Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1874-06-02

1tc0 MtHtOnS h0Tth 0f ICrOps
crty Destroyed.
WILLIAMSBURG, MASS, May 26.-Three
large reservoirs above this place, which were
constructed to supply the manufactures of
Williamsburg, Leeds, and Haydeuville, gave
way, at an early hour this morning, the water
sweeping everything before it. The above-
named towns were almost entirely destroyed,
including such buildings as Hayden, Gere
s. Co.'s immense brick factory a large loss
of life is reported, but it is at present impos-
sible to give any estimate, though it is prob
ably not less than a hundred.
SPRINGFIELD, May 16.-Report of the
disaster in consequence of the breaking away
ofthe reservoir at Goshen, Hampshire county,
this morning, come in thick and fast. The
damage to property must amount to hundreds
of thousands of dollars, while it is impossible
to estimate accurately the loss of life. Among
those drowned at Williamsburg was the wife
of II. G. Frost At Leeds Captain Vaughn
and Mrs. Quigley and daughter was in the
house which was swept away, and they were
drowned. Reports are coming in of far
greater loss of life Ut Florence. The Mono
tuck Silk Company's works and the Florence
Manufacturing Companys works are damaged
to the extent of S25, 900. Conductor e. NJ.
Chandler passed over the road early this morn.
ing with his train, from Williamsburg for
New Haven, just ahead of the flood, which
swept away his wife and child. Engineer
Roberts, who was to start out on the next
train, lost his wife and child. Just below
Williamsburg the flood swept away SINNERS
factory, with several women operatives, who
had just begun work.
At Raydcnville Samuel Miller lost his wife
e. %
factory; including their Office and the Hay
deuvile Savings Bank, with large amount
of funds, and also Loomis' Hotel, were swept
away. AT Leeds Mr.. Warmers button factory
was swept entirely away, the water taking the
canal railroad bridge in its course. 1t stopped
at South>street bridge. The morning train
from New Haven was stopI ed at East Hamp>.
ton. The flood is now shdsiling.
The Goshen reservoir covered $50 acref of
ground at an average depth of thirty feet
1t was drawnfhpon iu dry times to supply the
mills at Williamsburg, Haydenville and Flor
ence. The reservoir was constructed about
twelve years ago in order to afford liable
supply of water for the various factories on
Mill river, which is one of the most tickle
and uncertain of streams, liable alike to foods
and almost utter drought. 1t was built by q
company of capitalists who were interested in
the various manufacturing enterprises on the
stream, and has caused them apprehensions
of disaster severaltinies. Last year, however,
it was repaired at heavy xpense, and since
then has been supposed 20 be until now tol>
erably we'll secure; although known to be
leaky.
A telegram from Northampton estimates
the loss of life by the food at sixty.
At Leeds Mr.. Dunning; an old man, was
drowned, together with several others in. the
Warner button factory. There were also
drowned Ralph Shaw, whose body has not
been recovered a French family of six chill
dren; Mrs. Robert Fitzgerald and children !;
Edw. Harmons wife and four children Gems
eral Davis Patrick O'Nsill; Mrs. Hickey,
whose daughter was swept away, but recov>
cred, and will survive; Eveline Sherwood,
Mrs. Bonny and her sister Mrs. John Ryan
and two children.
Twelve houses at Leeds were swept away.
Part of the silk milk is gone.
AT Haydenville and Leeds the dwellings
not destroyed are turned into charnel. houses
and hospitals. A train on the canal road has
gone out to Leeds with provisions. AT Leeds
the stores of Elih1 Graves, NJ. R. Eames and
z. Rice are swept away. AT Williamsburg
Superintendent Birmingham, DIR. Johnson,
wife and children, and Epaphesidus Hubbard
were drowned. 'Tweuty.seven bodies were
discovered at 2 o'clock, three ofwhich are at
Northampton Town hall and fourteen at Flor
ence. Selectrnen stsrkweather and Burr
have organized a force of twenty men at Leeds
and twenty at Northampton, to search the
course of the food for bodies. Florence
thieves are pilfering the trunks of factory
girls at Leeds
SPRINGFIELD, May 1.-THE latest figures
of the loss Of life make the total one hundred
and forty-four, divided as follows between the
three places: Williamsburg sixty, Leeds forty
nine; Haydenville thirty,fve. These figures
only represent the persons whose loss is pos
itively known, though the bodies Of all are
not yet recovered.
It is utterly impossible yet to give de-
tailed estimate of the losses Aside from the
buildings destroyed and damaged, bridges
have been carried away, roads ruined and hin-
| dreds of acres of meadow land rendered almost
valueless. The total loss must far exceed 81, =
600, 900. and will probably come nearer 81
100000.
~ The Democrats propose ts bOtniuate
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