Connecticut western news., 1874-06-19
THE DAM GIVES WAY.


 THE DAM GIVES WAY.
 -Four years ago Charles Reade in one of his novels gave graphic description of the burst ing of the Ouseley reservoir. In his descrip- tion he clearly foreshadowed the fearfu calamity that occurred in the upper Connecticut valley. We reproduce it as pertinent to the present time.1
 A mounted policeman brought Ran some note from the mayor, telling him word had come into the town that there was something wrong with Ouseley dam. He was to take the mayors horse, and ride up at once to the reser. voir, and, if there was any danger, to warn the valley.
 A smart canter brought him in sight of what seemed long black hill, with great glow-worms dotted here and there.
 That hill was the embankment, and the glow-worms were the lanterns of .workmen examining the outer side of the embankment and prying into every part.
 The enormous size and double slope of the bank, it's apparent similarity in form and thickness to natural barriers with which nature hems in lakes of large dimensions, acted on Ransome's senses, and set him wondering at the timidity and credulity of the people in Hatfield and Damfask. This senti- ment was uppermost in his mind when he rode up to the south side of the embankment.
 > Here was 8 lake nearly full to the brim on one side of the barrier and an open descent on the other.
 He had encountered little wind coming up, but not much ; here, how ever, the place being entirely exposed, the wind was powerful, and blew right down the valley, ruf1ing the artificial lake.
 Screws were applied and the valves oi the double set of sluice- pipes were forced open, but with infinite difficulty, owing to the tremendous pressure ot the water.
 This operation showed all concerned what giant they were dealing with while the sluices were being lifted, the noise and tremor of the pipes were be- yond experience and conception. When, after vast effort, they were at last got open, the ground trembled out of the pipes, roared like discharges of artillery. So hard is it to resist the mere effect of the senses, that nearly everybody ran back appalled,, although the effect of all this roaring could only be to relieve the pressure and, in fact, now that those sluices were opened, the dam was safe, provided it could last g day or two.
 Lights were seen approaching, and MT. Tucker, the resident engineer, drove up; he had MT. Garter, one o1 the contractors, in the gig with him.
 He came on the embankment, and signifed cold approval of the sluices being opened.
 Then Ransome sounded him about blowing up the waste-weir.
 Tucker did not reply, but put some questions to workman or two. Theil answers showed that they considered the enlargement of the crack fata. sign.
 Upon this, Mir. Tucker ordered then all to stand clear of the suspected part
 "Now, then" said he, "I built this
 
 it's going to burst or not
 Ransome put in his word, and begged them to blow up the waste-weir. measure than the occasion required there was no immediate danger anc the sluice- pipes would lower the water considerably in twenty-four hours.
 Farmer Ives put in his word. q" can't learn from any of you that an en larging crack in new embankment is { common thing. shall go homo, bu my boots won't go off this night"
 Encouraged by this, MT. Mountain the contractor, spoke out.
 "Mr. Tucker" said he, don't de ceive yourself; the sluice-pipes are too slow if we don't relieve the dam there'l be blow-up in half an hour mark my words"
 "Well," said Mir. Tucker, "no pre- caution has been neglected in building this dam provision has been made even for blowing up the waste-weir { hole has been put in the masonry and there's dry powder and fuse kep at the valve-house. I'll blow up tho waste-weir, though think it needless I am convinced that crack is above the level of the water in the reservoir"
 This observation struck Ransome and he asked if it could not be ascer tained by measurement.
 "Of course it can," said Tucker "and I'll measure it as come back"
 He then started for the weir, anC Carter accompanied him.
 They crossed the embankmenta and got to the weir.
 Ives went home, and the workmer withdrew to the side, not knowing ex actly what might be the effect of the explosion.
 By and by Ransome looked up, an6 observed thin sheet of water begin. ming 10 stream over the center of the embankment and trickle down the quantity was nothing but it alarmed him. Having no special knowledge or these matters, he was driven to com parisons and it flashed across him that, when he was boy, and used tc make little mud-dams in April, they would resist the tiny stream until il trickled over them, and from that mo ment their fate was sealed. Nature, he had observed, operates alike in smal things as great, and that sheet of water though thin as wafer, alarmed him.
 He thought it was better to give { false warning than withhold a true one