Connecticut western news., 1874-06-12
THE GREAT STORM,

AStluSs W0 u6tG pElut6u COuldlu- ing the storm report and nothing else. THE GREAT STORM. .
 Never in the history of this town has that portion of it through which flows the small stream of water known as the Washicastinook or Mt. Riga brook. suffered so severely by the floods as it has during the past week. Last Sat usaay afternoon at about quarter past two o'clock, the dam at the Washinee fac tory in this village gave way to the pres sure of the immense volume of water that the heavy rains on the mountains above an hour or two previous poured in upon it, and in almost the twinkling of an eye, the stream at the bridge near Lawyer Warner's in this village, had become so swollen that the passage under the bridge could not ac- commodate the rapidly increasing flood, and the water poured out into the street, almost entirely submerging it as far as tue post-ofice. Amongst the alarm and con- fusion consequent upon such rushing in of the waters upon us, reports got in cir culation that the dam at Mt. Riga had bro ken away, but this erroneous impression was soon corrected by the fact that the volume of water which came upon us was toe quickly spent to sustain such theory. Ali ter the Washinee dam yielded. Mr. Dexter's soon followed, after which the old forge daM and the small bridge immediately be- low it went away also the foot bridge in the street near Mrs. Reid's and Mr. War ners; portion of the center abatment of the railroad bridge; and the swollen stream running by the west side of the railroad track for distance of perhaps sixty rods south, found it's way over the track; the embankment for distance of sixty or sey- enty feet being in a few moments tlme washed entirely away, leaving the ties suspended by their spikes to tho iron rails. Strange as it may seem, previous to this sudden rush of water, but very little rain had fallen here; but the evidence of powerful rains in the mountains above was sufficient to convince all of the immediate occasion of the unusual rise of the stream.
 A despatch was sent to Lime Rock to warn them of what was coming, which, notwithstanding the obstinacy of one of the telegraph operators on the line, we are informed reached that village before the water got there, and gave them notice a few moments in advance. It appears that the office in New Hartford was trying to call the Hartford office, and although this call had been repeated long time previ- ously without reseonse from Hartford. Agent Watson could not coax, beg or com pei him to wait a moment and let him tell Canaan to intolm Lime Rock of what was coming. This operator had the wire, and MT. w. was compelled to wait and hear that @Onotonous and unceasing s.H. D. :" till Hartford was obtained and the New Hartford message, Gin importance of about five cents value, sent betorc be could send his wopd of warning to Lime Rock by the way of Canaan. Some plan should be adopted by telegraph companies whereby messages of such vital importance as was that of Saturday can get transmitted with no delay whatever.
 Soon after o'clock, wreoklug train from Canaan arrived here with leads of gravel and timbers, and it is no little cred. 1t to Engineer Heister and the gang of men under him, to say that at little past seven o'clock, the milk train passed the bridge and break in the road below and went on itsWay rejoicing, and Conductor Eggleston's tram passed soon after with no delay what ever from it's regular time.
 THE SECOND STORM THE PEOPLE ALARMED
 AND FLEE FOR SAFETY!
 Not far from o'clock Sunday evening 8 terrific storm of rain, accompanied bv lightning end thunder broke over our yil- lage sud the surrounding country, and it seemed as though tue frmements had opened eud was pouring upon us in ''whole water" the entire contents of the fountains above: The whole heavens seemed abIaze with lightning; it's flashes being incessant. With only sight intermission, shower after shower followed in quick succession. each succeeding one seemingly trying to outdo that which immediately preceded it in in .ensity and volume.
 About II o'clock at night, the waters from tue thousands of streams and brooks pouring from the bills into the Mt Ripa stream had swollen it to such height that 1t came roar;ng dow ifs rocky course with almost the speed of the wind, and even more quickly if possible than the Saturday before, the streets of OUT village were again inundated; stream pouring from the bridge as before, down past the Congrega- uonal church, our office and the stores, hndlng an outlet to the fields east of the village at various points on it's route, This current of water coming SO suddenly and SO rapidly that it would be difficult for man to preserve his equilibrium in endeavorino to ford it; frightened people into the be- lief that the dam at Mt. Riga, which holds thousand acres of water, had bro ken, and it was being precipitated upon all creation below it, and general alarm was given. Men ran through the streets crying