Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1874-05-22

break fast table to startle him with "The
reservoir is goingl" Spellman could
not at first credit the statement. He
thought the man was a little "scart,
and to his startling communication re-
Piled "No; it can't be possible" but
Cheney quickly told him about the Civ
ing away of earth and the stream Of
water rushing through, and coon con
WINGED him that the danger was most i'm
minent. The first duty was to warn the
people further down thestream. Cheney
horse was exhausted, and Spellman di-
rected him TO 60 to the livery stable,
where again precious moments were lost
in convincing the incredulous proprietor
that the messengers story could be true.
Finally a horse was made ready, and a
fresh man got off to notify the jewellers
further down the stream.
THE ALARM IN WILLIAMSBURG.
He galloped through the village shout
ing to the people to save themselves
The bells were rung, but so suddenly did
the torrent descend through the narrow
gorge that many had not time to profit
by the warning. Cheney had reached
Culver's blacksmith shop when, looking
back, he saw wall of water thirty feet
high, mingled with uptorn trees and tim
Der, advancing into the village.
THE FIRST VICTIMS.
Before reaching Williamsburg the
torrent swept away wooden bridge and
the farm house of Livingston S. Bartlett,
which stood on the right bank of the
stream, was carried off and demolished,
and Mrs. Bartlett, together with her
child, Viola B. Colyer, by former hus-
band, were lost. Their bodies were SUBJ
sequently recovered below the village of
Williamsburg. The food swept into this
place on the northeastern side, and in
stead of following the course of the
stream it cut across one corner of the
thickly settled portion and poured down
the very heart of the village, carrying
everything before it. Dams, bridges
factories and dwelling houses were min
gled in the general destruction, to which
was added the peecious wealth of human
life.
THE FIRST LARGE BUILDING
in the village to feel the shock was the
grist mill of Prosper Merrill of Wood
stock, VT, which was managed by P. j.
Hitchcock, financial agent, and William
81. Adams as miller. This was better
known as the Adams mill. Mr.. Ad-
ans was in the mill when the torrent
struck it; he was seen to spring out,
was caught by the flood and swept away.
His body was found three fourths of a
mile below. Mr.. Hitchcock left the mill
upon the first alarm, went back to obtain
his books and papers and left the mill
again, when he was struck by timber
and disappeared.
THE sUDDENNEss OF THE CATASTROPHE.
just three claps of the bell in the vii.
lage church of Haydenville were heard
to warn the people. 1t was then about
half past seven o'clock. The alarm haG
come to them almost with the food. TIT
first note of warning was given by Je
rome Hillman, who was on his way ii
his team to his home in Skinnersville
He was driving leisurely along, when b,
heard sound as of the rushiag of {
mighty whirlwind. Looking before hin
he deserted what appeared more like 1
cloud than anything else. 1t had thel
turned bend of the stream, and wa
striking out of the channel across wha
is called the meadows, taking in larg
basin of flats. He felt what was com
ing, and turned his team about, direct
ing his horse with all speed along tn
river road into the main street of Hay
denville, crying aloud to the people t
leave their houses and flee to the hill
sides. Mr.. Collins Graves was one o
the first to hear the alarm 30 given. HI
hurried to the church man warned
him to leave, and so the bell ALARM
stopped with the reverberating of tn
third stroke. Every body looked 70
safety, and with terror fled from befor
!, the monster.
I AN EYE WITNESS
Graphically describes the scene. b
had been in the house on the main roa
but few moments when he heard tt
: noise. Looking out he beheld the foo
as it was about pouring over the mea,
J ows. Here the valley broadened, with
high precipitous bank upon the west sic
Z and the road ON the east side guarded |
J. stone wall. The mass looked like
u moving wall of tees, boulders, timbe
IL and debris, and little water was to
. seen. Indeed, the only signs that al
u was there we're found in muddy foa
u at its base, and cloud of vapor arisil
ID from it. The team Mr.. Hillman W