The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-03-19

Hampshire for their supply. It ap- peared that New England tempo rarily must look to Chicago and the west for its milk supplies.
 Hardest hit were cities and towns along the Connecticut river valley.
 Hundreds trapped in their homes in Massachusetts, Vermont and New Hampshire were rescued in boats by state militia, police and volunteers.
 Others, warned that rising waters soon would maroon their homes, fled to higher land with household pos- sessions. The homeless were fed and given shelter in state armories, schools, churches and college gym naSiumS.
 Many remained marooned.
 Not One State Untouched
 Not state of the New England group was left untouched by the all- embracing destructiveness of the worst flood since the $l00,000,000 catastrophe of nine years ago in which 125 perished.
 In many sections, the flood was more ravaging than the 1927 disas- ter.
 The Merrimack river, coursing through central and southern New Hampshire and northern Massachu- sets, wrough new havoc.
 Fear gripped residents of the Connecticut Valley early today when Massachusetts state police issued an erroneous report that the dam in Vernon, Vt, had collapsed under the hammering of the Connecticut river.
 Valley resident were warned to evacuate immediately.
 Although 1t had been weakening under incessant pounding, the dam held up as workman fought fever ishly to stem what appeared to be imminent disaster.
 Highest In Holyoke
 Holyoke, Mass, March 1S-(UP) -CCC workers and volunteers bat tied today to stem the turbulent flood in the Connecticut river, which reached an all-time high to- day.
 The water level over Holyoke dam reached 16 1-2 feet, compared with a maximum of IA 3-4 in the disastrous 1917 floor. The peak was expected to be reached here tonight. Word from Turner's Falls said the peak had been reached at that point and waters now were reced- ing.
 Four thousand paper mill em- ployes were thrown out of work when dyke at the lower end of the city gave way, inundating that section.
 The eco workers formed 8 Bucket Brigade" to pass sandbags for construction of a parapet at the gate house at entrance to the canal system, and prevent waters from surging around the side of the dam.
 Boston and Maine railroad tracks were under five feet of water. Bridge Shattered
 Skohegan, Me-, March 19-(UP)- Roaring water of the Kennebec river shattered a bridge, isolated families and inundated farmlands and river camps in this area today. All gates of the Wyman dam at Bingham were open to relieve pres- sure on the structure.
 Three families were isolated at Austin. At Hinckley a family was taken to safety by police.
 The so-called swing bridge here was washed awaw early today. Camps and cottages along the river were damaged.
 Water over the Wyman dam had reached the level of the disastrous 1927 foods.
 Out of Work
 Lawrence, Mass, March l9-(UP) Nearly 10000 textile hands were forced out of work today when waters of the Merrimack flooded mill basements.
 The wood mill of the American Woolen Company announced a shutdown for the rest of the week Five hundred hands were out al the Pacific mills. The Aver mill may close. and 50 operatives al suttoh's mill in North Andovei were forced to quit the flooded dye house of the plant.
 The Merrimack was rising si, inches an hour. and was oniS slightly below last Fridays disas' trous high.