The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-03-20

structures.
 Some parts of the business dis trict were under one to six feet of water, depending on elevations. Other parts were dry.
 Power and light service which had failed spasmodically throughout the night was only partly operative and the telephone service was badly crippled. Because of power failure, the telephone exchange was unable to ring thousands of phones that operated for outgoing calls. Other thousands were out entirely.
 MiddIetown Inundated
 Below Hartford, the suburbs of Middletown were inundated and the flood was stil rising. A lumber company there was swept into the tor9ent, at a loss of $25O,000.
 The Connecticut, flowing almost due south from Vermont through Massachusetts and Connecticut to the sea, was at it's highest peak in years. Its waters were in the streets of Springfield, Mass, and of a score of smaller communities. At 7:3o a. m. it was 21 feet above flood stage here and still rising.
 Governor In Charge Gov. Wilbur l.. Cross personally took charge of the task of succoring thousands of homeless who were marshaled in schools, churches auditoriums-every available shell ter. Medical supplies and doctors and nurses would mobilize to guard against sickness or epidemic.
 The dike that sent the wall of water crushing down on Columbia Gardens was built along the river at Q low point. It crumbled and the river poured through the gap with a tremendous roar, though most of the flood continued on down the channel.
 The dyke built by the city at a cost of $3,000,000 after the 1927 flood to protect the airport still held, but water was pouring over its top and the field was inundated several inches.
 Gasoline Tanks Shaky
 Three huge gasoline storage tanks, dislodged from their moor ings, had been wedged against ob- structions in the rising flood and held another threat over the stricken city. All were said to be partly filled and authorities feared a terriffic explosion.
 Six coast guard cutters fought their way against the flood crest from the seaport of New London with orders to clear them or sink them.
 One of the huge gasoline stor- age tanks floating in the river caught fire in South Hartford early today, police reported. Fire engines and ambulances raced through streets 8 foot deep in water.
 A protection dyke gave way early today, dumping a 32 foot wall of water onto Columbia Gardens, a suburban community of 5000 per- sons. Police said an unknown num- Der of persons had been drowned.
 Eight Miles Evacuated
 Hartford is a city of 164,000 but 250,000 persons live in it's immediate vicinity and two-thirds of the dis trict either was under water or threatened. An eight mile strip on either bank of the Connecticut from Windsor to Wethersfield already had been evacuated and authorities considered evacuating an even greater area.
 A& 4 n t1o thu I,oVoaIaee i,, tha Hartford East Hartford area were estimated at 10000, many of them poorly clothed and sheltered. Though every relief facility was mobilized, it was impossible to care for all adequately.
 No deaths were reported immedi- ately.
 Telephone Service Hit
 Ali telephone service failed at 3 a. m. when the ground floor of the Sl ,O00 900 telephone company build ing filled with water, cutting of power. Light and power elsewhere in the area, except for a few iso- lated spots, already had failed. The New York, New Haven 6s Hartford IHlIVdu hCPb AIo AA6tb-OA"W WeJ SSAhAA to New Haven and New York open but 1t was not expected to remain open for long. All other rail lines had been cut. Telegraph service remained operative.
 The cutters performed invaluable rescue service. One took 100 refu- gees from the river banks at East Hartford, where they had been cut of and were in grave danger, and landed them on higher ground. It was one of the few times that Coast Guard cutters have gone inland to aid in an emergency.
 Red Gross Appeals
 The Red Gross. it's facilities taxed, broadcast appeals repeatedly for clothing and bedding. Medical sIip- piles also were badly needed and n food shortage was possible n the city ib eus of for long.
 The river rose geIenfleGSiy q foot