Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1874-05-21

AN AVALANCHE OF WATER, tHE LAST
APPALLING CALAMITY, BosToE, MASS, May
l6.-rhe most dreadful disaster that has ever
visited this State or any other occurred this
morning at Goshen, Williamsburg, post vii
lage In Hampshire county, ninety-ive miles
west this city.
THE BREAK OF TaE RESERVOIRS.
at Goshen a reservoir covering 100 acres of
.9raund, and having an average depth of thirty
feet, was constructed about twelve years ago in
order 20 afford a reliable supply of water for
various factories on Nj i'll River, which is one Of
the most tickle and uncertain of streams, liable
alike to floods and almost utter drought. II was
built by company of capitalists who were iii
terested in various manufacturing enterprises
on the stream, and has caused approximations
of disaster several times. Last year it was,
however, repaired at heavy cost, and since
then has been supposed 10 be toerably secure,
although known TO sbe leaky. How false this
supposition the heart rending story OF the day
only too plainly proves. AT an early hour q
o'clock) the people living in the immediate
vicinity of the reservoir were startled by the
report of the breaking of the reservoir. Fright
Instantly seized upon every one, and as the
water came rushing down the hills, carrying
everything before IL, men. women, and children
fed for their lives. No one, for the moment,
thought of saving property. The danger 10
themselves was too apparent to stop to think
ofsnything else but precipitate fight. The
torrent stuck the southeastern portion of VIII
lamsburg first, sweeping away large number
of dwellings: thence it rushed down upon
Skinneisve, where large silk IN Ill and dwell
iuyhouses were Grlyen before 1t In an instant.
Heavy STONES aud machinery came riding with
the hood, aud houses, no matter how strongly
built, were crushed almost to atoms, In most
instances the inmates not having a moments
warning. The little village fell next In the path
of the rushing water, and as before, shops,
dwellings, and the like, gave way before It.
al t,,f,, W xyhola hnnka Of tap
ment houses
FILLED WITH WOMEN AND CHILDREN,
swept down the stream. The break was SC
sadden aud overwhelming, coming like al
avalanche, that the loss of life must be terrible
Whole families are known to have been killed
or drowned while being carried over the dam.
OF Course 1t is as yet impossible To give The
exact number of lives lost, though 1t Is certain
that not less, If not more, than hundred were
hurried into eternity.
BOSTON, May lo.-Despatcles from tn,
scene Of the food to-day, say that at Skinners
Vile the store OF Hayden, Gere & Co., and ih,
Haydenve Savings Bank building, with III,
safe, were swept away. The safe contained
$4,000 in money. L. Graves store, G. Ames
store aud several hou Ses, LOOMS Hotel, Hay.
den & Co.'S tobacco factory. and two iron
bridges were also swept away. AT the villag
OF Leeds terrible loss of life occurred. A
W
wood, 80 feet high and several hundred feet II
width, was seen sweeping down the valley al
tha rate of twenty miles an hour. A portion
of the Nantuck silk factory Was swept away
with tho brick wardIng-house OF the company
Capt. Vaughn, depot master, and larg
number of women and children, were swep
away by the torrent of water. Only the chin
ney is left standing Of the silk mill.
The Critchlow button mill and stores are Il
gone, and only three houses are left standing
The loss Is estimated at $1,000 900. A. Z
Crtchlow & Son-in-law, George Warner, los
100000; Menonatuck Silk Company lose 81,
900; W. F. Qugley, lose $4,000.
The town of Northampton loses 500, 900
bridges and roads. The loss at WILLIAMSBURG
and Haydenville cannot at present be estimate,
II, j. James woollen mill is still standing; al.
the Hayden Manufacturing Cotton Mill.
Only two houses are left standing at ski
nersville. Fifteen bridges, twelve factori
and seventy-dye buildings are gone, and fo
hundred people left homeless. The exact nur
Der of lives lost cannot be ascertaued at III
writing.
BosToN, May l0.-A later dispatch So
that l20 lives have been lost, and upwards
$1,000 900 ofproperty and treasure have bee
swept away by this flood.
The search for bodies of victims Of the gre
Mills River disaster, in Hampshire count
Massachusetts,, continued on Monday, al
may continue for several days to come. A.
ditional bodies were found on Monday, and I
meadows are SO deeply covered by the debris
the hood, that many dead may be buried
the ruin. The work of rebuilding the facto
Of Hayden, Gere & Co. has begun, andi N,
OF the other mills will soon resume, but In /
meantime there will be considerable suffer-
among the working poor. The people of Mas
ehusetts, however, are acting promptly In
matter, and the three or four huddred famil
rendered homeless, as well as the operatl
thrown out of employment, will be proyid
for. Supplies are being furnished bv
neigboring towns,and a committee of the lie,
latuIe has gone to the afflicted locality. An
meeting has also been aled In Boston by
Mayor.