The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-05-18

pAlcsoko WSIc
NOT SATISFIED WITH THE RESERVOIR
when II was built, and felt that 1t was not safe.
Mr.. Bodmsn accompanied the late Lieutenant
Governor Hayden when the reservoir was first
nlled, which was mot until the spring OF
1885. and says that they both expected
70 see IL 60 on at the nrst trial
It manifested NO special weakness. however, and
ct various times subsequently 1t was strengthened
the most important OF such operations and one OF
the most recent being the "riprapping." Mr.. Bod
man, however. confesses that he never felt quite
satisfied with the reservoir during the three years
OF its history when ne was mill proprietor and 80
part owner OF It. Since then he has maintained
his interest in the manufacturing enterprise 80
fully as 70 keep himself well informed OF the reser
voir's condition, and he says thas he has become
constantly better satisfied with 1t, until had he
been asked the day before the disaster
whether he considered 1t safe, he would have
unhesit atingly replied In the Affirmative. Indeed
Mr.. BOdman did thus assure . t0wnsman who
only . week ago, as with some admonttion OF the
fate that overlook him on Saturday, particularly
questioned him as 70 whether there was NOS
danger that the reservoir would give way.
This opinion OF its safety Mr.. Bodman says was
conceded with by all the manufacturers, who, ne
remarked, had the most reason to feel anxiety II
there were any grounds for 1t, ~ having most at
stake In the matter.
Upon being more closely questioned as to his
opinion OF the contractor Of the reservoir, Mr..
Bodman gave an opinion which fully con-
nrmed the impression that the reporter had
received from visit to the ruins-namely,
that the work as . whole was not satisfactory,
and that the upper third Of the wall was sloveny
suilt He says that when the contractor had
reached this stage 1t was getting late IN the fall
and cold weather was coming ON. The engineer
was sick some OF the time and did not exercise so
const ant and close Q supervision a. his p0sition
demanded. and the
f CONTRACTORS HURRIED Up THEIR WORK
as rapidly as possible with too little regards, hr.
Bodman thinks, to the quality OF their work. Not
withstanding however, Mr.. Bodman's COMES
sion that both he and the other proprietors Of the
reservoir were dissatisfied with the style Of con.
structton; it was examined and accepted by
the Commissioners OF Hampshire county, who
have also since then more tnan once examined
1t and advised as to repairs upon 1t. The direct
cause OF the disaster aside from the general weak
ness OF the dam, must remain subject OF specula-
ton. The gatekeeper detected no sign OF danger
when he examined the situation At early dawn.
and what the last straw was that
BROKE THE GREAT BACK
of the reservoir can never be definitely known.
Perhaps as satisfactory theory as any IL the one
advanced Dy ndu IdmllldT Win tue case, LQau Tue
frosts had started the earth that the water had
found numerous little courses through It, which
finally carried on the first mass Of earth Saturday
morning, and at precipitated the catastrophe.
The gatekeeper, as already said has at various
times feared a break from the fact that stream
Of water flowed constantly through the bottom Of
the gateway while there were also number Of
small streams, some Of them quite minute, along
the bottom, on either side Of the centre.
1t is curious fact, by the way, that while the
gatekeeper has always felt most anxious OF the
spot where the break actually came, the proprie-
Of the reservoir who had fears to it's safety,
felt AFRAID OF the opposite side. As TO these little
streams OF water. gentleman familiar with the
construction OF reservoirs says that II Is quite i'm
possible to construct such dam as that there
shall be absolutely no show OF water on the lower
sioe. This gentleman was fully conversant
with the construction and character Of the Will
Harrisburg reservoir, and says that he never felt
there was ground for alarm in such small streams
trtckled through It, The soil, he says, was full
OF springs, and from these springs, he thinks came
most OF the little water-nows.
RELIEF MEETING.
The citizens Of Williamsburg held q town meet.
ing on Saturday evening and appointed q COM
mittee to raise subscriptions, look after the desti-
tute and organize the search for the missing.
northampton duu tuc 8OJOluux LOWuS uuVc Oceu
sending in supplies OF food, clothing and money
since the disaster, and contributions were
taken up Tor the sufferers in the churches through
out Western Massachusetts, to-day. The collections
In the churches OF Springfield amounted to
about $4,000, and the subscription papers win
swell this amount 20 about $4,000. All the large
towns and cities are organizing relief societies.
FUNERAL OF THE VICTIMS.
The funeral OF nine OF the victims OF the disaster
took place in front OF the Congregational church
at Williamsburg about three O'Clock P. M. Seats
were arranged IN the yard, and the presiding min
listers Lad chairs on the steps, and the premises
about were crowded. ClerRymen from the sur.
rounding towns conducted the services.
THE SCENE AT THE RUINS
OF the reservoir is thus described by reporter OF
the Republican,
high wall or stone and earth, which rose to q
height OF i0rty feet IN the bed OF the stream, save
the stone work running at right angles with the
Gam at the bottom, which enclosed the gate.
way. In the very bed OF the stream nothing
narmlessy along its ancient n0e cnan mel
not stone remains from top 70 bottom. small
portion o. the eastern t part OF me reservoir ana
perhaps, aslxth Of the original exrent-broken
sns Jagged Uyer on the the he'd edges the eye
tract Of Ill acres covering the south
eastery corner OF the town Of Williams.
DuFg, near the conway line. InlS lanQ, 0e6CleQ
among the hills, Is for the greater part, tOeraby
level slopng, OF course, more or less every side,
and dotted large part OF its surface with the
stumps Of trees that formerly occupied It, Below
the reservoir the sight Is most Impressive The
vast mass OF water suddenly let loose and dashing
ton as would not have believed possible with
out seeing 1t. The very bed OF the stream
Its original course, and Tor q long dis
lance the valley is dotted, and some times
crammed, with huge rocks toru from the wall Of
the reservoir, while the trees that In many places
hned Its banks have quite vanished and those tnag
marked the outer edge OF the torrent are all tat
tered and torn Indeed, as one stands on the re-
naming wall OF the reservoir and looks about the
scene Is most desolate and impressive.
THE RIDE OF COLLINS GRAVES.
One Of the heroes OF the occasion il Collins
Graves, Q milkman, who was at the livery stable
in Williamsburg, where the gatekeeper, Cheney
was trvtuO IN ger gome one IN snread xhs nawa