Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-03-23
AocaI aao State Eems.
Breaking of a DANA Life Lost.

ii.
full, covers an area of three or four acres; II
is situated close to the Litchfeld road, on the
left. a short distance from the city, The res
ervoir dam was built at the upper end Of a
deep defile, not unlike a mountain gorge,
known as the Vaughn Brook, and stretched
from bank to bank, a distance of about two
hundred feet; it was constructed of stone
many years ago, and from time to time has
received additions, until its perpendicular
height was between IL and 20 feet. In the
summer time there is usually only small
quantity Of water flowing into the reservoir,
and at times the bed of the stream below the
dam is nearly dry. But the brook is remark
ably sensitive to rain-falls and melting of
SHOWS, and in spring and fall discharges an
immense quantity Of water, which from the
reservoir goes tumbling down into the Kenne-
bee one hundred and eighty eight feet below,
and about half a mile distant. 1t pours over
five distinct cascades and precpices, and four
dams, making in all nine abrupt descents, by
the time it reaches the highway near Shep-
ards Point.
The bed of the brook is narrow, while its
banks nearly the entire distance from the res
ervoir to the street are exceedingly steep,
towering hundreds of feet above. The brook
is a peculiar one for this section, possess
ing all the characteristics of a mountain de-
file. On the three lower cascades, near the
highway, are dams, the upper one go feet and
inches falD being used by S. Page Co. to
grind slate for oil. cloths and roofing; the
next "a feet and inches fall by the same
firm for grist mill and whiting mill, and by
Geo. b. McClench for the Eagle Iron Works :;
the last az feet and inches fall), by Geo,
Fuller for his oil-cloth print blocks manufac-
tory.
Unfortunately, the frosts action the past
winter, together with the large amount of
water in the reservoir, made the upper dam
give way, at about five o'clock in the after
noon of Tuesday, causing the loss of a life,
and the destruction of considerable property.
At O'Clock, precisely, the two workmen
in the slate mill-John McCrater and Michael
Curtain, being the farthest up stream,
heard heavy roar that reminded them of an
earthquake, aud looking from the mill, saw
with terror trees bending before torrent of
water that filed the gorge from bank to bank
to high point, and which was rolling down
toward them with fearful rapidity; they
reached point of safety before the terrific
deluge of water, which had broken loose from
the reservoir, reached the mill. But the slate
mill was uninjured, owing to its elevation
above the torrent. The dam, however, by
which it has been operated, was broken, and
about 80 feet Of the penstock carried down.
The capacity of this mill is about s tons of
slate -four per week; its operation will neces-
sarily be suspended for season.
The torrent rushed past the slate mill to
the dam few rods below, washing away
several hundred cubic yards of earth at the
eastern end of the dam; it struck the pattern
shop Of Geo. B. McClench, building 40x40,
two stories, the upper being filled with pat
terms Of machinery, and the lower with
lumber. The building was much broken and
the patterns damaged though none were car
ried away.
The irresistible torrent struck simultan-
eously the blacksmith shop of Mr.. McClench,
and S. Page & Co.'S building known as the
whiting mill The former was left complete
wreck. The latter, not being directly in the
path of the destroying wave, was only thor
oughly drenched with water and mud. In
the same building is the grist mill, in which
at the time were the miller, Mr.. Towns, and
VIC. Horn, who, just as one side of the
building was struck, fed through a conven-
lent door into the street and thus escaped
harm. About so bushels Of meal in the mill
were buried beneath the wave, and also a
large amount of whiting. A shed attached
TO the building was partially torn down; be-
meath its roof were swept several immense
boulders from the bed of the brook, one of
which can not weigh less ten or twelve tons
In contrast with this deluge at . o'clock, 1t
may be proper to state that the miller had to
stop his machinery in the forenoon of the
same day, on account of the lack of water
The penstock connected with this establish
ment was carried away; also several hun
dred dollars worth of prepared clay and other
property destroyed.
The machine shop of McClench on the OPP
posite side of the stream was thoroughly
drenched with water and mud. the floor COW
cred with about four feet of water, submerg-
ing much of the machinery. The hands in
the shop, IL or IA in number, had just time
to emerge before the deluge broke over the
premises. A large steam boiler lying in front
of the shop was swept away and has not since
been seen.
In its devastating course the torrent swept
away almost every vestige of the street bridgs
spanning the stream. In its fury the Aood
then dashed against the building used as q
wool shop and inside Of which at the moment
was the proprietor, Mr.. Zenas King. The
building was instantly torn in pieces and
borne into the swollen Kennebec a few hun
dred yards distant.
The violent death Of Mr.. King makes this