The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-07-14

The Water Sweeping Over Farms and
Gardens and Destroying Houses.
BRIDGES AND ROADS ANNIHILATED.
fhe Boston and Albany Road Damaged for a
Distance Of Twenty Miles,

scarcely mas the community recovered from the
horrors OF the terrible Mill River calamity before
another deluge Of like character has swept through
our neighboring valley. Now, in the
case OF the Williamsburg disaster, inse-
cure reservoir was the cause, but fortunately in
Ibis instance there is no such lamentable loss
Of life al was occasioned by the hood on the other
side of the mountains few weeks ago. This
however, Is owing to the fact that the territory
ever which the torrent swept was less populated,
and not to any lack OF destructive force In the
waters. The POND was known as the Blush Hol-
low Reservoir, and was owned by Samuel
A. Church & Brothers, extensive woonen
manufacturers. It broke away between
four and five O'Clock on Sunday afternoon and has
caused loss by destruction and damage to prop
erty and interruption OF various kinds OF business
20 an amount which will considerably exceed
$1oo0,000. The foaming food, with the volume
ana speed OF waterspout, rushed down narrow,
tr0ugh-ike valley eight miles into the town OF
Chester. The long, narrow valley with the reser-
voir at It's head like the charge in the bottom of q
gun waiting to be exploded, made situation
precisely like that of the Mil River Valley.
THE RESERVOIR
was situated on Mddledeld Brook, which emptes
into the west branch Of WesJGeid River at Middle
field switch. 1t covered nearly one hundred acres,
and was built about thirty years ago by Uriah
Church. the father Of the present owners, who
started the business now carried on by his four
sons. The reservoir was made by raising the
main travelled road from Middleheld Centre to
North Beckett, the hills either side of stream
forming the sides of the reservoir. The road dam
was raised about twenty feet for distance of
from thirty to forty rods. The dam gave way
once before it was finished, but since its completion
1t has been regarded as saGe and for the pur.
pose Of furnishing additional water for. large
new mill now being erected, IL was the intention
to raise the dam two feet the present season. The
reservoir was used for the storage OF water for
she church Brothers, running two broadcloth
Mills Tor William Bush's ellOe, thiIl and stave fac
tory and for mill owned by Oliver Blush and form.
erly used as woOen mill and lately as grist mill.
These were al the mills situated on the Middle
field branch, below the reservoir. Between Mid
dlefed switch and Chester there Is upon the west
branch of the Westfed River, into which the
Mtddle6eld stream enters, Vests WOODEN mill.
formerly used as shoddy mill, and
at Chester there is the Hampden Emery
MIL About twelve years ago second reservoir
was built, about three miles further up the stream
by the Church brothers. This was smaller than
the lower one, and covered from twenty-five to
thirty acres. The upper reservoir broke away
hrst about halfpast tour. and swept over the
lower reservoir with an immense volume OF water,
making break OF about four rods in the highway
dam Of the lower reservoir.
The upper reservoir dam was simply an earth
afIair and that 1t was considered not altogether
safe may be judged from the fact that people liv-
ing IN It's immediate neghborhOOd have watched
1t with considerable care every time hard or
lengthy rain has occurred, and Deacon Harry
Meacnam, who lives only quarter OF mile away,
went down to view IL about four O'Clock. He had
felt uneasy about it all day, he says, but when he
arrived there and found the water had not reached
the top he felt relieved After looking about the
spot for some time, he was about to depart,
when, taking a final look, he was struck
almost speechless to see large section of the
earth wall slide out about TOUR leet from It's
position, beneath his very gaze. Recovering him.
situation, threw q bride upon his horse and rode
Like mad in the direction OF Blush Hollow, where
tue large reservoir Is located There lew peo-
pie to alarm before the Hollow was reached and he
came riding into the little village in hot haste
ngg ne news pt the OF the oa o.
nrst people notified and they, although they
doubted the story. despatched man down the
Hollow toward Middleneld switch, while Meacham
rode to the Centre and started the people there
for the Hollow to render what aid they could.
There was
GENERAL RUSH FOR THE HIGH GROUND
the people leaving their houses mostly with open
doors, ana In few moments the waters mad
reached the large lower reservoir, and for a time,
thls wouid stand the pressure, and It did
slowly an instant and then went down in the
feet long and twenty feet deep, through which the
great mass OF water rushed with the speed Of a
and the nood turned into the street, wnlle q
branch passed down in the rear OF the buildings
on the east SIDE
THE BUILDINGS INJURED.
The large house owned by the Churches and &C.
cupied oy Joseph King was the first one struck
the furniture dropped into the cellar. Nearly
The srS eoa struck GiSs s
upon one corner, cutting out the first story from
the main house entirely, while che floor OF the sec
pile OF debris, which lodged near 1t, the whole
structure would undoubtedly have gone OF. On
the east side OF The street old barn newly fitted
with horse shed. corn house and q building
formerly occupied Tor boarding house, but re-
this is what remains Of Jerome Blush's house.
One-haif the large ell was torn OF and destroyed
and the upright portion Oft was turned around at
right angie. On the right OF the street and about
opposite Church's store, which is still standing.
ing, used for storing wool and containing many
hundred pounds, and horse shed attached, were
stands the remnant OF Oliver Blush's barn packed
full OF hay the weight OF which served as an
anchor to the building. but did not prevent 1t
from being completely split up and broken. On
the opposite side OF the stream was Oliver Busn's
mill. 1t was three stories high and 60 by 40
teet. When the food struck the dam
Just north OF 1t that gave way, letting
the main stream which was rushing down
the street strike the mill, and It disappeared
like an egg SHE'LL This mill had not been running
Tor some time, but 1t contained ten sets OF old
syle woollen machinery and part oil the building
was used Tor grist mill. Opposite, on the left of
the street, william Blush's new barn received the
null orce OF the current which had branched toward
the east and south. 1t was SUBSTANTIAL structure
ana stood the test WELL only large wing used as
carriage house, and containing several carriages,
being carried of. lew steps further down the
stream was William Blush's carriage felloe and
snait mandatory, seventy by iorty feet, with an
Ell two stories nigh. This contained q good
cncuaf saw null and large quantity or
ptner valuable machinery. The waters fairly split
tnis mill open at the bottom, the dam by the side
Of IL going down in the general ruin. and the ridge
u tne structure dropping in Mt the centre.
July 'ne ell, used for bending carriage
s CSi,anhg ~, wl have to be pulled down.
RAn hnl0 nd