Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1874-05-22

the food to Leeds, on board. from
somewhere above. Luckily he steereG
for little knoll not yet covered, and
throwing away his board, he climbed
to the highest point of the knoll. Still
the water rose, and only a spot as large
! as table remained when the water
plucky fellow was saved. Many people
we've only just finishing their break
fasts when the food came, and many
a table, with the food still uneaten
went down the laundering tide.
THE BRIDGES LOST.
Northampton lost six iron and three
wooden bridges, and one arch of new
stone bridge. Every bridge in town
ON Mill river. except the one on Smith
street, was carried off, and that mar
rowly escaped destruction. The cana,
railroad bridge near Hospital hill
Northampton, is gone and the read is
so much washed away, both below
Northampton and above Haydensville.
that it is doubtful if through trains
shall be running again before Wed
nesday. In several instances stone
dams resisted the torrent successfully
and the river cut an entirely rev chan
mel to-day around them.
SAD AND PATHETIC INCIDENTS.
A French Canadian, pointing to two
little bows, said 81 had eight child
rem, but only these are left" He was
afterward made glad, however, by the
news that bright little son, three
years old, was rescued while floating
down the river on a mattress. A baby
was seen sailing down the current in
its cradle but it was soon engulfed
and never seen more. A boy six years
old fioated down from Leeds chnging
to thereof of a house, and was finally
rescued. OF one large family at Leeds
all were lost save the youngest child
The great loss of life at Leeds is due
to the fact that most of the families
were at breakfast, and were swept
away without a moments warning.
1t is said that the cries of the drown
ing and terrified victims were heart
rending. Children chung to their par
ents and parents to their children, and
together they sank in the angry tor
rent. One man was seen to go over
the Skinnerville silk mill dam, stand
ing erect on some timber, and then he
suddenly disappeared from sight.
One little child was found alone in
the street, where it had been at play.
Alt it's relations had been lost.
Among the sad incidents was that of
seven young girls who climbed into IN
apple tree, thinking it would stand,
but they were all swept away. The
body of little child four years old was
found with poir of new shoes IN its
hand. In the toes of the shoes were
found four twenty dollar bills, which
the mother had probably tried to save.
In an eddy between Skinnersville and
Williamsburg were found the bodies of
seven persons, including those of DIR.
Johnson and some of his family.
SEARCH FOR THE BODIES.
SPRINGFIELD, May l9.
Thousands of people have gone from
this city and the surrounding country
to Northampton and the scene of the
Mill river devastation to-day. Search
for the dead bodies has been going on
all day, and will be continued under
the best management for several days,
and perhaps weeks. The meadows
are SO deeply covered with debris re-
sulting from the destruction that it is
feared many dead bodies have yet
A number have been
to-day, aud it is now thought
Yesterdays estimates of 300 lives lost
may fall even below the actual truth.
THE EXTENT OF THE DISASTER
increases rather than diminishes, and
it is as yet Impossible to give full
and reliable estimate OF the loss of
property and life. At HaydenVille to-
day sixty families have applied for re-
lief. Tho temporary funds furnished
from MOI Hampton yesterday are now
and mass meeting has
been called at Northampton this even
ing to devise means for continuous
and systematic relief of the sufferers.
The whole community is moving in
the work of relief, and everything that
can will be done to alleviate the loss
and suffering. Hayden, Gere & Co.,
at Haydensville, prorrietors of the
destroyed brass works, commenced
the work of rebuilding this morning,
but have been obliged to desist on &C
count of rain. They will resume their
work as soon as the weather allows,
and hope to have their building ready
for occupancy in three months time.
Mr.. H. L. James, WOODEN manufac-
turer at Williamsburg, whose mill was
left standing, although badly dam
aged, will prepare fer a full resump
ton of business as eaalY as possib e.
Most % the other business men af-
fected by the disaster will nrahably
resume as early as possible, hut the
suffering Of the iaboring classes must
inevitably be quite severe.
AID FROM BOSTON.
BosToN, May IS.
Liberal subscriptions are being made
in Boston and vicinity for the relief of
the sufferers by the Mill river disaste.
Among the earliest contributions was
a $500 check from General b. F. Butler.
The committee Of the Massachusetts,
Legislature appointed, to Investigate
the Mill river disaster, with a view to
extend necessary aid, started on their
mission at 8 p. II.
Mr.. John Curtis is Gram. Chief
DotrIorcb n tho GRAND FnP,fOnrOpOt