Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-05-18

turing establishments and numbers of DWELL
ing houses, causing enormous destruction of
property and terrible loss of human life.
The lower villages suffered only less aw-
fully. The latest figures of the loss of life
make the total numbrr l44, divided between
the three places as follows: Williamsburg 60,
Leeds 40, and Hadenville So. These figures
only represent the persons whose loss is Dos
itively known, though the bodies of all are not
yet recovered.
Bodies are constantly being found and in
some cases, OF persons not supposed to be
be lost so that it seems perfectly safe to say
that the loss of life will exceed one hundred
and fifty.
The following is list Of persons u!.o axe
known to be missing:
AT Williamsburg, Miss Livingston S. Bart
lett, Viola B. Collyer, 7. J. Hitchcock, VIM.
II. Adams, widow VIM. Snow, Willie Tilton,
Mrs. VIM. Sarter, r. J. Lauchone, Mrs. f.
NJ. Chandler and daughter May, Jeremiah
Ward, widow Electa Knight, Mrs. Patrick
Scully and two children, widow May Brennan
Alex Roberts, wife and two children, Mary A
Niece, Mrs. George Z. Lamb, Z. c. Hub
bard, Mrs. Merrick Wood and child of Chico.
pee, Michael Burke and three children of J.
Burke. Fred X. Bird, James Stevens, Mrs.
w. ID. Adams and son, Eliza Dominique,
widow Downing, Henry Birmingham, wife
and three children, Mrs. L. G.. Kingley, Mrs.
f, ID. kingley and two children, DR.. E. NJ.
johnson, wife and three children, widow
johnson, Frank Murray and wife, John At
kinson, Spencer Bartlett and wife, George
Ashley. Mrs. George T.. Lamb Frank Train
and wfe--60 in all.
At Skinnersville Mrs. Jerome Hillman,
Mrs Jacob Hill, Eli Bryant, Robbie HAYDEN
At Haydenyille Mrs. Morris and her
daughter, Johanna Williams, !Erancis Brodeur
John kaplinger, Hogan, Edward Macler, Mrs
Mosier, Mrs. Wilson and three children, Mrs
Posey and three children, Mrs. Messie and .
children, Mrs. Bonsit, and child, Stephen
Keller and wife and daughter, . children of
Edwin Thayer, 3 children of Samuel Miller
Michael Burke, and Archibald Lanconbie-3j
in all.
1t is utterly impossible to give detailed
estimate of losses as yet. Besides buildings
destroyed, bridges have been carried away,
roads ruined and hundreds Of acres Of land
rendered almost yalueless. The total loss
must be nearly 81 100000. 8
The following is general estimate o
losses
Williamsburg-W. P. Ayomis, houring
mills, $40 900; II. L. james, mill, $50, 600:
Houses, barns, etc, gone, $4,000.
Skinnersville-W William Skinner, silk facto-
and barns Sl3, 900.
aydenville-Hayden, Gere ( Co., brass
works and other buildings, $3.50, 200; Other
Companies aud mills $40 900; Houses and
bans $4,000
Northampton Emery wheel Company, $40
900.
Florence: Florence Manufacturing Co.,
brush factory, damage to stock $4,000; Mani
tuck Silk Co., silk mill partially torn away,
stock damaged $4,000.
The damage to the town of Williamsburg
by the loss of bridges, destruction of roads,
and the complete ruin of the best meadow
lands, is at present incalculable; but it is
such as to seriously cripple the town. Three
iron bridges were carried away in the village
of Williamsburg, one wooden and two iron
bridges in the village of Haydenvillc. In the
village of Leeds, one bridge was taken off,
and in the village of Florence, one iron and
two wooden bridges were swept away.
Hayden, Gere 4 Co., of Haydenyille, one
of the most important firms which lost their
establishments, will have a card in the
Springfield Republican of tomorrow morn
ing saying that they intend to rebuild their
factory at once, and advertise for workmen
for the purpose. Their employees will be
paid as soon as the accounts can be made up;
and the firm generously offers aid to those of
their W0rkmen IN need OF 1t.
1t appears that serious doubts as to the
safety of the reservoir have been felt since it
was built nine years ago, though less the
last year or two than in its earlier history.
The gate keeper has several times expressed
fears to his employers, calling special atten-
ton once to the point where the break oc
CURED, but the engineers always reported
everything safe. Mr.. Bodman for many wears
connected with the manufacturing interests,
who is thoroughly familiar with the reservoir
which he helped to pay for, being at that
time the owner of the James mill, was inter-
viewed by reporter of the Republican, sat
urday evening, and gave his opinions with
great frankness. He says that the proprie-
tors were not satisfied with the reservoir when
it was built, and felt that it was not safe. Mr.
Bodman accompanied the late Lieut.. Gov
Hayden when the reservoir was first filled,
which was not till the spring of 1866, and
says that they both expected to see it 90 off at
that first trial. 1t manifested no special
weakness, however, and at different times
subsequently it was strengthened. the most
important and the more recent being the
Zip Rapping." Mr.. Bodman, however, con-
fesses that he never felt quite satisfied with
the reservoir during the three years of its
history when he was mill proprietor and so
part owner of it, Since then he has main
tanned his interest in manufacturing enter
prises so fully ms to keep himself well in
formed of the reservoirs condition; and he
says that he has become constantly better sat
istied with it until had he been asked the dav
before the disaster whether he considered it
safe, he would have unhesitatingly replied in
tie affirmative. Indeed, Mr.. Bodman did
thus assure townsman who, only a week
ago, particularly questioned him whether
there was not danger the reservoir would
give way. Mr.. Bodman gave his opinion that
the work as a whole was not satisfactory, and
that the upper third of the wall, especially,
was slovenly built. He says that when the
contractors had reached thi. stage it was get
ting late in the fall and cold weather was com.
ing, they hurried up their work as rapidly as
possible, with too little regard to the quality
of their work. Notwithstanding, however,
Mr.. Bodman's confession that both he and
other proprieiors of the reservoir were dis
satisfied with the style of construction, it was
examined and accepted by the commissioners
of Hampshire county, who have also since
then more than once examined it and ad-
vised as to repairs upon it.
The direct cause Of the disaster, aside from
the general weakness of the dam, must re-
main subject of speculation. The gate