Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-06-04
Rutland, VI, Suffers
$1,000, Damage
From Flash Flood
~ The A,.seiat.d Yrs,.

~ ms Asscetoied Pfesf
RUTLAND, VT, June 4.-This
picturesque Vermont city of 49,
600 was without power and water
today after a flash flood result
ing from a torrential rainfall
caused an estimated $4,000, 900
damage and left upward of 500
persons temporarily homeless.
A power dam In East Pittsford
burst, sweeping away 10 farm
houses in Chittenden just north of
Rutland and about a dozen houses
! in Rutland itself when the flood
waters raced five miles into the
city. About 200 other houses were
badly damaged.
One person-13-year-old Richard
La Victoire was reported still miss
ling and fears for his safety grew.
Three others lost in the confusion
MS lowland jewellers fed their homes
were finally found by their families.
Gov. Ernest w. Gibson ordered
emergency supplies of food, water
and clothing rushed to Rutland
second largest city in Vermont-and
ordered out the National Guard.
Rail Traffic Held Up.
Flood waters that swept down
from mountain slopes were receding
rapidly, until at noon they were
within the banks of East Creek
again.
Key highways leading into the
city were made passable by repair
crews but rail traffic was stymied by
the collapse of Rutland Railroad
main line bridge washed out by the
f1ood-swollen creek.
Lack of water was creating the
most serious difficulties, the Gov
ernor said. The shortage arose from
destruction of city water mains.
Without water, officials were UNI
able to even begin cleaning up the
debris to make them nvable again.
Army Sends Mobile Kitchens.
More than 1000 persons were
evacuated as the flood waters
swirled on this city after breaking
through the East Pittsford Dam,
about miles to the north.
Both water mains leading from a
city water-supply reservoir burst.
Public Works Commissioner Will
liam Kallie estimated 1T. would be
between two and seven days before
water could be restored
Sixteen Army mobile kitchens
were being rushed from Fort Ethan
Allen, about 80 miles away.
Between 200 and 800 persons slept
during the night in emergency cots
set up in Memorial State Armory.
At least three large bridges, one
OF them a railroad span and six
small ones were washed away.
Among them was the "76" bridge
just north of Rutland-a covered
wooden structure long regarded as
one of New England's historical
landmarks.
Center of City Endangered.
All communication with this city
was virtually cut of.
The telephone company has in
stalled q special line-reserved for
emergency calls.
The center of the city, located on
hill, escaped damage.
Still holding was the big Chitten-
den power dam five miles north of
East Pittsford-one of the largest
dams in the State, serving as basin
for the drain from the Green Noun
tair1s.
Torrential rains, the heaviest In
20 years. sent the East Creek on
rampage yesterday.
Witnesses reported that the water
from the ruptured dam came in so
fast that it buried rapidly moving
vehicles attempting to run ahead of
it. forcing occupants to race to
higher ground.
Saw Truck Engulfed.
Frank Lapine, a Rutland taxi
driver, said he saw the water COM
ing down highway so fast it went
over the top of a truck. I saw the
men get out of the truck and climb
a telegraph pole. A boat rescued
them"
Oficials said that the waters at
times reached peak higher than
in the disastrous 1927 food.
The Rutland Railroad was forced
to cancel all service when its main
line bridge north of Rutland col
lapsed and fell into East Greek,
through which the flood waters
courSed.
Boston, Montreal service was sus-
pended temporarily in both direc-
tions. but the New York Montreal
trains were rerouted over the Della
ware Il Hudson Railroad