The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-05-19
in the end Of which was located the gate.
On the right side of the dam was waste
way which carried the overflow.

THE DISCOVERY OF THE DEFECT.
The dam was in charge of George G.
Cheney, who lived in small house near
by, and who has held the position of gate
keeper for two-and-a-half years. He AYERS
that he has frequently called the attention
of the president and directors of the corpo-
ration to the condition of the dam, which
he deemed insecure, and on several occa-
sions pointed out leaks in the embankment.
The late Lieut.. Gov. Hayden often ex-
pressed the fear that the dam would be
swept away. and the water standing at 80
great a height would inundate the village
below. The directors made thorough in
specion of the great Goshen reservoir
about ten days ago, and had fixed upon the
coming week to visit the one which has
now spread devastation below it.
TIE FATAL BREAK.
About three weeks ago Mr. Elias Cheney,
father Of the gate tender, came to stop with
his son. The family had taken breakfast
on Saturday morning, and Mr.. Cheney, ST.,
looking out, observed a portion of the en-
baniment on the lower and eastern side of
the dam slide out and disappear in the
stream. This immediately followed by
the cayng in of the upper por-
ton of the earthen support of the
wall which was left exposed. Mr. Cheney
proceeded at once across the stream, fol-
lowed by his son, who hoisted the gate in
order to relieve the dam of the pressure
against it. A tiny stream of water was
discovered running through the wall at the
base. which was taken as a sure indication
that the dam was about to give way. Geo.
Cheney ran to the stable, saddled n horse
aud drove with all speed down the valley,
giving the alarm as he rode.
THIS was shortly before : o'clock, when
the operatives in all the factories and work
shops on the stream were at work and the
other inhabitants in the several villages
were at their customary duties. Cheney
rode for life, and entering Williamsburg
he fastened to the factory OF Mr.. Spell
man. to whom he communicated his dis
covcrv that the dam was giving way. Mr..
Spelman said it could not be possible, bu
Cheney insisted that the water was coming
and as his own horse was exhausted, bu
not killed, as has been reported, he pro-
cured fresh horse and started for Leeds
THE ALARM IN WILLIAMSBURG.
lie galoped through the village shouting
to the people to save themselves. Tht
bells were rung, but so suddenly did tht
torrent descend through the narrow gorge
that many had not time to profit bv th,
warning. Cheney had reached Culver
blacksmith shop when, looking back, 1t
saw Il wall Of water thirty feet high, min
gled with uptorn trees and timber, adYan
cling into the village.
the BURSTING OF THE DAM.
In fifteen minutes after the embankmen
! Slid nNnI- fbp wall of tho dam Itrct on
and the waters OF the reservoir poured OH
and down the valley in white wall, roar
ing and Kissing with the force of an ava
lanche. The opening made in the dam wa
about one hundred feet long, the wall TO it
very base being swept away by the tremen
dous volume which escaped. The torrcn
t't u,,, t'ic uV', " .iit stic"l,, nom 'n'n'
c,rriod tho honiders aroo it" and sn,ai ~
yyhich ,bc Ian, ,yos co1mnosoI hoif ~ Nil
hnIn,v where ,ho,, ,vnrn Ioft in n noain,r
now bnr,nd sovnr3l fec, rnder tho stone an
,r,ovd ,rho roso,,oi,. o,,,tiod ;tsolf i;
55bout IN bomr Ionvin~ hIaci, AND mmdd
hottnn cnvnrcd ,vitL tho half derovo
tmInl,s of treos which rrey tbcrn bnforn III
ho.im v,ae formrd
THE FIRST VICTIMS
Before reaching Williamsburg the toi
rent swept away wooden bridge. and tn
farm house of Livlngton ). Bartlett, whic
carried off and demolished. and Mrs Rart
lett, together with her child, Viola b. Col
yer, by a former husband, were lost
Their bodies were subsequently recoveIe
I below the village of Williamsburg. TIL
Hood swept into this place on the north
eastern side; and instead of following tn
course OF the stream it cut across one cor
ner OF the thickly settled portion and pour
ed down the very heart of the village, cal
rying everything before it, Dams, bridges
factories and dwelling houses were mingle
n the general destruction, to which wa
added the precious wealth OF human life
TIE FIRST LARGE BuuDISG
in fine v;,Ioco to fool ,ho shock ,vos th
grist mill Of Prosnor Merrill Of WoodstocL
e. Witch was p1anaGad hv p I Titci
rorI, financial aront and WiIlion II
Adams os MILLER This was botter know
os The * dams" mill Mr. Adams was i
The mil when the torrent struck IT. h
MuS seen 10 slllns ou', was caught ny III
s u M sMepi aMas' ilis pouy wa wa
19ui,' 'Hiee1lu.'''ns" VI u, ,'ile oeioW' vi
i,l.cno"cN iI't 'uc nm upon 'ne his
aialul' NciI' oeok " oc.aiii MS poohs an
papers any. ieit Wy mn aSaii' Mheh =
was S'lu'N " 'i'''oei anu os"Ppearc'
\ WHOLE FAMILY LOST
A,,oro tho moot hoortrondir,r oos,o,tl
uo thn 5ont,, , nf ,ha nnt;ro f"n'i,'
f IL Wv VI .t amy
~ , i'' hn,,Gh ",,' o"''s. W. l'S i,
''r' .n'Ju I'' Inv ~ ",'o,' ,'n ~
f ~ TTn i'y ""S 1870 L. .JaO'' o.
u ,,,,. Vi NV W. r t,,'h'p'on Sn -. ~
rmi ,'o, ',th I br a,,n; .,u d ~ sIo d
w ~ n.' I'ii ",' ~" hui ~
os IL, .,,0 M - l,., in'
~ sn'I' , no ooe'.os w iel it.'nS' d" u,
Iahnso ,'" h;s ;fa ,hUoo ohi,i ,n ,,d w
""i ,n i''S w, e eu anu ~
lno.nri' eiio'aoins an en.'i. Amy Mci
"i, NV tn W.; az nou
tnu p1les VI thr ooI,ol Anu ms WIZ mei
iounu - wv Ivy mnule .iJ "1'.i auv IA
w. WeGii W Anu '1nlnitul .ii'
I've iia ny iGceileu .eliiolc pioM ron Ili ~
sil.' " a o.oN1n .inuei' "i'i'n s""oN III
HE 81 bDENNESS OF HE CATASTROPHE.