The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-05-18

but most OF the establishments drawing power
from the stream are situated below the junction.
The manufactures upon the west branch OF the
river, several OF which are in the village OF WILL
above the junction OF the two branches
and several others which are still further up,
between Williamsburg and Goshen, are, OF course,
unaffected.
THE MILLS UPON THE NORTH BRANCH
nearest the Williamsburg reservoir, and conse-
sequenty, the first to receive the shock OF the ter
riple nood, we're spellman's button factory, Adams
l. Hitcock's grain mill and the old tannery build
ing, which has recently been used as cotton warp
factory. Next comes H. James, woollen mill, stu
ated just below the junction. These establishments
were In the village of williamsburg, and next
lower down upon the stream was Skinnersville,
where was SINNERS silk factory. Then came Hay
village founded by and named for the
late Lieutenant Governor Joel Hayden. Here were
located the extensive brass manufacturing estab-
lishment OF Hayden, Gere & Co., the thread mills,
the Hayden Manufacturing Company's works and
Thomas Hayden b Co.'s tobacco factory. The old
gold pen factory was also here, but that building
had latterly been used for tenements. The Hay
denville Savings Bank was located IN the same
building with the office OF Hayden, Gere & Co.
The last establishment on the line OF the stream
in the limits Of Haydensville was the Haydensvlle
down upon the stream, comes the little village Of
LEEDS,
four miles from Northampton. Mass, where were
the Nonoruck SILK Company's mill, the Emery
Wheel Company's mill, built by Colonel James Shep-
herd, OF Northampton nfty years ago. and formerly
occupied by the Northampton Woollen Company;
then came A. p. Critchl0w's large button factory,
consisting Of two buildings, and this completed
the establishments at Leeds.
At FLORENCE
there were another mill owned and run by the
Nonotuck Silk Company; the Florence Manufac-
turing Company's establishments, where brushes
and mirrors were made; A. Wllliston's cotton
mill and Bay State cutlery works. Still
lower down upon the stream and located
in Northampton proper were the Vernon
paper mills, the Anchor Tape and Webbing
Company's worKs, and Clapp q Pomeroy's hour
mill. This nour mill was the last establishment
upon the river before 1t empties into the Connect
lieut., near the McIndals Lumber Company's saw
mill ct OxbOw. t.eat r&A GH1
The above summary OF the leading establish
ments and industries located upon this river gives
some idea Of the activity and Industrial tmpor.
lance Of these now stricken villages and refer
ence to this list and to the details OF the destruc.
ton, which are given elsewhere, will give some
appreciation OF the loss and suffering caused by
the disaster. "
THE FIRST ALARM AND THE ESCAPES.
The Williamsburg reservoir was constantly in
charge OF gate keeper, and early on Saturday
little later however, and about seven O'Clock, he
discovered that the water Was leaking through
the dam. and with all possible speed he fastened
to the village of Williamsburg below, to give notl-
fcatlon Of the impending disaster. He reached
there little in advance OF the Hood, and rapidly
had be driven that his horse dropped dead in his
tracks. Another team went to Skinnerville and
notified Mr.. Skinner, who directed the fire bells to
be rung. The operatives came rushing out and
Mr.. Skinner shouted to them to nee Tor their lives.
They ran with all possible speed to the surround
ing hills and all escaped. .t
The topography Of the country Is such that
the water escaping from the reservoir was
confined to very narrow channel until 1t reached
the meadows at Florence, which 1t gradually over
spread, and thus lost much Of its force. The
damage below Florence was still considerable,
however. to roads and bridges, but the main force
OF the torrent and the CHIEF losses by the disaster.
came further up the stream. vH
THE HORROR AT WILLIAMSBURG.
The devastation Of Williamsburg was much
greater than represented BY the first report. This
was the frst village into which the 1o0d swept,
and instead Of merey cutting across one Corner Of
the thicklY settled portion, 1t poured down through
the very heart Of the village Fitty.three lives
were lost between Its northernm0st portion and
the depot. g'
BUILDINGS CARRIED orE.
Spelman's button factory and sawmills were
first carried on, then Hiram HIPS two tenement
houses, house OF Otis Hill and twenty other dwell
ings. H. l. James' woollen factory was saved. but
the store and dye house were swept away. with
$40 900 worth or wool, and also q large boarding
house. The large carriage shop OF Norman Graves
waslcarrled away, but his dwelling was saved.
TERRIBLE DEATHS.
The wido W Knight, eighty years old, and Jerry
Ward who was helping her out OF her house.
we're carried down by the current and were seen
no MORE The widow Snow, aged seventy-dve,
was carried by her son in-aw, Deacon Tllton, into
a tree, where she tainted. Mr.. Triton held her
weight until his strength utterly failed, when she
dropped into the seething mood. slhNa|
others who were lost were Mr.. and Mrs. Spen.
Ger Bautet, superintendent Burnham and fam
ily, Engineer Roberts and his whole family,
Mrs. Cowan and daughter, James Stephenson
fwho climbedinto tree which was torn up from
IT'S roots ana carried down with the noodl, Mr..
Adams and Mr.. Hitchcocks, the millers; Conductor
Chandler's wife and three children; Mrs. Dwight
Adams and daughter (wno ran into the street for
safety and were swept away while their homo re.
named Mrs. Patrick Scully, Or. E. N. Johnson
and family and MIR. and Mrs. Edridge Kingsley.
Mrs. Kingsley was probably one OF the nrst vic
TINS OF the hood. Her remains were found
furtnest away from the place OF her death, being
identified here In Northampton yesterday. The
people Of Williamsburg are begging the authors
ties to open the gate OF the fourth reservoir for
lear that 1t win also break away but % 1t has not
been pronounced unsafe the request viii not DO
complied with.
TOUCHING sCENHs
There were numerous touching and heartrend-