People's Pilot, Volume 2, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 December 1892 — DELUGED BY WATER. [ARTICLE]

DELUGED BY WATER.

The Bursting of a Main In Chicago Causes a Loss of About 8100,000. Chicago, Dec. 18.—A water main burst at the corner of Fifth avenue and. Congress street at 7 a. m. Monday and flooded a number of basements in the immediate vicinity before the water office could be notified and the water shut off. So great was the pressure from the main that for a distance of a block on either side of the break the pavement was thrown up in a great mound several feet above the level of the street. The main was the principal source of supply for the West side and many manufactories in that portion of the city were compelled to shut down for want of water. A great amount of suffering was caused by the bursting of the main, and the damage to property is at least $50,000. Many poor people lived in basements near the break, and a number of families were, rendered homeless and destitute. The basements of the humble homes are from six to fifteen feet below grade, and into them the water po ired like a cataract. Nearly every bn se ment was inhabited by one or more families, and a wild scramble to get out ensued among those who were not too sick tp rise: In many instances both mothers and children escaped with just the clothing they had on whep the flood of water rushed in upon them. In several instances the lives of the sick were only saved by promptitude and heroism. ,