Connecticut western news., 1874-06-12


 down in such torrents that it actually
 roared, and the heavens were illuminated
 with continuous flash of lightning. Sucl
 a time was never known to the denizens O.
 any of the usually quiet villages in this re zion, as was experienced by our citizen
 last Sunday night. Horses and cattle were
 let loose in the streets to seek their safety
 as best they might and general confusion
 prevailed for awhile.
 It soon became apparent however, tha
 the dam at Riga had not gone, as the vol
 tune of water, (although the street was ful
 to the depth of foot and more to the post
 office,) did not increase but everybody
 was trembling with fear that evidence that
 would not be disputed would soon convince them that it really had broken away, and the village consequently be destroyed.
 Men patrolled that portion of the street that could be forded, with lanterns, and watched the moving of the waters till past 2 o'clock, and till they had subsided suff1. ciently to allay in measure their fears, when they retired to their homes, while others kept their vigils till daylight. This second flood carried away the re- maining bridge Cthe road bridge) which crossed the stream near Lawyer Warmers. and very effectually rendered the Sunday work of the railroad hands in repairing the damage of Saturday, of no avail; tearing out the remaining portion of the abutment of their bridge below the depot and wash ing away the sand entertainments filled in Sunday forenoon.
 The damage sustained by MT. M. L.. Dexter is severe. His mill is torn terribly; his dam entirely gone and his door yard washed very badly. A sheet of water poured down the hlll at the north of his house and into it and on the floors He has moved his goods to-we don't know where When there Monday morning, he was at work with all the help he could ob- tain, getting them on the bank above his second thought being to find place for them after he got them secured from fur ther danger rum the water. The poor man is not only actually driven out doors but off his own premises by the water, and deserves the substantial sympathy of his less unfortunate neighbors.
 MONDAYS ALARMS.
 Early Monday morning, MT. Wentworth. who has had charge of the Riga dam for several years past, saw that the constantly increasing pressure on the walls of the dam occasionally moved them, little by little. and thinking the final collapse could not possibly be prevented but a very short time, and might go at any moment, sent a messenger to warn tho people of what seemed inevitable, and all possible prepa- ration was made to guard against the de- struction of life and property Household goods were moved to high ground and families deserted their homes, while those who could do no more watched the waters as they surged and roared over the rocks undermining fences and trees, and carving away everything before it, expecting every moment to see the huge wave of destruc- ton rushing upon the village. A gang of men commenced early in the morning dig. ging trenches at each side of the dam, to divert the current and pressure from the masonry and center, hoping almost against hope, to succeed in keeping the stone work from giving way, till the water could be drawn gradually off and thus relieve the pressure, making it safe. At about II o'clock, MT. Civil Engineer Pettee with others went up there to render all assist ance in their power to avert the impending calamity, and most faithfully did these men with Mir. Wentworth and his help. la bor all the day long to save the dam and secure the gradual drainage of the lake. As the day wore away the rumors from headquarters began to conflict with each other, and very soon after word had been received inspiring hope, and almost before the sigh of relief had escaped the lips of the terror stricken, another would bring word that it was ''going now sure: The lam couldn't possibly hold twenty minutes | longer" Sc. &c. Monday, June Sth, 1874, | will long be remembered by the people of his village as day of fear and trembling. Early ln the evening of Monday, the vol lme of water passing through tho village began to increase, and soon the streets were for the third time flooded; the water etting back again to the post-office. The current in the street was turned as before, lear the stores, and poured down into the lelds at the east of the village. A word vas received from tho dam, that if the peo- 'le could stand what was then coming, all would be well, as the washing away of the had reached hard bottom and would not wash deeper. This third inun- lation failed to bring with it any serious Harm, and most of the people, being weary with the constant watching and fear of the 'ast twenty-four, hours, retired to their lomes and to rest feeling degree of safe y not enjoyed before within the time men, toned. At II o'clock at night the water vas perceptibly lower, and at 4 o'clock Tuesday morning all water had left the 'treet, and the stream was occupying-we 'annot say its usual bed, for it has entirely changed it's course through the village, but was occupying no more than about it's lsual bed and all danger seemed at an end.
 The brook in the north part of the vll- age known as the Moore brook also got mad Sunday night and went on teardown trough the railroad and wagon bridges lear MT. Bundy's; ripping out the south Ibutment and one of the wooden sshorse', upports unearthing the north abutment 'f the highway bridge and letting one cor Ter of one of the sides down into the wa CT and taking the foot bridge away 'shook md sinker," and piling it up very nicely .mong the trees quarter of mile beyond. liter which we presume this very pret en- ious little rivulet felt better.