The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-05-18
TERRIBLE DISASTER.
Flood nom the Breaking Of Three
p Hys5' Reservoirs -3s2
Three Towns Swept Away and
Great Loss Of Life.

oOStoNI may AV.-h ulsAsLtOus uCOu II
Williamsburg, Mass, caused by tht
breaking away Of the reservoir, occurred
this morning, causing considerable los
of lie. No particulars have yet been re,
ceived.
NOT LESS THAN A HUNDRED LIVES LOST
NEW HAVEN, May 16.-Three large
reservoirs about Williamsburg, Masg.
which were constructed to supply the
manufactures Of Williamsburg, Leeds
and Hsydenville, gave way at an early
hour this morning, tho water sweeping
everything before 1t. The above named
towns were almost entirely destroyed, in.
cluding such buildings as Hayden, Gere
s. Cos immense brass factory. A large
loss of life is reported, but 1t is at present
impossible to give, any estimate, though
1t is probably not less than one hundred.
SWEET AWAY BY THE TORRENT.
FLORENCE, MASS, May 16.-The reser.
voir above Wlluamsbwgs broke this
morning, loosenlng large volume Of
water, which carried away nearly every
dwelling house in Its course. Many
lives were lost, but so great Is the excite
mont that it Is impossible TO get the exact
number. At Leeds silk mandatory
and button shop were both carried away.
The station agent OF the N. Il. N. R. R.
Co., with his wiIo were both drowned.
At the same place many persons were
swept down tho stream. The water is
now falling, and 1t Is expected that in
three hours more correct and definite par.
ticulars may be obtained. Several ladies
were seen going down tho stream, but SO
swift was tho current that they could not
be recovered. s-s -r,, -
TwENTY.THREE BODIES RECOVERED.
HAYDENv1LLE, MASS, May 1G.-A large
reservoir, about four miles north Of this
place, burst about eight o'clock this
morning, and the water came rushing
down the hills carrying everything before
it. 1t struck the southeastern portion OF
Williamsburg village about two miles
north of this place, carrying away q large
number Of dwellings, thence to. Skinner.
vile, where 1t swept away Mr.. SINNERS
large silk mills and his boarding and
dwelling houses. Continuing on it struck
the large brass mandatory Of Messrs.
Hayden, Gere & Co., sweeping it'awsy in
an instant Large stones and machinery
were swept through the main streets at a
fearful rate, and well built houses were
instantly crushed, not giving the inmates
a moments warning, Tho flood then
struck the village Of Leeds, where a large
number of shops, dwellings, &c, were
swept away. The loss Of life is very
heavy, whole families in some instances
having been carried away over dams, and
were either killed or drowned. 1t is i'm
possible at this time to give the number Of
lives lost Twenty-three bodies 80 far
have been taken out Of the rubbish on the
shore. Whole blocks Of tenement houses,
filed with women and children, were
swept down the stream, and all the in
mates, OF course, were lost At this hour
(12 ny bodies arc constantly being
brought in and laid in the church. Most
of them can be recognized.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
sPRIdFIELD, MASS, May 16.-Reports
OF tho disaster in consequence Of the
breaking out Of tho reservoir at Goshen,
Hampshire county, this morning, come in
thick and fast. The damage to property
must amount to hundreds Of thousands
of dollars, while II Is impossible to esti-
mate accurately the loss Of life. Among
those drowned at Williamsburg was tho
vile Of H. G. Frost. At Leeds, Captain
Vaughn and Mrs. Quigley and daughter
were In house which was swept away,
and they wero drowned. Reports arc
coming in of far greater loss OF lie at
Florence. The Monotuck silk Company's
works and the FLORENCE manufacturing
company's works arc damaged to the ex.
tent Of $4,000. Conductor EN-. Chsnd.
Ter passed over the road early this morn.
ing with his train from Williamsburg for
New Haven Just ahead ol the flood that
swept away his wife and child. Engineer