Norwich bulletin., 1915-07-15

Putnam seemed in danger Of being
washed OF the map at one period
during the storm that appropriated
cloudburst, Wednesday. Late in the
afternoon when reports had come in
from the various towns in this vicinity
it was evident that this city was in
the very center of the extraordinary
storm, and also that its experience
with such rain has not been dupH-
Gated for many many years.
Heralded by ominous banks of heavy
dark clouds and salyos of thunder that
rumbled with incessant threats Of
what was 20 come, the storm began
1 to gather soon after the noon hour.
1t was some time later before the full
| fury of the onslaught was felt, but
when it did come old inhabitants
| didn't have much to say about sum-
mer storms that used to occur in this
section
While the lightning flashed steadily
and the thunder roared, Old Jupiter
Pluvius opened up with everything he
had in the shop and in a very few
/ minutes there were those who began
| to wonder If a boat wouldn't prove a
| handy thing to have about the house.
The water fell in almost solid wall
and so heavy was the downpour at
tines as to make it almost impossible
| to see half block distant.
The city's surface drains were never
1 intended to care for such a rush OF
water as began to run down the
streets within ten minutes after the
i storm had reached its height, so the
surplus began to accu1nmulate az low
points.
From Front. South Main and School
| street district young rivers, born as If
/ by magic, rushed for the low points
under the railroad bridge over Front
street and in a quarter of an hour
that whole, section was four feet un-
der water. Drivers who attempted to
drive through the flood found their
horses wading up to their shoulders,
Great quantities of earth were wash
ed Off the north railroad emoankment,
which is steep at this point, down on
to the Front street walks under the
bridge and so much earth was cut
| away from under one treStle as to
leave a track supporting a passenger
car unused and standing upon 1t al
most suspended on air.
This condition was repeated with
some variation at the railroad bridge
over South Main street, near the sub
station of the trolley company and
railroad embanlSment on the main
line Of the Midland division. in the
vicinity of the gas plant and bridge
over the Quinebaug.
As soon as the storm abated some
what hundreds gathered to witness
the food scene near the Front street
bridge. The washout conditions here
not injuring the bridge foundations
in any degree however, and at other
points on the railroad about the city
started some talk of sending the after
noon express. Boston for New York
around by Providence and P1ainf1eld
i Word of this was flashed to Black
stone, but conditions improved SC
rapidly after the storm abated that II
was found possible to care for the
train The train due here at 3:15 from
Norwich was held up at Dayville for
ten minutes awaiting reports on con-
ditions at the South Main street
bridge. Arriving here. the train got
through without trouble.
carry It Off and much water also ac-
of earth on the sidewalks under the
Front street bridge and gangs Of men
were engaged during the afternoon ir
clearing them away.
Over in the Church and Bridge
street section the streets were flooded
and a tree was knocked over. Light
ming struck a barn at the O'Brier
place on Oak hill. Nearly 100 tele-
phone lines were knocked out by tht
storm, but 1inemen started at once tC
repair the damage and will work like
beavers until the work Is completed
The lightning knocked a part Of the
chimney off the residence of Mrs. f
g. Letters and Also struck the hom'
OF DR.. A. H. Strahan-
Brady's pool room in the Bradley
block on Front street. was flooded witt
, | water that came down from the roo
of adjoining buildings in such volume
that the cutters could not begin e
carry IL and much water also ac'
cummulated in the basement OF thu
Woolworth store in the same building
Gangs of men were sent out by thu
| railroad company to take care OF tn
washout on the Midland division. ont
, afternoon passenger train from Will
mantle being routed by Plainfield
while this work was under way.
Persons who have lived many year,
pronounce the storm, or storms, 70