Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-05-27
The Mill River Flood.

NEW IORK, May zU.--A dlspatch
from Northampton, Mass, of yesterday !,
says that when the Legislative CON-
mittees visited the reservoir, the break
lug of which, on Saturday, was attend
ed with such terrible consequences,
everybody descended to the gap and
a careful examination was made of the
bottom, the walls, filling and surround
ings. The contractor, Bassett, taking
a copy Of the specification contained in
the original contract under which the
dam had been built, called the atten-
tion of the members of the committee
to what he termed the evidenc, Of their
fulfllment, and the consequent exoner-
alton Gom blame of himself and those
who acted for him. Colonel Wilson,
of Boston, the engineer who construct
ed the Hartford reservoir, twenty years
ago, and who had accompanied the
committee as an expert, remarked:
This dam was not built according to
the specifications of that paper in your
hand" The Colonel then proceeded
to point out that the specifications had
called for the building Of a foundation
wall at least three feet below the bot
tom of the reservoir, whereas it was
only built upon that bottom, between
which and the wall the water was found
to pass easily, created leak, and event
ually spread the latter against the en-
bankment protector. This wall was
four feet narrower than the contract
specified that it should have been. "In
Short" said Colonel Wilson, "the
specifications have been entirely dis
regarded, and the accident was inevit-
ablo. The only wonder, is that it did
not occur before. The terrible neglect
and gross ignorance displayed in the
construction of the dam was criminal
and its recent evil consequences MUIR
der" In talking of the event, later,
Colonel Wilson said that he could not
regard it as an accident. because the
dam could not hold any body of water
in, as the earth at the bottom, under
the wall, was slowly but surely washed
away daily.
Joel Hayden said that such had ever
been his fathers (thc late .Governor's)
opinion, and so strongly fxed in this
belief had he been that he issued stand
ing orders in the foundry to the hands
to leave the benches and building the
moment they heard the word "reservoir"
shoated in<the streets, and take refuge
on high ground.
0. G. Spellnan, the overseer Of the
reservoir, and formerly Secretary and
Treasurer of. the association by which
the dam was built, was protected in
his house on Monday night and last
night by a large number of special
police snd military. On Monday eve
ming an Irishman, who was formally
in the employ of Spellman, informed
him that the Irishmen an Canadians
had determined to avenge the loss of
their homes and families by lynching
him during the night. He felt need
for the police and military.
AT the first streak Of the dawn the
villagers were at work among the ruins.
AS the morning advanced parties Of
men, equipped as navvies, continued
to arrive from the surrounding town
ships, so that by 7 o'clock thousands
were clearing and casting off the debris.
All the way from Northampton Mead
ows to Williamsburg every eye sought
a body, and twenty-one corpses were
found. These bodies were difficult to
recognize, because decomposition had
set in. They were much dis6gured by
bruises, and totally nude.
AT Leeds nothing was done except
looking for the dead under the rub
bish, which, experienced men say, will
not be cleared away, even at the pre-
sent expeditions rate, in less than a
week.
At Haydenville the day was begun
in business-like manner, Joel Hayden
employed his hands and all who were
able and willing to earn a dollar in
picking up his patterns and brass W are,
several thousand dollars worth of which
was stored in his t.houses and barns
before noon. TO get at these, Hayden
finds it necessary to alter the course
of the stream, and his men are plow-
ing new channel for it, beginning at
the north side of the former site Of his
brass foundry, and running south
through the valley.
An incident of extraordinary canine
affection has just come to light, in con-
nection with the awful calamity. Col
onel Joel Hayden, one Of the sons of
the late Lieutenant Governor Hayden,
has dog of the St. Bernard kind.
He has, for long time, been the vii
lage tavorite, and the pet of the school
children. Ira Bryant, the father Of
Nre Golona1 TT Jau1,, .ror .;vtu 1oorc