Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1874-05-20

and fathers had left but a few moments
|, before in fancied security. 1t was a
sight which paralyzed every eehoider'
. The most horrible fate was that Of the
|, occupants of two or three dwelling houses
at the lower bend of the river who we're
cut off from the high land and perished
within sight of neighbors who were pow
erless to aid. The only man IN the EN-
ploy of the Hayden Il Geer Company
who lost his life was a Frenchman named
Francis Proudier, who ran back to The
work-room to get his coat from where II
was hanging. after he was warned to nee
for his life.
In less than an hour the water had sub
sided and the search for bodies bagau, to
be continued, it is supposed, for days to
come, among the heaps Of ~brushwood and
earth that are to be too frequently seen.
So far thirty. -four bodies have been recov-
cred in the town, and tho majority OF
these were found in the rear of elevated
buildings, far removed from the river
brink. These we're removed to the chapel
attached to the Congregational church,
where cofios were supplied, or as friends
came up to claim them they were surren-
dered to them and the room vacated given
to new arrivals. 1t was here that the
dead were found in the most horrible con.
dition, bruised and cut, and generally
with every vestige of clothing torn away.
Between twenty and thirty dwelling
houses arc wrecked more or less, and gas
works are entirely swept away.
The damage done to business is pecuni-
arily greater than in other places Hay
den, Geer & Co.. who employed about
800 men, Sunday issued a notice that a
large force Of workmcn was wanted to
clear away the debris of the old factory
and that preference would be gwen those
previously in the employ of the firm. All
wages will be paid as soou as the account
can be made up, and any one desiring aid
can have it by applying at the office of the
temporary works to be started tomorrow.
The firm estimates its loss at from $40,
900 to $50, 900. on the handsome build.
ings and their contents.
THE DEsoLATIoN AT LEEDS.
OF the village of Leeds but very little
remains. There are but three houses
standing on the east side of the river,
where formerly was located the main
street and the village green. Shortly af-
ter seven O'Clock, says resident of the
place, | heard an unusual noise, but sup
posed it was water rolling over the dam
and paid no particular attention TO it.
Before eight o'clock, a sudden alarm was
given, and within a few seconds a wall of
drlftwood, as high as the caves of a two
story house, was seen rolling along, carry
ing everything before it. The dam sup
plying the motive power of Nonotuck Silk
Company was first attacked, and, though
this vas a solid structure, it bent before
it and then gave way The dam was built
about twenty-five years ago at a cost Of
$500, and had a fall of twenty-six feet
in the centre. The mill was damaged but
The clearinghouse opposite
waterfall, owned by the corporation.
was swept from its foundations, carried
down Main street over the little plot Of
green, that was always well cared for,
and thrown against two or three other
minor boarding-houses. only escaping ut
ter destruction by the jam made with the
assistance of two or three drifting trees.
Then followed the destruction of the
grist mill, a part Of the factory burned
some years ago. The office of the North
hampton Emery Wheel Company and the
hand engine house, with their contents.
we're next In order Of destruction, and these
we're followed by the other buildings on
The brink cf the river. On the main
house after house fell. Two Of the
oldest built places in the vicinity we're
thrown with violence against a largr elm
rec, uprooting it, and were only saved
rom utter ruin by a fortunate collision
with a brace of other and stronger trees.
The village chapel, al edifce devoted to
evangelical preaching, followed, and two
Or three donble houses. Then with a crash
fell Warmers button factory, and the ruin
Of Leeds village was complete.
THE ALARM-cHENEY's DASH TO TIE
VILLAGE.
The keeper of the reservoir was Mr.. George
Q. Cheney, who lived there with his family.
His story will be given in his own words &" {
have been at the reservoir for two and n half q
years, he said. "My duty was to hoist and
shut the gates so as to keep up a uniform flow I
IN the river. The reservoir had nm area of 104 t
icres, and was As feet wide at the bottom and I
10 feet high. 1t had not been inspected this t
spring by the officers of the company. The res I
,rveirs are owned by n company consisting of !
he several corporations along the river. 1t was
between 6 1-2 and 7 O'Clock in the morning when {
he break was discovered. My father, Elias a
who had been living with me 3 weeks,
saw 1t. We had just finished breakfast, q
md as father looked out he saw the dam had 4
out from the bottom. | went out and c
a stream of water coming through Mt the a
on the east side. | Mt once hoisted the
gates and let on the water at full head. 1t was T
90 late, for just then the whole embankment v
lid out. / saw that the whole thing would go
md started for the village at full speed. Idrove Ii
o Mr.. Spellman's to tell him the reservoir had v
way. He said 8 No, it is not possible a
aid to him I had seen it go, and stood and
alked with him several minutes. what will /
'ou dor said |. Run and alarm the lower
Mills he said. told him my horse was used
Up. He told me to go to the livery stable and
n fresh horse, while he had the alarm-bells T
ung. 1t took some tim TO rouse Belcher, the i,
table-keeper, who did not know what to do, At '