Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1848-03-09
VOLUME II--NUMBER 20.
MASSILLlON INUNDATED By THE
BREAKING OF THE SlPPO RESER.
V0lR DAM-GREAT DESTRUCTION
DE PROPERTN


VOlR DAM-GREAT DESTRUCTION
OF PROPERTY.
On "Wednesday morning last. afcr our form
vas made up for press, We briefly announced the
breaking Of the dam, and the consequent de-.
slruciion Of properly At Massi.lon that morning
about O'Clock. The reservoir dam wns cree.
ted JoILI By the SluIs and the Rolling mill CON-
Pany 10 supply the canal end for milling pur.
POSES. lt IS si'la'ed q miles n. Z. Of that
Town, 90 feet above 1t, aud covered about 1000
acres OF ground, 10 the average depth Of prob
ably feet. The water thus far has not bowey.
er been used for eiIher Of the des On d purposes.
sIlce US erection an uncommon amount OF sick.
ness has prevailed in the ", in.Iy, ard the suf.
icrers attributed it to the reservoir; they have
held meetings, pe,ilioncd the legislature for re-
dress, and as VIC learn, on the very day s de-
stuciion occHnej, the Legislature passed a res
olulon aulhorislug the Board OF Public Works
10 seiecI COMMITTEES to examine The matter du-
ring the approaching season, and report 10 the
next Legislature whether in their opinion the
dam does produce sickness. Wheiherany agcn.
.cywaS used by iheneighbouring citizens to break
the dam, VIC DO not know, and therefore will not
say.
About 4 aiicr 3 o'clock, A. u. the wafer reached
Massiilon-presented doubtless a fearful aud
appalling sight. IL continued 10 rise with fearful
rapIdliy, until il burst the enbankmenl Of the
canal, and rolled into the low grounds 10 the
river carrying with it every obsluclon; nunda-
ling the lower part Of the Town even norlh Of the
American Hotel, filling cellars; and the base.
ment stories Of warehouses. and even going into
some OF The houses. 1t rendered the streets
impossible by dePos'ing muck, lumber, boxes,
&c. in Them. }. l.. Rayuo,d's large brick Ware
house was entirely DESTROYED. and scarcely a
Yeslige oft is TO be saen-whgrn il stood, and
almost the entire lot, snow The Uedof The stream
It's contents Of flour, grain, clovcr-seed, etc. were
swept with il but some of the -four was taken up
along the river. The easI corner of The Stone
block fell down; and the arches under it TO pass
boats from the canal to the basin giving way,
the floors have fallen in. The end Of Mr.. e.
SINNERS brick factory, was thrown down and
and The machinery carried off. The fremont
House large brick building, just opened the day
before a5 a tavern, washed on its north end to ils
very foundation. There was dancing party
in it as the waller approached; most oithe parry
escaped before il become surrounded by deep
water. Several however were compelled 10
remain in il, perIIous US was their siluation.-
A stone arch running norh of it, we should
Judge, only saved the building. Had it fallen,
lives must have inevitable been lost. One cor
mr. Of Reeds brick lannery was kEo ked in by
canal boat striking il; the building is safe; his
loss i'll hides, &c. is heavy. A brick house be-
tween thar and the river was in imminent danger,
but was saved by the per5evering industry OF the
citizens. DR.. Watson's warehouse, us well as
that OF Fenner and McMlIen, were undermined,
aud vast quanlles Of articles washed out. 70
show the power ofihc water, it is asserted that
barrels Of Sugar, MoIasses, &c, driven out Of
The warehouses, wcr, carried up the canal 8
miles. A stable with two cows in il was swept
off. The whole loss sustained is estimated at
Sl500OO.
We witnessed the scene OF destruction on
Saturday last, and it is truly appalling. Never
before could we have believed that any quantity
OF water could have produced suce destruction.
-[Ohio Repository, March lst.