New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-07-15
THE HAMPSHIRE DELUGE.
THE STORY OF THE DISASTER.

!
SPRINGFIELD, Mass, July 14.-TO the break
ing away OF small pond, high up in the
hills near the source OF Middleheld BROOK
may be fairly attributed the disaster and wreck
OF Sunday. Goose Pond. as the country people can
it, is a small reservoir covering about Blk acres STU
ated probably about rs feet higher and quarter OF
mile beyond the upper part OF the two ponds that
afterward away Here the waters which had ac-
cumulated through heavy rains we're held IN cheek
by a dam about eight feet high. but OF no great
strength Either through careless workmanship or tue
pressure OF moro water than usual-the opinion seems
almost equally diylded-this gave way, and tie con-
tents crushed down the street and broke INTO tho
reservoir below. The dam here. built in 1866 by
s. L. Church Bros. was merely an earthen emoank-
ment, about 40 feet wide at the base, sopiDg
to 10 feet at the top. This pond OF Is acres
as well AZ the larger below Of 50 acres
were formed by submerging the wide meadows between
the hills and consequently was not very deep. IL was
already filed beyond the usual limit me addition OF
another large body OF water was too
much for the usual outlet, and the water
poured over the top of the dam. carrying away the
earth until the whole embankment was forced from
position and the imprisoned food swept swiftly through
two miles Of the valley, bearing trees fences and debris
to the lower reservoir and piled them against the dam
This dam formed the public highway and consisted
only OF loosely built stone walls about 20 feet
apart. filed in with earth, with timber
overflow near the west end. This sustained
the pressure for some time. but soon gave
way at fume and the eastern end and the water
poured through in irresistible torrents Fortunately
the course the first followed nearly the natural BED OF
the stream while the other hurried east OF the line OF
houses The tenement-house which t first struck
and demolished again divided the first and sent
stream tearing through the single street. Blush Hol'
low il almost small TO be called a village HAN
dozen houses side OF the street The brook
is usually about IS feet wide. Below. on the other SIDE
is the wooden mill OF the Church Brothers.
below, new mill in progress OF erection
and two small bOa-dng andl st0rehonses
alone The mill operatives lived in houses higher mp on
the hillside The boarding houses first before the
wave of water and debris which then cIrcled around
the mill and carried away two storehouse'' leaving
hardly a trace OF the foundations
Deacon Meacham's warning had given the inmates OF
the houses escape TO the hills. Those who re-
manned in the Of houses were only troubled by the
uundauon as the water and filed the valley seven
or eight feet deep. The eastern torrent lifted
the barn OF ;. L. Church from its founda-
lions. driited it against the house or "hiiam
Blush and then into broken lumber after which II
Joined the torrent, leaving behind houses with
sides or stories out and completely guted OF
furnlture muddy channels filed with powders where
gardens and roads had BEEN and carrying along terri
bic advance guard broken beams trees, and house
hold articles.
THE POWER OF THE FLOOD.
Below the village there is slight bend IN the brook
Just aoove the lower mi-here was an mpressins e1-
hibition OF the foods power-each bank was washed
away for many feet the channel dug out 10 feet below It's
former level, sua aud the upper corner OF the mil!
wrenched from their supports the hume when crossed
the stream about p feet usual surface i7ted
ana broken like straw and the big IS feet waterWheeI
broken and filed with mud. From this place % me
junction with the Westded River. about TWO miles, thls
torrent OF wafer rushed through narrow gorge
laying bare the rocks twisting ana tearing mp
trees as by tornado, removing all traces
NJ rellbunt road carving away an old grist-mi and
m dam and devastating everything for 20 feet mp eaeh
hillside. With the force gathered IN It's Dent-up
passage. the food burst into the river AT
Mdilefeld switch. expending most or It's tury
against the railroad bridge-a double arched stone
structure spanning both the highway and the river The
debris borne piled AGAINST II. forming
sort of dam and checking the water which quickly uh
dermued the abutment and then threw 1t mass of
broken stone into the river.
Between here and Chester five miles below, the food
lost most OF its force, becoming mere inundaton,
which destroyed stone bridges by undermining
them; wooden bridges by lifting them from
their supports, washing away almost 800 feet
OF railroad embanknent dlng houses with water and
covering fertile land with sand and mud Beow Ches-
ter with the exception Of destroying portion Oh the
dam OF the emery works no serious damage was uone
beyond the theft considerable nay TOR the stream
A"'
effects we're barely visible.
The streams regained their usual level before Monday
,norning leaving evidence OF the floods hight IN im'
men.e piles Of debris high ~ The banks heapeu asaus
trees or in trees.
BLUSH HOLLOW.
At Blush Hollow, the residents seemed to-day barely
10 have recovered from their fright though efforts
were making TO remove the broken materials. The
ground was strewed with broken machin-
erv. lumber and furniture. Curious visit
ors few in number. because the place could
only 10 reached by circuous roads over seepms wrs
stravIng about stepping cautiously over the powders
and deep holes which represented roads lawns and gar
dens or PIC ing their way over the now insignificant
brook
on the railroad about have been employed all
day wooden bridge lay broken ia the stream while
Temporary trestle-wOrk was being put IN It's place
bridge beyond was hanging Ike suspension bridge lt7
supports nearly gone The effect OF the bridges TO dam mp
the waters probably prevented great destruction
AZ Chester was shown for torrent OF water had
beep forced along the railroad until it Joined the river
again by washing the embanknent from under the rails
leaving them hanging IN the arr.
Al every break men were al work, so that me com
pany expect that travel can De resumed ny tnuisa!
morning. ruined stone arch about Two miles aooVc
Chester y most serious obstacle IN the way leI
hanging a very dangerous condition ana ao'e 70 iaI
al any TUNE -. - ~. ..,.,,. sooo 900 A,
Blush Hollow the largest loss f. IN the waterpowe
the other comparatively slight The town loses
through broken bridges and gutterel roads Inc
Boston aud Albany Railroad Company bear,
the Urunt of the loss. claiming 10 De damaged
~ the amount of sI5Oco without counting the loss
OF travel The damage 10 mills or private property Is
not large. probably not exceeding 500 10 any aihSie
case except that Of the Church Bros. The ack OF any
accidents ataI life ana even OF narrow escapes robs
the casualty OF hall It's terror SIN The damage 70 me
cluuty IN proportion valuation said 10 be larger
than that at Mill River.
Tue opinion appears 70 be that the Church Brothers
are very little 10 Oane the accident, through anY
family condition dams but that hereafter there
should he some public supervisor Of such work
GOTERNHENT WEITHER REPORT.