The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-03-20
Third or Hartford
 Has Been Flooded
tContinued from Page D


 an hour, extending the flood be- yond the power of any to stop. AS 1t rose, more and more residents fled and through the black night soldiers and police ran from house to house to order evacuation. The river was expected to continue ris- ing until noon. None could predict its eventual height or the eventual area 1t would cover.
 6 Feet of Water
 Parts of the Hartford business district were under six feet of water and the city drainage pumps, threatened with a shutdown by power failure at any minute, worked at capacity in 0 futile effort to keep the level from rising.
 Every bridge across the Connec- ticut for p miles on either side of Hartford was under water and it was impossible to cross the torrent except by boat--a hazardous adven- ture in a small boat.
 The raging Quinebaug river, which reaches the sea at New Ha- ven, added its share of terror to the central and northeast Connecticut districts. Its dam at Wilsonville had collapsed, sending down torrents of water that marooned several hun dred in the mill villages of Gros- venordale and North Grosvenordale
 Exceeding In Springfield
 The Connecticut river flows through Connecticut from north to south. Its flood crest was receding in Springfield, Mass, after causing great damage there and to scores of river and mill towns along its course northward into Vermont. Here 1t had separated Hartford from East Hartford and over whelmed its valley all the way to the sea, a distance from here of 40 miles.
 Picture of DesOlation
 From the Travellers Tower, one of the highest buildings in New Eng land, as far as one could see the Connecticut valley was picture of water and desolation.
 The roof of the two-story Hart ford Yacht club barely showed above water. Four huge gasoline tanks, each with capacity of sev- eral hundred thousand gallons, were tipped crazily and seemed in dan ger of being carried away. Another tank burned last night.
 A Coast Guard cutter was moored near tank at the edge of Brain ard aviation field, which was under water.
 The flood had reached the third floor of houses in the south section of Hartford. Livestock and parts of houses were swept down the swollen stream.
 Forty men were marooned at the South Meadow plant of the Hart ford Electric Light Go. for more than 30 hours. Boats were launched against the current in an attempt to rescue them.
 Telephone operators were unable to ring subscribers and the dial sys- tenn was only partly operative. Wa ter was deep in the basement oi the telephone office.
 MarOOned On House Top
 A 75-year- man was marooned on housetop in the Columbia Gar dens section. Two attempts to res cue him failed. Naval reserves prepared to try to take him of ir a power boat.
 Down river on the Connecticut's 50-mile course to Long Island sounC at New London, many communities were flooded.
 Much of Middletown was under water and power failed there. Hun- dreds of families left the lowlands The Connecticut power house wal an island.
 Principal highways leading in anc out of Hartford to the east ano south and out of Middletown to tho north and west, were impossible.
 Above Hartford, reportedly as fal as Springfield, mos; roads were out.
 Conditions Relieved
 Reports from the eastern sectior of the state, flooded by collapse oi Wilsonville dam on the QuinebauE river near Putnam. indicated condi- tions had been relieved over night Mayor Francis Murphy, Putnam marooncd on a doorstep at Gros- venordale when his boat capsizeC during a rescue attempt. was taker off today after spending the nighI there.
 Relief headquarters reported vir' tually every stricken family had been provided for. but the increas. ing number of refugees from tho south section and Columbia Gar dens area might tax the supplies.
 Thus far. it was announced. there were plenty of provisions and bed ding. but appeals were continuously broadcast for more clothing.
 Health officials reported nc thrtetened outbreak Of dieease Drinking water was closely watched bit the Hartford supply. provided |,u raaarVeiFa al Woal HaFlff ffrh ana