Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1869-10-21
The Catastrophe at BrOadbrook, Conn.,
Seven Lives Lost.

The Hartford Courant of the 9Th gives
the following graphic account Of the ter
rible scenes at Broadbrook, Conn:
At abont % o'clock Monday afternoon,
the breaking away of Bslcher's Pond, just
this side of Ellington, sent terrible Hood
of water down upon the Beaseley dam, half
q mile below, which was instantaneously
swept away, and the roaring torrent thus
formed soon struck the upper dam of the
Broadbrook Company, tearing out one side
first, and gradually sweeping around the
outer-works, brought up against the stone
bridge, which was torn from its sound foun.
dations, and then carried of the lower dam
and the machine shop dam still further
down. Just below the lower dam stood
what was called the old factory building,
which was occupied below as q shoe shop
and above for tenement purposes. The wa
ter, which had passed around the outer
portion of the lower dam, flooded the north
side of this building before any of the in
mates were aware of their danger. So sud-
den was the breaking Of the dams that no
one in the neighborhood apprehended dan
ger till the deluge with its overwhelming
force came rushing madly down upon
them; and there was no spare time
to provide for the safety of anything which
6tOO(a Ill Tic way VI tuC tOAIOAI. La GAO
tenement-house were Albert Sheppard, a
young man; Charles Davenport, Mrs. Kill
conners, aud two children-one a girl of
eight years and the other babe; child of
Mrs. Watkins, asleep In the basement; also,
a child Of Mrs. Fitzgerald in the second
story, two boys in the lower part of the
building, aud two mon eleven in all. MIR.
Sheppard, Mr.. Davenport. Mrs. Kilcon-
ners, with the latters children, stood in
tho doorway of an ell, and several men got
into ashed near by and threw rope to them,
which was caught and fastened to q partition
Inside. Sheppard then started to cross the
rope by going hand over hand, and had got
about half way over when the main part of
tho building went to pieces, being crushed,
a spectator says, like an egg shell, and
the conclusion was so great, though the
rope held to its place, that he lost his hold
and fell into the gulf below, and passed
from sight. His body was found in the
pond, about ten rods distant, yesterday
morning. Davenport was still standing in
tho doorway when the shock took place, and
no fell into the water, but swan ashore.
Mrs. Kilconners and her children went
down with the oil, aud their bodies were
found in it when the food subsidized. The
child sleeping in the basement and the one
in the second story were drowned. A man
in the third story escaped. About five
minutes after the building was demolished,
q spot OF bare ground and portion of the
foundation appeared, and, to the surprise
of everybody, two man appeared, having
timber. One was a German and the other
an Irishman, and the latter, though
but just escaped from death, and
still perilously situated, took out his pipe,
and in ono minutes time was quietly smok-
ing M II nothing had happened Beyond
the tin shop, q man, woman and child were
overtaken by the flood, and swept away,
but fortunately lodged by fence and wore
saved. All the bodies Of those drowned
seven in all--were recovered yesterday, OK
cepting the child OF Mrs. Fitzgerald, and
the daughter of Mrs. Kilconners The lat
tors husband was ut work In tho mill, and
Witnessed the sad calamity. His case ia q
peculiarly distressing one. He came to
this country last year, and commenced
work for tho Broadbrook Company in
August, and, having saved little sum Of
money, eent to Ireland for his wife and
children, who reached here last July. Only
little girl is left to him; she was at play
when the building was surrounded, and
thus was saved. Whom the wnter first be-
gan to make in the ell of tho building, two
boys-the eldest sixteen yenrs Of ago
were on tho first floor, and got on to
tho shelves in pantry, going
higher rs tho wator gained, till they Ind
reached the upper shelf. Hero it was life
or death with thom, but tho eldest, making
a desperate effort, pushed his head through
tho coiline above. and both were enabled
to work their way to the upper floors. where
thew remained about two hours till taken
off on a rift. Each received considerable
injury; ono having bud cut in his ankle,
and the other severe brnlHo IN his wrist
Tho damage to the property; o. 7 inc ''ro"'''
brook company will be considerable