Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-07-13
TELEGRAPUIC NEWS.
SPECIAL DISPATCHES TO TIE GAZETTE.l
Floods.

EiOoNS.
BosTuN, July l3.-rherc was great f ,od
Saturday night and Sunday in Western Mas
sachuscttS, caused by rapid rise of the West
f.d river A di, patch from Chester says the
railroad arch bri ge highway bridge and Two
dwellings, at MiidIe6cld switch station arc
gone. At Chester Waists dam and shoddy
mill, fur highway BRIDGES, B. ". Palmer
barn aud Samuel 0 is shop arc swept away,
besides Nv, railroad bridges partially destroyed.
TIE dam Of Hampton, Emory 4 Co., at Chcs-
ter, is aiso carried away, aud a large amount of
emory with it. Everyone OF six or seven bridges
on tie Boston aud Albany Railroad, between
Middcicid and Hunting on, is either wholly
or partially destroyed. The cmhankment OF
the railroad is also badly washed out in many
places, and there is a very serious break be-
tween Beckett and Washington Railroad travel
between Springfield aud Albany will be inter
rupted for several days.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. July b. = Details are
coming TO hand of Sccoud fl I'D in Hampshire
county. Mass, caused by the giving way OF the
reservoir Of factory at the village of Middle
field The Uuion gives the following partcu-
lars in its noon edition: The reservoir was sit
uated on MidGlcfi Id brock, which cmpties in
10 the west branch of the Was Fl I'D river at
Midde6cll switch. |; covered nearly one hun
bred acres and was built about thirty years ago
by Urah Church, father Of the present owner,
who started the business nov carried on by his
four s,us The reservoir was mad" by the
raising of the mala road from Middlrf id cen
ire to North Beckett, the hills on either side of
the stream forming the sides Of the reservoir.
The road dam was raised about % feet Tor
distance Of froiu 80 TO 40 rods. The dam gave
way once before it Was finished, but slucc its
completion it has been regarded as safe.
SPRINGFIELD, July ia special dispatch
from the Il ,,dcd district says that two rcser
vors, each covering but loo ACRES, and
which were used far the purpose Of iurnlghlng
additional water for the large new mill now be.
ing erected, are gone. 1t was the intention TO
raise the dam Of one OF the reservoirs two feet
during the present season. The reservoir was
used Tor the storage Of water for the Church
brothers running two broad cloth mills, for
Blush feoe, thil and stavc factory, aud for
the mill owned hy Oliver Blush and formerly
used as a WOODEN mill, but latcy is a grist mill.
These were all The mills situated on Middle
field branch Below the reservoir, between
Midd, ii Iii switch aud Chester. there is, upon
the west branch Of the Yves fi'id river, into
which Mld1i ii Id stream enters, Vests wool
en- mill, Formerly used as a Shnddy mill, and at
Chester there is the Hampden emory milis.
From Middiefird switch the flood poured dow n
towards Chester, where ii did very serious da-
mage. The waters swept over the barns, gar
deus and road ard several houses were moved
some distance. The heaviest loser AT Chester ls
De- Lucas whe estimates his loss at at 5 900 y
partially sweeping away his emory mill. The
water vent through the lower story Q! the ID II
carrying off abuu, 5000 WORTH .! fmory. Ii also
did considerable damage 10 DR.. Lucas's axe
G,an,i:.ic urng business, carried on IN an i'd
lining building under the name OF the Ham
NUN Edge Tout Company. The water power
Of this company is entirely deSr' ycd. DIR.
Lucas farm %! fifty acres was badly d mayed,
As was also the large tailn Of Newton Cowles
Nearly ali OF The valley residents 10 the vicinity
of Chester have suffered more or lcss damage
to farms and gardens Bradford Palmer )
farm and Samuci y is sho" shop were moved
Some distance aud VIM. Fay 4 Sons furniture
warehouse waS badly fl udcd out. The build
ing was undermined and turned partly around.
High Water continued at Chester Tor about an
hour and had it continued much longer the
damage would have been much more severe.
The town Of Chescr suffers heavily 10
the loss of bridges aud damage to roads.
Four bridges were carried oft. 10 rcplfce
these bril yes will cost about $4,000, and
several thousand dollars will be required
to repair the roads The Boston and Albany
Railroad is very badly damaged for distance
Of nearly twenty miles. Every bridge between
Middlvtied and Huntington is wholly or parti-
ally destroyed The road bed is also washed
out in many places and travel between this city
and Albany will necessarily be suspended for
several days. The wires arc still down beyond
Chester and 90 d., Fl lite information has been
received as TO the loss of life at Blush Hollow,
which i, is pow thought must have been consid-
cradle.