Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1874-05-26
end of broken timber, which struck us
head over the left eye.
skrNSERsvrLLr AS 1t WAS AND Is.

i
in all the region before this dire calamity
than that which derived lis name from its
founder, Mr.. William Skinner, who q
years ago commenced the manufacture OF
sewing silk in small way between The
villages OF Williamsburg and Hayden
vile. He prospered and built up sue
cessful business, which furnished employ
mcnt for loo hands. lie had factory
three stories high and 10 feet long anu
so feel wide, besides an office and finish
ing room, and had recently erected
building in which he proposed TO manu-
facture broad silks. Last Saturday
morning his mill was running on sewing
machine silks aud organ seine' ana he
was doing . business OF 100000 per
annum. He owned fifteen tenement
houses occupied by his operatives, and
was m reality Monarch of all he survey
ed" To-day no is stripped OF al his
mills and all his little cottages, the occu'
pants OF which succeeded in escaping the
General destruction. The torrent came
down from Williamsburg, sweeping
away an iron bridge near the james miII'
crushing frame buildings and scattering
them like chaif. broadening rs the hills
which enclosed the narrow valley per-
nit,ed it. Delayed the beautiful farming
lands known rs the "hinssley's mead
ows,n and where but yesterday tho dew
clistouod on the ycrdaut grass, now the
turgid stream rusheS over Z gravelly bed
which has been lorded by thousands oil
visitors. Language is inadequate to
describe Tho scene OF devastation which
this gom OF u village now presents. Only
two buildings Ia the place remain intact.
The factory Of Nj. Skinner is literally
wiped out. Even the cellars OF the
houses which haze gone floating down
into the Connection. rs dIiit wood are
Glled with rocks and sand. The elegant
residence OF the proprietor is partially
DESTROYED, roads oblileratoI, shade trees
uproo,cd or cucumber with the de5ris
Of the flood. The water rose SO high
here rs to float or every house that was
not anchored by broad and heavy cbim-
nev. Some OF them were completely
overturned, others were tipped over on
the the side, while here and there were
seen small tenements. with all their fur
uiture intact, standing at al! angles Way
below their former sites.
The loss of life in Skinuorsvilio was
no. large. oaly four persons having Ieen
drowned. The vile Of Jerome Iiiiiman,
the man who gavo the alarm NJ Hayden
Vile, was lost, also little son OF Capt
Joseph Hayden; Mrs. jacob Hill and
Mrs. BYrant. who were all los: within
distance Of halt q mile.
INCIDENTS.
Tbs house Of Nj. Skinner OF SINNERS
Vile WIS filed with mud and sand, and
ai,ooa men were employed yesterday
afternoon in shoyeling the dirt ont Of the
lower story.
Oae farmer found his horses alive IN
.lo stable aber the flood. with only their
beads sticking up out OF the mud and
water.
RYAN Morau's tenement on Main street,
Leeds. was one Of the few that did moi
20 oil. but it was flooded 10 The second
story. SIX children were found together
behind a bed in the chamber, with the
water up to their necks They were al
numb and half dead, but were a.! right
after a good rubbing.
One little boy came floating down the
food to Leeds on q board from his home
somewhere above. Luckily nc s,cercd
tor little knoll not yet covered, and
throwing away his board he climbed 10
the highest point OF tho knoll. Still The
water rose and only spot Is large As .
table remained when the water reached
its greatest height, and the Piucky fellow
was saved.
Many people were only just finishing
breakfast when the Hood came, and many
table with the food still uueaicn went
/ down with the Numbering tide.
/ At Northampton six iron anal three
wooden bridges. and one arch Of = new
stone bridge which cost last year $1,000,
and every bridge in town on Mill river,
excep, the one on Smith street, was
carried or. and that narrowly escaped
J destruction. The Canal railroad bridge,
! near Hospital hill. northampton. IS gone,
and the road is so badly washed, both
below Northampton and above Hayden
/ vile, that it is doubtful whether Though
trains are running again before Wednes-
day.
In several instances stone dams resisted
the torrent successfully. and the river cut
an entirely new current &c. day around
them.
Clement, Howcs & Co.'S shoe factory at
/ northampton was moved from lis lcun'
da,ions by the flood.
y French Canadian, pointing to two
little boys, said, al had eight children,
but only these are lett" lie was alter
ward made glad, however. by the news
,ha; A bright lille son, three years old,
was rescued while floating down the
liver on mattress.
4 baby was seen sailing down the cur