The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1874-05-22
Fearful Calamity I'm Massachusetts

of this place burst about eight o'clock
this morning; and the water came
rushing down the hills, carrying every
thing before IL. The food struck the
south. eastern portion of Williamsburg,
village two miles north OF this place,
carrying away large number Of dwell
lings, aud sweeping along TO Skinner.
vile, il demolished SINNERS large silk
mills and his boarding aud dwelling
houses. Continuing on, the waters
struck the large brass mandatory OF
Hayden, Gere & Co., sweeping itaway in
an instant. Large stone and machinery
were swept through The main streets at
feaful rate, and we'll built houses
were instantly crushed, not giving the
inmates, moments warning. The
food caught the village OF Leeds, where
a large number of shops, dwelling, ETC.,
were swept away.
The loss Of life Is very heavy in kill
ed and drowned, whole families having
been carried over the dams. II is impos-
sible at this time 10 give The number Of
lives lost. Twenty-three bodies so far
have been taken ont of the rsbbish on
shore. Whole blocks OF tenements fill
cd with women and children were
swept down the stream, and all of the
inmates of course lost. Atnoon 20.
dies are being brought in, and laid in
tho Church. Most Of then can be re.
cognized.
FLORENCE, MASS, My l6.--There is
great cxcitemen: in tits neighborhood
over the loss of life and destruction of
property. Al Leedsthe silk mill and but.
ton shop, were bo,h carried away. The
State Agent of tac N. II. aud n. Y. Co.,
with his wife, were drowned. At the
same place mony were drowned. Sew
cral bodies were seen going down
stream, but so swift was the current
they could not be recovered. The wa
ter is now falling aud more correct and
definite particulars may soon be OBJ.
tanned.
New HAVEN, May 16.-Thc reservoirs
which broke through their embank.
ments this morning causing such havoc,
were constructed 20 supply the manu-.
factories of Williamsburg, Leeds and
lIaydenville. These towns have been
nearly destroyed and one hundred lives
are supposed 10 DE l0st,
The Goshen reservoir covered $50
acres of ground and had an average
depth Uf thirty feet. 1t was drawn
upon in dry times to supply the mills at
Williamsburg, Haydensviile and Flor
ence. The reservoir was constructed
about twelve years ago to secure suf-
ticient water for the various factories
on Mill river, one Of the most uncertain
streams, liable to floods and almost ut.
ter drouth. 1t was built by capitalists
interested in the various manufacturing
enterprises on tho stream, and has caus-
ed them apprchensions of disaster sew
eral times. Last year the reservoir was
repaired at a great expense. and was sup
posed TO be perfectly secure, although
it seemed to be leaky.
DosToN, May l6.-The mills within
the range of the devastation represent
some five million dollars at the lowest
estimate and employed about 1.400
hands, some Of them girls. The disas.
ter must cause immediate suffering to an
exclusively manufacturing population
Of about 5000 souls. The heaviest loss
will fall upon the estate o: the late Elk.
Gov. Hayden, who died a few months
since. Sunday had been set apart by
lIaydenvillo for memorial services in
memory OF the late Lieut.. Governor,
when all the members Of the family
were expected to be present. Henry
James owner of four wooden mill s de-
stroyed, was to have sailed from New
York with his family to-day for Europe,
but his departure has been interrupted
by telegraph.
BosToN, Nav IA later date saws
that one hundred and twenty lives have
been lost and upwards OF one million
dollars in property and treasure swept
away by the food.
SPRINGFIELD MASS, May 1S.--All &C.
connts attribute the disaster to The
weakness and insecurity of the rescr-
voir works. The walls were not thick
enough to resist the pressure of lbs acres
Of water, averaging 30 feet in depth.
Accommodating details of the food are
heart-reDding. Ii is feared many Cana.
dams recently arrived to work in fac
tories are lost. A Waterman discover
cd tho danger and rode down the val
ley, making three miles in fifteen min.
utes, shouting the alarm. Here milk.
man with feet horse dashed ahead Of
the flood some two minutes. He beat
it in crossing bridge, scarcely twenty
seconds and speeding on screamed "the
reservoir is comingw This heroic
milkman saved hundreds of persons,
who fled their homes and breakfast for
the slopes. The flood rushed by, car
rying human beings, houses, great iron
boilers, huge trees, cows, horses, pianos,
ard bird cages upon its crest.
SPRINGFIELD, May 1S.-Thc man
who took up the cry at iIaydenville and
carried II TO Leeds was Myron Day.
A little before eight O'Clock, while all
the people Of this place were just going
to breakfast, their attention was attrac.
ted by the appearance Of Myron Day,
from Haydenville, on horseback, shout
ing wildly, "The reservoir is broken.
save yourselves for the flood is at hand "
He rushed for the bridge over the dam,
and had got about hale way over IL
when the roar Of the coming waters
were heard by the inhabitants, who by
this time stood at their doorsteps. lie
dashed toward Florence, and the people