Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-05-21
AFTER THE DELUGE.
Legislative Investigation of the
Massachusetts Horror.
Damaging Developments against
the Builders of the Dam.
Threats of Lynch Law by Sur
vivOrs.
More Bodies Reeovered-A Dog Digs
mn His Master.

More Bodies Reeovered-A Do. Digs
mp His Master.
NEW YORK, May 20.-A dispatch from
Northampton, Mass, Of yesterday says,
that when the Legislative Commissioners
visited the reservoir, every body descended
TO the gap and careful examination was
made Of the bottom, the walls, filling and
surroundings. The contractor, Bassett,
taking a copy Of the specifications contained
in the original contract under which the
dam had been built-cailed attention Of
the members 20 what he termed the evi-
denee oftheir fulfillment, and consequently
exonerated from blame himself and those
associated with him. Col. Wilson, OF
Boston, the engineer who had constructed
the Hartford reservoir twenty years ago,
who had accompanied the Commissioners
as an expert, remarked that this dam was
not built according TO the specifications of
that paper in YOUR hand. The Colonel then
proceeded to point out that the speciica-
tions had called for the building of a foun-
dation wall at least three feet below the
bottom of the reservoir, whereas 1t was
built only upon that bottom, between which
and the wall the water was found to pass
easily, created leak and eventually spread
the latter. Again, the embank1nent pro
tectOr of this wall was forty feet narrower
than the contract specified. In short, said
Col. Wilson, the specifications have been
entirely disregarded and the accident was
inevitable. The only wonder is that it did
not occur before. The terrible neglect and
gross ignorance displayed in the cOnstruc-
ton ofthe dam was criminal, and its recent
evil consequence murder.
In talking of the event later, Col. Wilson
said he could not regard It as an accident,
because the dam could not hold any body
of water in it, as the earth at the bottom,
under the wall, was slowly, but surely,
washed away daily.
Joel Hayden said that such had ever
been his fathers (late Governor) opinion,
and so strongly in this belief had he been
that he issued standing orders in the fOun-
dry for the hands to leave the benches ard
building the moment they heard the word
s'reservOir" shouted in the street, and take
refuge on the high ground.
Threats OF Lynch Law.
o. G. Speilman, overseer of the reservoir,
and formerly Secretary and Treasurer OF the
Association by which the dam was built,
was protected in his house Monday night
and last night by large number Of special
police and military. Monday evening an
Irishman, formerly in the employ Of SPELL
man, informed him that the Irishmen and
Canadians had determined to avenge the
loss of their homes and families by lynch
ing him. During the night he felt need
for the police and military.
Digging for the Dead.
AT the first stroke of dawn the villagers
were at work among the ruins. As the
morning advanced parties of men equipped
as nayvies continued to arrive from the
surrounding townships, so that by seven,
thousands were clearing and carting off the
debris all the way from the Northampton
meadows to Williamsburg. Every eye
sought bodies and twenty-one corpses were
found. These bodies were difficult to re-
cognize, because decomposition had set in.
They were much dis6gured by bruises, and
totally nude. At Leeds nothing was done
except looking for the dead under the rub
bish. which experienced men say will not
be cleared away, even at the present expe-
ditious rate, in less than week.
Business-Like.
AT Haydensville, the day was begun in a
business-like manner. Joel Hayden en-
ployed his hands and all who were able
and willing to earn dollar, in picking up
his patterns and brassware, several thous-
and dollars worth of which was stored in
his Outhouses and barns before noon. To
get at these, Hayden finds it necessary 10
alter the course of the stream, and his men
ere plowing new channel for it, beginning
at the north side of the former site of the
brass foundry and running south through
the valley.
ADOg's sagacity.
Anincident of extraordinary canine af-
fection has Just come to light. Col. Joel
Hayden has a dog Of the st. Bernard kind
which has for long time been a village
fayorite, and the pet Of the school children.
Ira Bryant, a servant of Mrs. Colonel Hay
den, over sixty years of age was great
favorite with the dog. Bryant was lost in
the disaster. Sunday afternoon the dog
started out and followed the seachers for
bodies in meadow lands. He was seen on
Miller's fats paving in the sand, and when
he was visited it was found he had dug
quite deep in the dirt, in which they dis
covered the lower portions of a mans limb.
The next half hour revealed the form of
Bryant. Diligent search had been made
for these remains, but it seemed hardly
found the imbedded corpse.
Giving Up I'm Despair.
Williamsburg and Skinnerville stand
still, not bit of work, other than that
necessary in searching for the dead, being
in progress. Even some manufacturers to
whom a majority of the people look for in
centive to action, shut themselves in the
houses and fret. Mr.. Skinner, it is stated,
has signified his intention not to rebuild
his factory, and Mr.. Spellman said he
would not erect his. Still, all the leading
men of Williamsburg are not so craven as
to yield to this blow, and are making an
attempt at the re-establishment of this once
pretty and thriving town. They are ready
TO shake of the apathy Of grief now paral-
iZing them, and 10 exert themselves man
fully if the Legislature and large cities viii
only aid them. 1 i