The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-05-26
THE DAM EXAMINED.

LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE AT WILLIAMS
BURG-EvIDENCE OF CRIMINAL CARELESS
NEss-CLEARING UP THE RUBBISH.
New YORK, May 2O.-A dispatch from
Northampton, Mass, dated yesterday, saws
that when the legislative committee visited
the reservoir, the banking of which, on
Saturday, was attended with such terrible
consequences, everybody descended to the
gap and a careful examination was made of
the bottom, the walls, filling and surround
ings. The contractor, Basset, taking COPY
OF the specifications, contained i'll the
original contract, under which the dam
of the members to what he termed
the evidence of their fulfillment
and the consequent exoneration from the
blame of himself and those who acted for
him. Colonel Wilson, of Boston, the en-
gineer who had constructed the Hart
ford reservoir. 20 years ago, and who
had accompanied the committee as an ex-
pert, remarked: "This dam was not built
according to the specifications of that paper
in your hand" The colonel then proceeded
to point out that the specifications had
called for the building of foundation wall
at least three feet below the bottom of the
reservoir, whereas it was built only upon
the bottom, between which and the wall
the water was found to pass easily, creating
the leak, and eventually spreading the lat
ter. Again, the embankment protection of
this wall was 40 feet narrower than the con-
tract specified it should have been.
"Iu snort" said Colonel Wilson,
disregarded, and the accident was newt
able. The only wonder is that it did not
occur before The terrible neglect and gross
ignorance displayed in the construction OF
the dam was criminal, and its recent evil
consequences murder" In talking of the
event later, Colonel Wilson said he could not
regard it as an accident, because the dam
could not hold any body of water in, as the
earth at the bottom, under the wall, was
slowly but surely washed away daily. Joel
HAYDEN said that such had been his fathers
opinion, and so strongly
FIXED IN THIS BELIEF
had he been that he issued standing orders
In the foundry to his hands to leave
benches and building the moment
they heard the word reservoir"
shoute in the street, and take refuge on
high ground. o. G. Spellman, overseer of
the reservoir, and formerly secretary and
treasurer of the association by which the dam
was built, was protected in his house Mon
day night and last night by a large NUMBER
ofspecial police and military. Monday even
ing an Irishman, formerly in the employ OF
Spellman, informed him that the Irishmen
loss Of their homes and families by lynching
him during the night. He felt the need for
police and military. At the first streak
of dawn the villagers were at work
among the ruins. Asmorning advanced, par
ties of men equipped as "navvies, !" continued
to arrive from surrounding townships, so
that by O'Clock thousands were clearing
and carting off the debris. All the way from
Northampton meadows to williamsburg
every eye sought for bodies, and Fl corpses
were found. These bodies were difficult to
recognize because decomposition had set in.
They were much disfieured by bruises and
totally nude. At Leeds nothing was done
except looking for the dead under the rub
blsh, which experienced men say will not be
cleared away, even at the presentexpeditious
rate, in less than week. At Haydenville
the day was begun in a business like man
ner. Joel Hayden employed his hands
and all who were able and will
ing to earn dollar in picking
up his patterns and brass ware, sew
eral thousand dollars worth of which were
stored in his outbouses and banks before
noon. To get at these Hayden finds it nec-
essary to alter the course of the stream, and
his men are blowing new channel for 1t.
beginning az the north side of the former
site of the brass foundry, and running south
through the alley. An incident of
EXTRAORDINARY CANINE AFFECTION
has just come to light In connection with the
awful calamity. Colonel John Hayden, one