The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-05-21

Themselves but they are penniless and cannot buy
1t. Tho ladies above referred to have personally
assumed the care Of several families and Will sup
ply to them from the general iund such things as
they may be In need Of Thus they are doing
work which no organization could do as well.
FOOD NEEDED.
The bakeries In Northampton have been running
night and day since the disaster but are wholly
unable, In view OF the triple demands upon
them from sufferers, laborers and the immense
innux OF visitors, to supply them. While
the desolated valley will need every penny OF the
thousands which generous hearts will give, the
fact remains that the pressing need to-day Ii
for cooked food. Some very urgent appeals for
aid OF this sort have come In from
Williamsburg. They say, Gan the money win be
needed, God knows; but to-day do send us food,
for many are hungry" Amherst responded nobly
to this appeal to-day with three large loads OF pro-
visions; but when 1t Is remembered that there are
hundreds to feed, there should certainly be no ces-
sation OF efforts in this direction for several days.
As soon as possible the relief work in North
ampton viii be so organized that the
money contributions can be speedily turned
into food. The praises Of the good people OF New
York, Boston and all the cities and towns OF the
country which have responded so promptly and
generously are on every tongue.
large number OF applications have
come in for children for adoption, and
there seems to be no doubt that
all the little food walls viii find comfortable
homes. They are not many. for the Hood with
awful impartality, swallowed up In most instances
whole families.
THE CoRONER's INVESTIGATION.
Coroner Wright and his jury assembled at the
Williamsburg Town Hall at nine O'Clock this morn
ing organized with Captain Enos Parsons as fore
m ha IF
kinson, one Of the victims OF the flood. Al.
ter recognizing the remains the jury adjourned
their session to the Northampton Court House at
ten O'Clock A. M. on Monday next, where they will
hear testimony from George Cheney, the gate
keeper, the builders and owners OF the dam and
various experts ana civil engineers.
Coroner Wright's remark to friend, after ad-
journment this morning, was, sit Is the dam we
are trying" So, appropriately, Mr.. Wright and
the jurors, after leaving the Town Hall, re-
paired in carriages to view the dam. They
drove thither by the hill road, the valley
route having been impossible to all persons since
Cheney took his memorable ride that way. None
Of the jurors had ever closely inspected the dam,
and only portion Of them had even seen IT, Some
time was spent in examining the wreck. The jury
who are summoned to one OF the most important
inquests held In New England for century are
George w. Hubbard Stlas G. Hubbard, Captain
Enos Parsons, DR.. w. W. Trow, Hiram Nash and
John Mayher.
AN ENGINEER At THE DAM.
The visit to the Goshen Reservoir to-day OF Colo
mel Henry w. Wilson, engineer, Of Boston, and
others interested in manufactures was one Of the
most important occurrences, with q view to en-
tightening the legislative committee upon the gen.
eral subjects of reservoir construction In Massa-
chusetts. Mr.. Wilson tarried after the committee
mr.
In second and more critical examination or the
broken dam, and, when afterwards speaking Of it,
he said to your correspondent, ''Such work is
homicide. The dam was q perfec: abortion"
A little further conversation on this subject
showed that he knew well what he was speaking
OF when he talked to Joel Bassett and Emory B.
Wells, the contractors, as ne did yesterday. He
referred to their conversation and remarked that
he talked like father to son to one OF these
contractors, but without losing his temper. The
lie Is given to their assertions that the contract
was fulfilled In the presence OF the remaining
wall. In his opinion no concrete dam work
is worth the money it costs. The state should al
low no work Of this character. 1t should be either
all masonry or all earthwork. When both are used
there il q chance for accidents where the Fremont
tory signs occur too late. When he began his IN
specton OF the largest Goshen reservoir
he tested the cement and found 1t good,
and said or the broken dam, 'Not one
square inch OF cement can be found in that
work. He had taken the back OF his knife and
scraped 1t out from between the stones like so
much new cheese. Specimens OF this kind OF
work were taken from various parts OF the struc-
ture for further reference. The stones, too, in
many places, were not closely matched, and the
wonder, he thought was that 1t had not gone be-
fore.
THE WORK WAS MOST sL0vENLY TONE
and 1t Is no wonder the contractors made money
out Of the job. One OF the directors OF the two
perfect remaining reservoirs was present when
the engineer made his visit, and asked several
leading questions. He received answers to the
point, but not such as helped sustain the conf
dence he had placed in It. The work was pro-
nounced decidedly primitive and calling for constant
watchfuness. The fact that it has stood twenty
years In its favor. Speaking OF the clear look
ing water that had been seen coming from the
Williamsburg dam, Mr.. Wilson said 1t did not Of
necessity follow that leaks through such works
would run thick and be much discol0red,
and It was objectionable to allow water
to continue running from the base
of such structure on the superstition
that 1t was simply diminutive spring. The cur
rent belief that safe dam could not be constructed
in place Of the broken one is wrong. According
to the old system OF concrete work 1t might not be
assured; but the watershed Ia not so great that
one could not be built upon which q contractor
could stake his life II need DO. The measurement,
the filing and the manner OF construction,
with the comparatively light pressure upon the
dam were spoken Of as considerably favoring this
Goshen reservoir. Also certain statements made
yesterday by . party OF twelve gentlemen
interested in the manufactures ct Pitts
field. North Adams and Hlnsdale who, alter
visiting the broken one and the two re-
naming, testified their unbounded confidence.
IN the latter among the visitors was Frank Hins-
dale, the Berkshire county manufacturer. He
viewed the scene ct the ruined dam with aston
ishment, and remarked emphstically and impress
sively TIL that reservoir was not sale, then the