Evening star., 1936-03-21
HARTFORD FLOOD
WORST IN HISTORY
Thousands Flee Homes as
Waters Cover Industrial
City.
oyright, 1886, by the Associated Press.

HAR1FORD, Conn, Marcn I'll
The Connecticut River apparently
reached its destructive crest here to-
day, bringing hope to this food and
fear stricken capital city.
At 10 am the stubborn stream,
which at dawn had cut relentlessly
deeper into the business area and had
driven more families out into the rain
swept streets. reached a record high
level of 37.5 feet.
Meteorologist Leslie F. Conover OF
the United States Weather Bureau
said the rise of 2 of a foot since II
pm. yesterday indicated a leveling of
of the flood waters.
Meanwhile, rescue and salvage work
continued unabated with relief officials
reporting 2,2l4 refugees cared for so
far and more pouring into the emer-
gency stations with every hour.
The Weather Bureau said today's
spasmodic rains would have a neg
ligible effect on the river level, mas
much as places upstream reported a
gradual recession since last night.
Two Die in City.
The official reading was taken at the
Connecticut River Bridge where
gauge is maintained by the Weather
Bureau. Reaching it by boat was q
hazardous undertaking.
So far the flood has brought two
deaths to this city and numerous re-
ports of floating bodies, all of them
without substantiation.
National Guardsmen patrolled the
streets throughout the night, night
of darkness and peril after all elec-
trio power had failed in greater Hart
ford.
Telephone officials struggled today
to restore service to more of its 10000
telephones, reporting extra crews
working in many shifts. Service to-
day was improved over last night,
when mere 5000 lines were cut in
and usable.
Reports we're numerous that build
ings in the flooded areas had COL
lapsed, but aside from a few porches
that crumbled under the strain none
was confirmed.
Power Is Cut OFF.
The city remained without power
today and the Hartford Times, with
water in its basement, began work of
publishing at a newspaper plant in
New Haven.
Buses were rushed from other Con-
necticut cities to supplement those
already on the streets in lieu Of trolley
service disrupted by the power failure
last night. Eighteen of them were
brought here today.
Refugees told wild tales of breaking
through the roofs of their flooded
tenements in the low-lying sections
to reach safety.
The murky waters of the Con-
necticut River presented a scene of
complete ravagement, with furniture,
houses, doorSteps, automobile equip
ment and various other articles float
ing in the rapid current and backing
up side streets.
More than 800 men, women and
children from the flooded areas were
fed and housed in the Henry Barnard
Junior High School last night, one
of the many public buildings turned
over to relief agencies.
Many Injured Slightly.
Hospitals reported numerous ex-
posure and minor injury cases, in all
instances traceable to the food, but
none was serious.
There was threat of gasoline short
age. but several filling stations still
had adequate supplies, which they
doled out to customers and relief
workers.
The police station, tomb of dark
ness last night. except for emergency
lights, was scene of hustle and
hustle, with many cases being booked.
A number of old wooden tenements
on Sheldon street were reported shak-
ing. These structures are close to the
Park River and were affected by every
overflow of the stream. Guardsmen
were removing persons who had not
previously left their homes.
The most any of the rescued were
permitted to load into the boats were
one or two small bags.
National Guardsmen, Naval Militia
men, Coast Guardsmen, police and
volunteers uniformly greeted the refu-
gees as they reached dry ground with
the question:
Have you any place to go?"
Those without relatives or friends
were taken by automobile to emer-
gency stations, already jammed with
the more than 1000 in a similar plight.
The others were transported TO ad-
dresses they specified.
Members Of one family debated