Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1874-05-25

IffC HtHt'D 20 ''''N IVY +
be dr0aCned and one million dollars
aoorth ofproperty destroyed.
The thriving manufacturing villages
in the towns of Northampton and Will
liamsburg, Hampshire County, Massa-
chusetts, were visited on Saturday, May
I6. by disaster, the equal of which,
either as regards the fearful character
of the event or the loss of life and prop
ertv involved, has never been seen in
Massachusetts,, at least The Spring
rains, swelling a storage reservoir or
dam to overhowing weakened the artif-
cial barriers which confined the vast
body of water, and they gave way, pre-
cipitating deluge upon the unfortunate
villages and sweeping them out of exis-
tence in an instant. Solid mills, dwell
lighthouses and stores were carried like |
cbaff before the mighty wall of waters
hundreds of thousands of dollars lost
their value in flash, and, saddest of |
all, many lives-it is thought nearly |
2OO-wcre swallowed up in the raging
flood.
A correspondent OF the Boston Gt0Oe
gives the following account:
A great wave has swept down from
the hills of Hampshire County, bearing
death and destruction to four hourishing
villages, and causing great damage in
two others. The course of Mill River
from the hills of Williamsburg almost
to the Connecticut is marked by what is
left of stores, dwellings and manufacto
ries by the trunks and limbs of trees
which were torn up and whirled along
by rushing waters ; by the remains Of
horses and cattle, and, alas in some in
stances by the undiscovered bodies Of
men, women and children, to whom death
came almost without moments warn
ing A great body of water, confined by
high banks and strong walls, has burst
its bonds, and its power is seen in the
destruction which it has wrought. The
waters of the great reservoir on the Will
liamsburg branch of the Mill River have
freed themselves, and caused the loss Of
many lives and the destruction of prob
ably 100000 worth of property. The
effects of the calamity are and win b
for long time felt terribly in this vi
entity. There will be sorrow for tn
dead and pity for the living who hav
lost those who were dear to them.
The places which have suffered ar
the villages of Williamsburg. Skinner:
vile and Haydenville, all in the town {
Williamsburg. and the village of Iced
in the town of Northampton. Beside
these, the village of Florence and No
champion itself suffered, but so slightl
in comparison with the others mention
ed that they hardly call for any atter
ton. The Mill River is small b
swift stream which flows Southwestern
through Hampshire County and empti
itself into the Connecticut at Northam
ton. In the northeastern part of W
liamsburg it is formed by two brancht
which meet at almost right angles. o
comes down from the town of Gosh
and the other from Conway. On t
Goshen branch are two reservoirs,
which is stored water to be used by t
mills In dry times. On the other bran
is another reservoir. for the same pl
pose This last is the one which caus
the disaster. The dam consisted of
wall of stone, forty feet high, with fol
dations twenty feet deep. Both sides
this were built up with earth, so t
the dam at the base was l22 feet thi
This was thought secure, but Saturda
occurrence showed that it was not pr
against the pressure of the water.
About 7 ID A. NJ, the water was {
covered bursting from the earth arol
the escape pipe and almost in an inst
the whole structure was rent and Il
and the vast body of water was rush
upon the villages below. In some
stances it was seen in advance and
inhabitants were warned in time,
this fortune was not universal The h
wave which rolled along as fast a
horse could run, observed from the fl
looked only like huge pile of lum
trees, household furniture and such
terials, advancing to destroy the DIV
ings and whole villages below. The v
rushed through Williamsburg, Skim
vile, Haydenville. Leeds and Northa
ton proper, into the Connecticut.
hitting, in very short time, fea
havoc in human life and property.
liamsburg. the town nearest to the
ervoir is built on both sides of the
er, well down toward. the stream.
banks slope abruptly, and therefore
water rose very high in that place, sv
ing away nearly every house, inclu
Spellman's button factory, Adams
and grist-mill, James's wooden
blacksmiths shop. stores, etc. The
struck Skinnersville and carried
every house but three, Mr.. Skinner
two others. The force of the water
so great at this point that it brok
pieces SINNERS silk factory. a
brick building, wrenched a fifty-l
power boiler from its fastenings
drove it diagonally a distance of
yards high up on sloping bank.
Haydenyille, a dozen small wooden
ings were crushed large brick
ing, occupied by Hayden, Gere &
as a brass foundry, was swept ava
a straw also fine bank building
ed recently at cost of 100000.
cotton mill was injured also, but ,
ed destruction.
The village of Leeds was left in
ry condition by the destructive
The mandatory of the Nonotuck
Company was saved by little
point which projected into the 81
This threw the water to the other
so that it carried away a large DO;
house with all its contents. The
then swept down further. and
course carrying houses, furniture
Nothing was left of George P. W:
button factory except about twent
of the chimney One man saved
by crOuching in crevice at its
The building Of the Northamnton