The New York herald., 1874-12-20

waters TO carry death and destruction in the neicn-
borhood. The parallel between that disaster and
that OF the MIL River was exact except in the
amount OF property and lives destroyed. AS day.
hight was dawning and people were sunk IN the
profoundest slumbers, tne confined waters burst
their barriers and rushed down upon their victims
before their ominous roar had awakened the vii
layers who little rocked OF the few moments
OF lie left them before they would be engulphcd
In the waste OF waters.
HISTORY OF THE LOCALITY.
In earlier days the Valley Of the Connections and
the numerous smaller valleys which debouch INTO
1t on each side were accustomed to other irrup.
lions, but OF different nature The names Of
HATFIELD Deerned and Nortnield are remarkable
IN connection with the bloody strife OF King
Phillips war in the seventeenth century. Hadley
is another name made remarkable in the time OF
savage warfare. Here 1t was that on quiet Sab
bath morning, In the year OF our Lord 1875, the
Puritans were attacked by the Indians while
IN church. The worsntppers were paralyzed with
fear as they saw the yelling savages apply torches
70 their houses, and lacked for q few moments
courage to leave their wives and children and
attack the invadera An old gray-headed man,
tottering with years. led the way from the church
door. and under his leadership the Indians were
beaten. After the anray was over the old man
was not to De found, anu 1t was not till some
years afterward that II became known that their
valiant leader was
GOFFB, THE RRGICIDR,
who had been for years fugitive from the ennis
saries OF Charles H., and had found q sheltering
place near Hadley, the town he had saved from de.
struction. Another historical spot IN this neigh
borhood Is Bloody Brook, where, IN 1878, the In
dans massacred ninety Of the young soldiers OF
the spaTseiy settled valleys. The story OF The In.
Cidents connected with this massacre has been
embalmed In history by Edward Everett. Deer
neld was, in the wars preceding the Revo-
luton, notable point OF attack for both
the savages and the French. 1t was q
very easy route for the latter down
Lake Cnamplain and the valleys through which
run Otter Greek "a tributary OF the lake) and
Deerfeld Lake to the Connecticut River. During
the Revolution the region was not invaded BY the
presence OF war; bur among the men who re.
echoed the sonorous shout OF Ethan Allen for the
surrender OF Fort Ticonderoga, IN the name OF the
'GREAT JEHOVAH AND THE CONTINENTAL CON-
GREss,"
many were from Hampshire and Franklin
counties, Massachusetts,. But these were long
before the period OF simple agriculture and when
the uller OF the SOIL as ne worked kept mis- rifle
by his side, expecting to be attacked at any mo-
ment. The stretch Of country about Northamp-
ton-which was originally called Nonotu ck-
Il ON South Hadey Fails to Hatfield, and ten miles
west OF the Connecticut River in all ninety square
miles. was bought from the aborignes for ten
cents and hundred fathoms OF wampum. Subse.
quently this spot became one OF the choicest
agricultural districts In the whole OF New England
and its farms were enriched by the overflow OF
the Connections River. and SO matters remained.
Manufacturers made their appearance In the
neighborho0d, and the waters were utilized by
making q servant OF them, and consequently q
lurking enemy. Foundries were first established at
Williamsburg and manufactures OF woolen goods
at points along the Min River to Northampton.
About 1880 silk raising and spinning were INTRO.
duced in the neighborhood and the demand for
water power increased. AS numbers and capital
increased the owners at the different manufac-
turing villages Joined together and damned the
upper part OF the stream.
In this country, at Denver, COL, Cherry Greek,
o stream whose channel runs alongside Denver,
was swollen by the accession OF mountain tor.
rent and overnowed the channel OF the creek. II
swept away, with resistless fury about fifty dwell
ings and destroyed the lives OF about thirty per-
son, besides demolishing several bridges tnas
spanned the channel.