New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-05-26
THE MILL RIVER DISASTER.
THE CORONER,s INQUEST.

EXAMINED
NORTHAMPTON, May 25.-The jury OF inquest
into the cause Of the Williamsburg reservoir disaster
met this morning at the Courthouse Northampton,
py adjournment from the first session OF Wednesday,
winch was held to view tho body OF John Atkinson OF
Williamsburg, one OF the victims OF the food. Ansel
wright, sherifof Hampshire County, the Coroner,
ana the Hon. Charles Delano conductor OF the examna
ton.
George Cheney, the gaekeeper, testified that he
visited the dam shortly after O'Clock Saturday
ing ana saw nothing unusual He went in to breakfast,
ana as he was moving away from the table he the
earthworks moving of the east sIde for distance OF
40 feet, from the bottom to point about twothrds OF
the way up. He ran down and opened the gate. Tho
water was then coming out In small streams, aud
heavy slide Of earth occurred. He got his horse.
mounted it, and started for the village as fast as he
could co. He was about ten minutes In getting there
spent three or four minutes In talking with Spelman,
who at first did not believe the report. When he did
believe 1t he sent the witness to Bechers livery stable,
where he met Collins Graves Becher said: For Gods
sake Graves, turn your horses. drive down, and let
them know It," Graves turned and started In his buggy
at once toward Haydenvi!le He Cheney mounted at
once and drove after Graves. but did not overtake him.
the flood cut him off within 200 yards, and he turned
back.
Cheney testified further that he had been gateeeper for
Two and onehalf years and has seen small streams OF
water running through since he has been there.
there was one good stream within rod or two from tho
pipe the outlet being as large as mans arm. He had
spoken 10 Mr.. Dmock OF the Reservoir Company, and
agent OF the Nonotuck Silk Company, at Leeds during
last Summer aud Mr. Dimock had said that he thought
IT was nothing than spring; had often spoken TO
Mt Spellman Secretary OF the Reservoir Company, and
button manufacturer at Willapsourg about these
streams. A load two OF earth had caycd on q year
ago this Spring and had never been repaired. inc
fled that Mr. Speman had employed him for 500 year.
TO open aud shut the gates. He had few directions. He
was 10 give notice when anything was w. ong He worked
u
Company made requirement. as to what substitute he
charge at such times None OF the owners have visited
the dam In times of danger. Mr. DlnOck had examined
1t last year, he had not called any special attention tot
tins year.
ELIAS CHENEY.
Elias Cheney father OF the gaekeeper testified to the
circumstances OF the discovery OF tho break the essen
al points being that his made haste to relieve the
pressure by hosting the gate and then started down
the valley. The witness followed him in order to warn
neighbor to save his About Is minutes from the
he the slide he heard roar ana knew tue dam
had broken He described the visit, last summer, Oh
Mr.. DimOck, and the discovery OF leak where the
water rushing out merriy, taking the earth along
with IT, They got shovel and dug there. The witness
described the condition OF the dam lett and SAID tnat
part Of the foundation, Penstock still stand
ing but for long distance no more foundation was et
gaekeeper's wife, and Mrs. Elias Cheney, added their
testimony. corroboratiye OF that OF the preceding Wit
nesseS.
j. B. GLEASON.
J. B. Gleason testified TO being IN Spellman's yard
with his meat cart when Cheney rode in with his horse
about used up The witness recited this brief cooquy
between Cheney and spellman:
Cheney-The dam Is breaking away.
spenan-It can't be: which parti A. The east part.
O. No; you don't mean the east part you mean the
west near the race A. No. mean tne east part.
q. Have you raised the gatef A. Yes.
Inc witness to Mr.. Rodman's residence. OPP
posite Spelman's told him, and then hurried home
ward. The Hood prevented his going there.
COLLINS GRAVES.
,,.-. -. . ,hr,u throuoh tho audience he
witness Collins Graves. called 10 the stand. He
proved to be a young man, probably under 80, with
we'll knit figure Of medium hight, quiet, strong,
honest face, and demeanor that was even
shy. He was going his round In his
buggy peddllng milk. when he noticed
Cheney ride into Belcher's stable yard with such
an anxious his face that he drove in after Nun TO
find what the matter lie said 10 Cheney, George,
what's the matterF Cheney replied, " The reservoir
giving way" do yon mean TIL tp sara Gra ave.
well IL that's So somebody's got to let them know IT,
You George folks here, and Will drive down
The frs: alarm at Mr.. Jamess woolen MILL telling
Tom Brazil that the reservoir had broken away
Mr. Birmiu CHAM and warn hun Then he droye on to
skinnerville. met Mr. skinner and told nun. ne erea
aloud ne passed every house. but met no pgrson 9
the road between Williamsburg ana Shihher'hle. nc
met Nash Hubbard at the door OF tue SILK factory aha
called out: The reservoirs gwen way ana Is rlght
here All you can do Is TO get away lie also met
George +. smith. andtold hun lhadiens batteI', ar.
Kapinger, aud q boy were toid the same new new
in breath All this, while he had not seen nor hedrd
the flood ION he went AT Hayden G s Once Ie
Harris bar shop and thence To Deacon Eli hraVess
store when he turned back lie hrst sd" Tue oou as
he got into the dugway above the prdss Mohs UciiS
down upon him; and again turning down tue ilVvi nc
drove this time to the hotel and told LOOMS Tue land
lord who then got horses out OF the barn. anu ndu
hardly 1t when the dam was gone -, .,,..o,
Mr. Graves here questioned as to MS meeting any
ncrson ON the way said he met no all the way TO
Haydenville but met Jerome liillman, on horseDack
com ne from Sklnnerve, Just as ne entered tue aug
away go thither that he caught sght Oh hilan ant
he great wave the time, and heard nun can OUT
Turn around the reservoir is right mere ne escaped
the flood by driving up the railroad track by the
church and the houses ana shops 20 FOWL "neh
way everything had been swept away. the time being,
he should think, six or eight minutes he gave
Whether all the people heard him. The general alarm
AZ Sknncrve was given by ringing tue factory peii,
which struck as he started away.
MYRoN DAY.
Mvron Dav. the forerunner Of the food to Leeds eI
cited nearly as much interest Graves did, as he took
his Mace TO testify He driving TO Williamsburg on
his express wagon that morning, and was before
Wae's store in Haydenyil.e on the west size OF Tue
river when he great rush OF men from haydehs
brass works across street Thinking there was hr
keep back. A this moment he saw the water rush by
the savings bank immediately nc wnee,cu ms ms seu
a. me- passed iIaydens tobacco WORKS he cried Fire.
lnas t@y wsa aEg alarm n 'a' a NAM at 't the
cation mil as he turned on the iroa bridge,
and there noticed the water coming over 'ne
mill dam. lie drove Is rdplub a.
Leeds alarmed tue silk factory and the Emery mheei
Works; then reused the clearinghouse. and down
through the street the button factory ana "
house at foot Of street He then turned oaek
and intended to the bridge to the west sue
again, bat the water up to his horses Knees,
and he wheeled sharply aud drove up tne III,
by RJss's store, where he stood wn,ie ' anu
warned back the girls OF the silk factory VINO
were making for the bridge, which In another minute
was swept away. He thought he was seven or elsnt
MINUTES between Haydeuvile ana Leeds, ana knew ho
must have gained ON the water In that distance OF he
could not have done what lie did. Aterward on sue
gestion thar some one should to Florence Ne drove
down there but the had lost much oi It's ioree ny
that time.