The New York herald., 1874-05-22
THE GREAT CALAMITY.
Laborers Engaged in the
Search for Bodies.
Supposed Loss Of Passengers OH the
Williamsburg Road.
MEASURES FOR RELIEF
Examination of Reservoirs
Throughout the State.
NORTHAMPTON, Mass. NAV 81. !,

NORTHAMPTON, Mass, May 81. 1871
This has been one OF the most stormy and dismal
days OF the spring season. From early morning
until night the rain has poured Town in torrents
aud almc5t entirely prevented any etlectua search
Tor the missing dead OF the great calamity of sat-
urday. the prncipa searchers consisted OF about
200 men, who were furnished from Springfield by
superintendent Russell, OF the Boston and Albany
Railroad, under whose direction they nave labored
to-day. Besides, there were few farmers and
mechanics from the surrounding country. who
joined in the work, but the weather was so un-
favorable that but very little was accomplished.
Only two bodies had been found at n late hour in
the afternoon, and neither mas yet been recog
nized 1t is quite likely that few OF those now
missing Will never be tound although the search
Will not be abandoned at present. OF the l3S
bodies found all
HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED BY FRIENDS
except three-those OF two women, apparently
thrty-dve and forty.fve years OF age and boy,
OF two or three years. They were recognizable
had any one known them, but, after being seen by
large number o. persons during the thlrty-six
hours they remained In the rough little snop near
Florence, which served as dead house, they were
removed to the cemetery at Northampton and
placed in the tomb. The number OF persons Of
whom there has been no trace since the Hood
is twenty.one or these seven Julia, Patrick
and Alexander Lancy; Mrs. Jane T. Cogan,
Mrs. Mary A. agey, Of Fltchburg; Arthur
Sharp child OF James Hennessy and child
or Edward Hannon-were swept from Leeds.
Two-a little daughter, seven years DID, OF Join
Wilson, and A. Posct, girl OF ten-belonged in
Haydensvllle and twelve in Williamsburg This
would indicate that
THE TOTAL LOSS OF LIFE
was ISL. The number was stated to be larger at
first owing TO the TACT that some OF the corpses
when removed from one dead house to another
were counted twice. 1t is quite possible that some
OF the families who were swept away entirely may
have had friends visiting them at the tIme who
were also lost, and strangers travelling on the
Williamsburg road at the time could scarcely
have escaped; SO that the number OF the lost
can never be exactly known. OF course many
bodies may still be covered several feet deep in
the sand, as before intimated. The disaster has
aroused the people all the State in localities
WHERE RESERVOIRS EXIST,
and general and thorough examinations are every
where being made by practical and skilled en-
gineefs. In reference to the alarm existing at
Williamsburg and all through the valley orders
have been given to-day or drawing down both OF
the great reservoirs in Goshen. 1t would take
nearly month to exhaust them.
MEASURES FOR DISPENSING RELIEF
have been pretty thoroughly organized and the
contributions are rapidly finding their way to
quarters where they are sadly needed. This lore
noon the Relief ana Finance committees at Will
llamsburg met in the vestry OF the Congregations,
church 10 consider what was the best mode OF
procedure until the town meeting. to be held next
Tuesday, should take some definite and auth0rita-
tive action.
FROM SPRINGFIELD
this evening comes the announcement that nearly
81, 500 has been contributed in small sums. The
pastor OF the First church In tnat city writes
that the ladies' OF his society have been
at work to-day upon shirts for boys and
undercothng for women, for all OF which
there is urgent demand. There was no
cessation OF work at the committee rooms
at northampton this morning. N. B. Hussy and
L. P. Copeland were early at work MAXIM up
packages OF clothing and lood to be sent 10 the
sufferers and the workmen, while Deacon Lincoln
ana A. Z. Smith kept up vigorous telegraphing
to Springfield, East Hampton and Boston ior adj
ditional supplies.
DETAILS OF AID FURNISHED.
One hundred mattresses and 100 pairs OF blankets
are on the way from the Young Mems Christian
Union OF Boston, TO be received this evening.
Early this morning two business men from Maine,
before starting Tor the ruins, thought they would
just drop in and see the committee. One
hundred dollars each were subscribed and paid
on the SPOT unconcernedly and naturally, in true
"Down Eastn style. W. +. Prindle, OF Northamp.
ton, was the next man in his contribution, being
four stoves The Rellei Committee az Northamp-
ton estimate that over $780, 600 in cash will be
needed to
MEET THE NECESSITIES OF THE SUFFERERS,
and in addition to the demand for money there Is
a loud call for provisions, clothing. furniture, DC.
The local Relief Committee at Leeds are working
noby. With the advantage Of knowing personally
every applicant ior aid they Investigate the Cir
cumstances Of each case carefully and intelgently,
and the women especially render most valuable
aid in caring for the sufferers.
RATIoNs DISTRIBUTED.
A days ratons are Systematically distributed to
$50 persons every morning, and there has probably
been no suffering IN this village from hunger. or
these $50, 1l6 were made absolutely destitute by
the food having nothing left save the clothes on
their backs, and these, OF course, require much
additional care. One Irishman who was asked
how much OF his furniture remained with which
he could recommence housekeeping replied,
"Well, I've got the legs OF my stove," and his
was sample one. good many girls who
worked in the mills have been provided with re-
Specialize dresses and sent to their former homes
or to stay with relatives. Indeed,
AN EXCELLENT SPIRIT Is SHOWN
by the committee, and while they will use all
proper means to reduce the number OF supphcauts
and will show dead bcatsn no favor. they viii
render every possible assistance to the needy, and
already have their work well in hand. or course
o lew cases have escaped their notice, as when q
child was found yesterday, who was In Its night
snirt when the food came, and had absolutely no
clothing save that one garment since; but sucn
instances cannot long exist with the system and
energy with wnlcn the work of humanity now goes
on. On Sunday morning appropriate illusions
VIII be made to the great calamity In all the
churches along the line OF the desolated valley
and in the afternoon the pastors viii pronounce
fitting eulogies upon those VINO have been so sud.
denly and violently taken away.