Norwich bulletin., 1918-02-21
TOO MUCH WATER AT WESTERLY
food Conditions in Pawcatuck River and Floating Ice Cakes,
 Increased During Year-Comty Bar Association Takes
 Action on Death of Albert B. Crafts-I. R. Sheldon <. Leaves For Ohio

The unusually severe rain storm of Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning converted the water shed of the Pawcatuck into continuous ov erhow ard resulted in swelling the waters of the river. releasing the thick ice as far back as White Rock, and huge cakes two feet in thickness came down the river at tremendous speed on the rapidly flowing water. Most of this ice was broken into smaller pieces as it pa<ed over the Broad Street dam, and the huge mass was driven down to Little Nara gansett bay and the deep waters be- yond to add to the fields of ice that prevails along the coast line and the waters thereof. While more or less section of the Pawcatuck river the most serious was at the Westerly Pawcatuck bridge, just above the dam
 An iron circular support, fully two and a half feet in diameter was struck by huge cake of ice, moved from its solid foundation in the river bed and careened about ten degrees, leaving one of the longitudinal bridge supports only a few inches on the iron column. This only affected the sidewalk section of the bridge on the side owned by the town of Westerly. As a precautionary measure the po- lice closed that section to pedestrian travel. Provided, no other damage comes from the ice yet to be released farther up the river, the damage can be readily repaired. The Briggs building, a three story wooden structure. extends along the bridge on the Westerly side and over hangs the Pawcatuck river, being sup ported by large iron spiles and wood en piles of the ordinary size. Ar iron support at the corner of the building was carried away, as was also wooden spile, cracking the cross beam that supports the rear of the | building, the front resting on Mair street On the ground floor is mu- sic, stationery and general store. { | barber shop, a film store and a rest aurant. On the second floor ther,
 are offices and dentists rooms and or
 the top floor club room. Thi
 building settled about three inches il the section where the supports wer'
 knocked away by the ice and articles were disarranged in all parts of tn
 building. It is not thought that ther will be any more damage. but repair cannot be made until the turbulen waters subside.
 Just over the state liIA. on the Paw catuck section of the bridge is tn
 one story unattractive building. -e
 gently partially destroyed by-sfire an now undergoing repairs. This is. sup ported wholly by ordinary woode spiles, and a few of these were knock
 ed askew, and aside from being nov ed an inch or two from the bridg sidewalk that building is still ther, .l Considering the intrinsiv value, thi
 building is said to have been, just be fore the fire. the most profitable as
 rent producer than any in the twi } yillagest of Westerly and Pawcatuck. ! A, large bill board located just be
 low the dam, containing. a patriot announcement, the big line bein; How .. Much Longer" was partiall, , tipped. into. the river and washed b that swift moving water. It's tim
 had probably not come
 The pontoon bridge of the cottre plant was swept from it's moarins and was recovered and secured befol
 it passed the mill of the America Thread company. It. cannot | placed in position until much of tt
 ice leaves the river.
 The supreme court of Rhode IsIar , has rendered unanimous opinion tn;