Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-08-01
rlar MnRK a. EsrnRIrCrInG

At this time the immense granite walls
Of Mr.. Deford's cotton mill commenced to
totter, and the outer or water wall soon
after gave way, carrying with it the
roof The entire contents Of the Immense
building, with all its magnificent machin-
cry, fell out into the torrent with crash
that drowned the roar of the elements; and
thus, property valued at $250,OO0 was
swept out of existence as in a moment.
About this time commenced scene of ter
ror that has quite overwhelmed this little
community. In the first place all the
workmen but eight escaped from the Gran
ite Mill before the water rose above the
floors and as these began to find that the
structure was in danger, they all made
their escape by swimming, or by being
drawn to the shore by the aid of ropes, ex-
cept Mr.. Matthias McCauley, Who, not
being able to swim, was afraid to venture.
He went up in the mill, determining TO re-.
main, but finding the walls TO be cracking,
aud the immense structure rocking under
the force ofthe water, he climbed out on to
the stone tower surmounting the roof, and,
in a moment after, the whole building, ex-
cept part Of the wall on the east or land
side, and the tower, fell into the stream
Mr.. McCauiey was observed still ON the
tower, and great efforts were made for his
rescue, as il was also sWaying to and fro
like a reed. Ropes were thrown. to him,
and he was urged to Jump into the water
as the only chance of safety, but he de-
clined, and in few moments the. granite
tower rocked and fell, carrying him down
with il, and the unfortunate man was seen
no more. So soon as the mill had fallen,
the river spread over the spot where it had
stood, widening the stream to that extent.
The mill had acted as q shield to the long
row of stone dwellings adjoining it, extend
ing from the railroad bridge 10 the Patap-
SEQ Mill. The subsequent calamity might
have been prevented, but with the first
rush of the widened torrent the first of
these houses, although built of stone, crum-
bled like an. egg shell aud disappeared.
The unfortunate inmates, many of whom
were unable to escape, could now be OBJ
served making their way 10 the roofs, and
scrambling along-men, women and chill
dren-from roof to root, hoping TO secure
place Of more safety. The whole popula
ton of the, city was assembled on the eIeva-
tions surrounding, helpless witnesses of
these appalling scenes. Even husbands,
mothers, and. fathers were compelled to
stand and witness the peril OF, their own
dear ones, without power to succor or. save.
This row Of houses numbered fourteen or
fifteen, and with the exception Of a twelve
foot alley, next to DR.. Owings' house stood
close together. They were nearly all OF
one height, and the roofs quite fiat. After
the first of these buildings fell the Inmates
began to appear on the roofs. The house
Of DR.. ORings was Of wood, and fOated off
its foundations across the alley adjoining,
and against the next house which was Of
stone. The family consisted of Miss Owings
and ak children, and eolored man and
woman servants. William, the colored
man, was seen cutting a holethrongh the
roof with an axe, and soon appeared with
the Youngest child of the Doctor in his
arms. He then helped Mrs. Owings through
and the other children, and conveyed them
on TO the roof Of the next house, and
seemed to watch over their safety and COM
fort In this hour Of peril, with devotion
that will DO honor to his memory 30 long
AZ those who witnessed his self sacrificing
labors shall live. Everybody ia speaking
of the bravery and devotion of DIR. Owings'
man William, thus thrown in moment as
the only human hand on which mother
and children could rely in the hour Of peril.
His efforts were, however, altogether in
vain, but he stood manfully by his trust TO
the last, and nobly yielded up his life
without any effort to seek his own personal
safety. With one Of the younger children
in his arms he went down with mother and
little ones around him in the boiling and
raging current. A party ofyoung men sta
toned on the Patapsco Mills bridge, with
ropes, endeavoring to save those who might
be able to swim, report having seen Mrs.
OWings on the surface of the water, appa-
rently swimming with one hand, and en-
deavoring to sustain her youngest child with
the other, but she soon sank to rise no more,
and was carried off in the torrent.
.f FALL OF THE LAST HOUSE,
House after house, in this row, went
down, and the victims fled before the wrath
of the flood, from roof to roof, until but one
roof remained on which the survivors had
gathered to the number Of fifteen. Some
were observed in the attitude. of prayer,
and others in desperation, but all were dis
tinctly recognized and identified by the
spectators as relatives or personal acquain-
-tauoas No aid couId ba Given 10 them