Tyrrell attributes the food to
the heavy rains and the extensive
watershed which the Caloosahatchee
river drains. He says that it takes
but a slight fall of rain to 1lp the
river and flood its banks, due to the
numerous tributaries draining into
the CalOosahatchee. He Will prob
ably take steps to prevent a repeti-
tion of the incident If he decides to
make a permanent residence there.
The house and outbUildings on the
plantation were also slightly dam
aged by the food.