New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-05-19
DISASTER.
Additional Particulars of the Terrible
Calamity in Observation-Disclosures
Two Hundred Lives Lost.

Additional Particulars of the Terrible
Calamity in Observation-Disclosures
Two Hundred Lives Lost.
BOSTON, May ia dispatch from Spring
field says: The Williamsburg reservoir,
which gave way yesterday morning, pre-
cipitated the vast mass OF water it con-
tanned three miles down a steep and narrow
valley into the thriving manufacturing vii
lage of Williamsburg, and thence further
down the valley through the villages Of
Haydenville, Leeds and Florence, into
Northampton meadows, where the stream
empties into the Connecticut river.
The huge torrent dashing into Williams.
burg with resistless power swept away in
q moment manufacturing establishments
and numbers of dwellings, causing enor-
nous destruction of property and terrible
loss of human life. The lower villages suf-
fered only less awfully. The latest figures
vided as follows between three places:
williamsburg, sixty; Leeds, forty-nine;
Haydenville, thirty-tve.
These figures only represent persons
whose lose is positively known, though the
bodies of all are not yet recovered. Bodies
are constantly being found, and in some
cases those of persons who were not sup
posed to be lost, so that it seems perfectly
safe to say that the total loss of life will
IL
nearly approach 200.
1t is impossible as yet to give a detailed
estimate of the losses, aside from buildings
destroyed and damaged. Bridges have
been carried away, roads ruined, and hun
dreds of acres of meadow land rendered
almost valueless. The total loss must fa1
exceed 81 100000, and will probably come
near g., 2,0OO, 900.
1t appears that serious doubts as to the
So <~fA Atr4
| tanned ever since it was built nine years
ago, though less for the last year or two
than in Its earlier history. The gate keeper
| has several times expressed fears to hit
| employers, calling special attention once to
the point where the break occurred, but
examiners always reported everything safe
Later frem the Scene of the Disaster-Har.
rowing Account Of the Devastation o1
the nchecked dTorrent-NIyron Day the
| new Paul Revere.
| SPRINGFIELD, May 2S.-The man who
took up the cry at Haydenville and carried
it to Leeds was Myron Day.
A little before seven O'clock while all the
people Of this place were just going tc
work, or finishing their break fasts, theil
attention was attracted by the appearance
horse, shouting wildly, "The reservoir il
hand" He rushed for the bridge over the
dam, and had got about half way over it
when the roar Of coming waters was b card
by the inhabitants. Day then dashed to
ward Florence, and the people, looking
north toward North Dam, saw there whal
what appeared to them as the crest of al
enormous moving wood pile fifty feet high
They knew what it was and rushed con
fusedly up slopes to safe quarters. The
houses were left, just as they stood, with
tables spread for breakfast.
In less than three minutes the stone dam
had given away, and . great column Of
water, laden with frame houses, pianos
sewing machines, boilers, cows, sheep
poultry and human beings, from Hayden
vile, plunged into the valley of Leeds.
Measures tor immediate relief have beer
instituted.
At Haydenyille Mr.. Hayden sent out 9
notice to rebuild his works, and offers Il
employ all those who ever worked for hin
and as many more as are needy.
In cleaning away the debris and making
preparations for work hundred acres ART
covered with sad remnants Of the village
which adorned the tfact of country running
eight miles through Hampshire county anG
which is now barren waste of land
stones, ruins and corpses.
To be Inveshgated-Relief for tho Suf
feFeRs.
| Boston, Nay l8.-The committee Of th
Massachusetts Legislatufe, appointDd 70 iu
vsstigats tie Min river disos6es, WITH viev