Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-02-09
THE DANBURY DISASTER.
Bursting Of the ReserVOirs-Full Par
tIculars Of the Less of Life and Prop
erty-Seenes and incidents.

erty-Seenes and incidents.
Rarely has the usual quiet of a
New Englandtown been so suddenly
and fearfully disturbed as was Dan
bury, Connecticut, on Sunday night.
The brief outline of the terrible dis
aster which appeared in the morn
ing papers, ofthe day, told the tale
of ruin; but no description, how
ever vivid, could properly portray
the fearful scene of desOlation in all
its sickening details. Like most of
the calamitOus accidents which are
chronicled from time 20 time, this
was caused by the most criminal
neglect. The town officials who
have direction of the water supply
are not paid by the borough, but are
merely honorary officers. Some
four months ago break was dis
covered in the upper dam, and the
matter was in due time reported to
the authorities There was some
talk then of drawing off the water
and mending the rent; but whether
the expense was too well con
sidered, or that the officers were
unwilling to undertake the
trouble and responsibility of the act,
nothing was done, and the assure,
through which the water constantly
flowed, increased in width until
Sunday night, when the whole
front part ofthe dam suddenly gave
way The sixty acres of water it
contained rushed down on the lower
reservoir, which held ten acres, and
swept it with it also, the whole form
ING deep and wide volume of water.
Both dams were built of loose stone
and earth, and the water was twenty
five to thirty feet deep in each. The
distance from the upper reservoir to
the city is nearly five miles, and the
elevation above the level of the
river, which runs through the town,
is nearly two hundred and fifty feet
The connection between the upper
and lower dams was by a twelve
inch pipe. The pressure of water
in the feed pipe was ninety-six
pounds to the square inch. The We
locity of the water, rushing from the
upper dam, taking the lower one
| with it and sweeping through the
narrow gorge that leads down to the
town, was, therefore, very great.
THE DISASTER.
The horrors of the night will long
dwell in the minds of the citizens of
Danbury. Just as the bells ceased
to ring the people to evening wor-
ship, a low, wailing sound hoated on
the air, and soon after a noise like
distant thunder was heard, followed
in a few seconds of time by pro,
longed roar, as if the mountain had
parted from its moorings, and was
rushing on the devoted town
Many persons in their homes were
so greatly frightened that they dared
| not 90 out, while those who hap
pened to be in the streets awaite d
with painful anxiety the approach
of what each felt to be an impend
ING calamity. Suddenly cries were
heard in the direction of the river,
and all whom fear had not paralyzed
rushed to ascertain the cause.
AT WHITE STREET BRIDGE
| The scene was terrific for the short
time it lasted. The water came
upon the village through the gorge
above Flint's dam, bringing with il
huge masses of stone and lumber
1t came with fearful velocity, strik
ing the houses on Main street, near
the river bank, sweeping them from
their foundations in an instant
Rushing down the flats along thu
north stream, and east of MaiI
street, itcarried destruction to every
thing before it. Fully fifteen feet
above the bed of the stream thu
water dubbed and foamed with ;
roaring noise, while huge stones
that had lain deep in their rock
bed were sent whirling before tn
current. Pieces of ice of immens
size, which covered the water il
the reservoirs, tumbled and clasheC
together, impelled by the force 0
the surging water. Like dice funl
from a box, the white, cleaning
masses tumbled over fields an
fences. The noise of wreckin.
: houses, the screams of drownin
men, women and children, caugh
in the wild Whirl of rushing water
the cracking of lumber, dashin
madly to and fro, the harsh roar {
: the triumphant waves dashin
I, madly forward on their errand
! death and destruction, appalled, til
: spectators who stood upon the big