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TIMES.6*ieI-1616It*»t»■*I*r6*edi.i-e»i-ieedI*st*uatr'6e6»eitt1eaateIIIiIIrIiTm Brick Btor+ttooms in Muima Mw+culmuAnnum of Fite Peroona ~ JmmiaHmt ofDMlimft, CHUtrt, (Shtrdttu, to. — Lm,* $*6,ooo* /— * .from *• Memfe* Jonrml «r Ms? 11Boca after daylight this morning, tbit locality vu visited by th« beeriest rain and bail storm, with more disastrous consequences to property, tban any wbicb ever preceded it. The memorable flood of Auguet lOtb, 1851,reaulting in tbe lot* of tbree lives and destruction of some $12,000 worth of property, was not near as great as this. For the full space of an hour, tbe rain poured down in a perfect avalanche. Pappoose creek, running through the heart of the city, which, in ordinary times, is but a small rivulet, became like a river. The water rose ten or twelve feet, and foamed and dashed madly towards the great Father of Waters, carrying away fences. out-houses, and everything movable within its range. Garden fences were completely swept away, and the gardens were mostly des oyed by deposits of sand and sediment several inchee deep over the ground.But the greatest destruction was caused by the flood which came down Iowa Avenue, as at other times of heavy rain, from tbe defective condition of the city improvement on Third street, at tbe crossing of the west branch of Pappoose. The vast tide of water from bit source centered Iowa Avenue above the Nevada House, and swept down that spacious street, covering it to the debt of eighteen inches. A portion of this flood, as usual,turned down second street towards Pappoosebridge, inundating the pavements and filling cellars along the best business part of tbe city.At J. B. Dougherty’s drug store, the Wftter rushed with such force into the cellar that the walls became undermiuedjftnd two store roomsof the block fell with a sudden and tremendous crash into a complete ruin. The building was two stories high and sixty feet deep. Tbe family of Hr. H. Spencer, consisting of himself, wife, Mrs. Broadband, and a smallvide a proper chattel for the waterSI Comnton’s sistock of leather was dam*aged by the rise- in Pappoose Creek to the amount of about $100.A small portion of tbe rear wall of Mr. Moore’s store and tin store was undermined and swept away by the Creek. His loss will probably not exceed $60.Numerous* property owners and residents along Pappoose creek suffered loss by tbe water carrying away tbeir fences, out-houses, Ac., and destroying tbeir gardens. Many of them are poor, and can illy afford to bear tbeir loss. The bouse of the senior proprietor of this paper was inundated to the depth of three or four feet on the first floor, and a portion of the kitchen was carried away with a variety of household furniture. His loss is $200 or $800.The damage to the public works is considerable. The bridge over Pappoose creek on Cedar street was moved about 15 feet from its place, and so torn to pieces that it is useless. About 20 feet of the railroad bridge over Mad creek near the water-tank is carried away, and the bridge at the mouth of Pappoose sustained some damage, though it withstood a vast pressure of drift-wood. No trains have arrived or departed to-day. It is understood that the railroad track is so badljr damaged between this city and Wilton that trains cannot pass before the beginning of next week. The track to Washington is said to need only slight repairs, and a train will leave for that place this evening.Our city has suffered severely from floods, but we hope we shall never have to record another as disastrous as the one through which we have just passed.caped without serious injury.Krehe, Mr. Dougherty’s clerk, was in thestore at the time, and also escaped with buti!•light injury. All these persons were out of bed, ha ng been awakened bv the storm.— When the puilding fell, a section of the roof was supported by timbers from crushing the inmates. The entire floor fell a distance of about twelve feet ir.to the cellar. Mr. Spencer and his family were in the parlor. Mr. S. states that as soon as the rains settled, he discovered an opening above him, (the space in which they were encloeed was completely dark) through which he escaped himself, and also got out the boy and Mrs. Broadhead, who were by his side. Mrs. Spencer had by some means become separated from the rest of the party, but she was heard crying for help, and snth the asristanoe of several persons who came to the spot, she was rescuedby cutting aww a portion of the roof. There was-considerable water on the floor where shewas found. The two ladies are somewhatbraised, hut not seriously. Mr. Krehe, the derk in the drug dote, was standing near the counter when the crash came, and saved himself by getting under the counter, fromwhence he:afterwards escaped. TEIs is certainly the most providential escape from imminent death we have ever been called upon to record. How five persons could be buried in the felling ruins or a building such as our citizens beheld this morning, and yet escape with their lives, is indeed a matter of astonishment Several persons standing at some distance, who saw the building fall, say the roof parted neer the middle and an immeiiM cloud of dust arose as the mass of brick, plaster aad lumber fell in a confused heap. The concussion shook all the adjoining buildings to their very centres.We have no means of ascertaining the total amount of damage done by this flood, but estimate it at not leu than $25,000.Mr. Dougherty is the heaviest loser. His large stock of drugs is almost a total loss.— He also owned the building occupied by him, which is damaged to the amount of $2,000. Only the back wall and a one story addition of 48 feet remain standing. Oar citizens sincerely sympathise with Mr. Dougherty. He is the oldut business man in the city, having occupied the same stand since 1841. His energy, integrity and public spirit are deserving of better fortune. His property was insured against ire, hut not against such a calamity as has befallen it. The city is without doubt responsible for these damages.Tbe other building which fell down was unoccupied. It ie tie property of John G. Deshler, Esq., of Buflfao, N. T. Damage about $2,000.The building nest below, occupied by Ches.Evans, wholesale grocer, is uninjured, but thecellar vu tiled to the depth of 6 or 6 feetwith water, iu which were *0 or 40 hogsheads of sugar. If they are damaged as badly u expected, Mr. Evans’ haw will he about $5,000.Mr. Oppenbeimer's clothing store, adjoining Daugherty's, escaped without much damage, having recently been protected by a substantial board pavement.The owners of the Nevada mill are losers to the amount of $1,500. They had a thousand bushels of wheat in the sink, which is flooded and destroyed. The machinery in themill fn ihft dftOMged.Winker tt Go.'s furniture rooms, on Iowa Avenue, were flooded, as also their manufactory above Third street. A lot of costly lumber piled near their manufactory was swept off, though some of it was saved as it floated down the street Their loss is perhaps $000Dr. Water's drug store was floated to the depth of nearly two feet on the floor. The water damaged hie stock felly $2,000.Mr. Schwarz lust a few bands of salt from the fear of his storai His loss will cot exceed $100.Mr. Neal ley's store was also flooded with water and mud from the cellars of the adjoining buildings. Oh stock of leather was injured to the amount of about $100.The damsgw above enumerated, and others have donon low* Arcane,cf(J1ftgVai1thf1tiisbi]13ctCt*tt6t€I1112€€1S€11(CedHauIIpttttfhklescaped oar attention,wens occasioned by the flood onfor which the dty is Wally responsible, onaccount of the aspect of its oflccn to pro*bksihnsikfaof
Newspaper Details
Weekly Times
Dubuque, Iowa, US
Thu, May 19, 1859
Page 8
Full Page
Clipped by
Anne C.
NA, 11 Jan 2023
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