Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1917-11-02
DAMAGE MOUNTS
INTO THOUSANDS
BrattIeboro Delayed by Storm of
Unusual Severity
Rain Accompanied by High Wind
Floods Highways, Uproots Trees and
Causes Washouts.

Causes Washouts.
Brattlcboro was hit by one of the
most disastrous storms Tuesday which
has visited this section for many years,
leaving in it's wake damages amounting
to thousands of dollars. This resulted
principally from the tremendous down
pour of rain which came during the
early morning hours, although an ac-
companyimg heavy wind uprooted seV-
cral huge trees, swept big branches from
others and practically stripped them
Of leaves, which helped clog up receiving
basins all over the town. Just about
the time that people were starting out
for their various places of employment
rain fell in torrents, almost assuming
proportions of a cloudburst such rs is
frequently experienced in the West.
Probably the streets suffered the hard
est. as there is not Il thoroughfarc with
in the town limits which will not need
some kind of attention and in many
instances the waShOutS have made them
utterly impossible. Coming at the end
Of the season, as il does, the sClcctmcn
are in II deep quandarY as to what to
do, as the road money is about exhaust
ed. Private property also has felt the
results Ol Ilt NHltIN llIuSl, l.. -. w
ton $ men S shop being so thoroughly
wet down that his stock is damaged to
the extent of more than $4,000. At the
Ninton paper mill hundreds of dollars
worth of stock was soaked.
It raincd nearly all night but about
30 Tuesday morning it more than
raincd--it simply poured and for the
next four hours more water fell during
the same space of time than ever was
recorded before in Brattlcboro +. r.
Vaughan s records showed exactly three
inches in that time. Street ears were
stalled within Il short time because of
sand and gravel which had been washed
on to the tracks. Sidewalks were Hood
ed several inches deep i'll many quarters.
Some of the streets, especially ON hill
sides, were transformed into vcritabc
rivers. Railroad trains were bcIated.
Electric power was hampcred for n
brief period and telephone wires were
tangled up.
Those who vcnturcd out-and there
were few brave enough to face the
clcmcnts-rcachcd their destinations
thoroughly drcnchcd and Immediately
there was Il demand for dry footwear
and clothing. Many lost their umbrellas,
which the wind turned wrong side out.
Others remained at home, and they
constituted the wise ones.
Shortly after it began to rain the
hardest the water began to work its
way through the roof at the rear Of
Fcnton s store and it kept increasing
until several inches flooded the floor.
1t struck goods on the shelves and ia
blcs. and more which were stored be-
meath the tables were thoroughly soaked.
init tsinr l.npl rod &c
if it had been struck by cyclone. AS
the floor slants towards the rear end
of the store, there is where the heaviest
damage resulted. 1t was necessary to
bore holes in the floor to allow the wa
ter to escape. There was leakage
about the show windows and there was
q small loss to fixtures. Fortunately
there were no goods of value stored in
the basement where the water could
reach them. The cast end Of the store
is One-stOrv structure and was
equipped with a new roof before the
present tenant moved in. In the center
is a skY-light and it was around this
that the rain first beat its way through
Then it seemed to come everywhere as
if through a big seive. Shirts, under
wear, suits of clothes, overcoats, over
alls, sweaters, everything in fact, were
wet more or less.
Four of the large plate glass windows
recently set in the store fronts of the new
Barber building were blown to smith
Greens before the blast of wind which
forced its way through the open doors
and then took IL peculiar outward course
directly behind the windows, CARRYING
-four lights from the southeast corner al
the Building before it.
Early in the day people began to tclc-
phone reports Of street wa hout, to the
selectmen, and they set out to do the
best they could t. afford relief. Men
were kept busy cleaning ont the drainage
intakes, which had become badly clogged
with leaves.
Henry T.. Whitney Of the Crysta
Springs Ice Co. was one of the first tC
enter complaint to the board, because
water spout which carries surface water
had broken back Of the ice pond and III
of the rubbish was flowing into the pond
IT was certainly dirty. rolcy looking
proposition before noon. On Organ street
directly at the rear of the Estey Organ
factory, loads of dirt were washed away
landing on the manufacturing propcrt
with resultant damage. Chestnut street
near the watering trough, was made i'm
passablc whore the rain washed away a
least 100 loads of gravel.
More damage was done in the soutl
part of the town than anywhere else a
Il hasty trip over nearly every street re
vcacd. Canal street below Maple and on
the north side presented an appearance,
hardly belevablc. Not only was tn
gullcy fuTowed deeply, but the heay,