New Britain herald., 1929-02-07
MORNING DBLUGE
BREAKS ON CITY
Continued from First Page)

in these areas that the property
damage was heaviest, although the
city generally suffered. Automobile
traffic in all localities was halted In
some degree and scores Of automo-
biles were marooned in districts
where the water rushed down the
highways and created deep ponds
in depressions.
Streets located near brooks into
which the storm water sewers flow
presented the appearance of a mill
race. Commonwealth avenue was
transformed into a rushing river and
few living on that street were able
to leave their homes. The fact that
most of homes are built on banks
located above the street level pre-
vented actual damage to some ex-
tent.
F1remen Remove Families
The condition of Park drive was
such that the department of public
works concentrated its efforts there
for several hour this morning. and
the services of the fire department
were used to take several families
from homes into which the water
had flowed covering the first floors,
extinguishing fires and floating rugs
and light furniture about the build
ings.
The region of Willow Brook park
resembled a sea. The automobile
storeyard conducted by Peter Rossl
was covered with water. which flow
ed from Willow Brook. and those
which had been placed in the low
lands were for the most part OBJ
scured from view.
At the Stanley hotel on Church
street, the backfiow from the storm
water sewers rushed into the eel.
lar, putting out the fires and making
1t impossible to furnish heat or ho'
water to guests at the hostelry. Ar
appeal was made to the board OIL
public works to furnish relief, but
none could be had.
$50 Appeals For Pumps
Chief w. ]. Eoble of the fire de-
partment was besieged with request:
that the fire apparatus be despatch
ed to pump out cellars and prevent
spread of damage. but he found il
necessary to decline for the reason
that damage to the pumping appar
atus would result. The chiefs home
on Harrison street, was flooded ir
the basement area but he, too
awaited the cessation OF the flood. j
was estimated by the operator OF
duty at headquarters that more thar
$50 requests for the services OF the
department in pumping duty were
received during the morning hours
The food damage was not attribu
table to the failure Of the storH
water system. but rather to the in
ability OF the brooks to carry of
the streams, City Engineer PhlliI
A. Merriam explained. That the sew
erage system was functioning pro
perly was demonstrated by the fac
that dozens of manhole covers wert
forced off by the water flow ant
streams gushed several inches a
these points, he said.
Street Department Checked
Street Superintendent Eugene Fa
selle had a force of men patrollint
the streets and clearing obstruction
from the mains to permit the waite
to pass through, but beyond this
it was impossible to accomplish
| anything. At o'clock this morn
ing. Merriam and Faselle agreed tina
time alone could remedy the condl
ton and that damage and lnco1i
yenience must be borne until tn
brooks had ebbed and could tax
the streams without backing up.
A heavy sedan attempted the Der
lin underpass and failed to clear tn
stretch when water put the mag
neto and carburetor out of commits
sion. As the water continued to f1o1
into the cut, the car became NOR
and more obscured from vision an
before the ebb set in the water ha
reached the level of the steerin
wheel.
MarOOncd in Auto
John SmidgrodZi of II Par
drive appealed to Edward o. Xii
bourne, the owner of the propert
in which he lives. to assist him l
taking his family from their f1oode
home, and the two set out in
light sedan. driving along the side
walk. They reached the front of tn
house. but were stopped when tn
sengine failed. Marooned in the ca