The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1874-07-29
fFRoN OUR owS CORRESPONDENT
The NInssachusetts Flood.
One Hundred and Forty Lives LOst'
PIrrsrIELD. June ls. 1874.


dischareing the contents Of an immense reservoir
upon an unsuspeciing community. But later re-
ports only confirmed the dispatch, and the people
shuddered as they learned the facts. A long IA
vIne-Ike valley extends from Northampton into
the mountains northwest Of it, and in the bed
flows small stream known as Mill River. Itaf-
forded good water power, and numerous manu-
featuring villages had sprung up along its banks.
To avoid the inconveniences of dry season the
manufacturers had combined and built reservoir
at the head Of the stream covering an area Of
one hundred and eleven acres. A dam was con-
structed and had been viewed shortly before the
casualty by the County Commissioners, who pro.
nounced it in safe condition On Saturday morn
ing, May l6 the reservoir was full, the water
averaging fifteen feet in depth, and to the eyes Of
Cheney, the gate keeper, who inspected it at SIX
O'Clock, all was right Cheney returned home
and was just finishing his breakfast when his
father cried out, &" For Gods sake George, look
there" He looked and saw portion of the bot
tom of the reservoir on the eastern side shooting
down the stream. He realized the emergency
and rushed to the gate and let the water on full
head, hoping TO lessen the pressure. But streams
Of water were oozing out on all sides Of the dam,
and he knew it must 60. lie hurried TO bis barn
and leaping on his horse lashed him to full run,
and quickly reached the house Of the overseer Of
the reservoir, and told him the dam was going.
Impossible, exclaimed The overseer, and valuable
time was spent in convincing him. Cheney's
horse was exhausted. and he ran to the stable to
get another. A second delay was here encoun-
tered by the useless questions OF the stable-keep
er, and as they talked young man named Col
lins Graves gathered enough Of the story to
realize the impending danger, and saying, +" II
the dam is breaking the people must know it,"
and dashed away towards Haydensyille shouting,
"The reservoir is right here run, It's al you can
do" Meanwhile Cheney was ringing the church
bell to warn the people. Graves rode on, going
directly to the factories, knowing that the noise
Of the mills would drown in measure the roar
of the approaching food. At Skinnerville horse
and rider were five minutes ahead Of the torrent,
at Haydensville only two. And here the ride of
Collins Graves ended, both horse and rider being
exhausted and another hero Myron Day, took up
the story and rode away to spread the alarm.
And now we will look at the progress Of the
food. The thick mass Of water rushing on seem 4
ed ike an immense tidal wave. l; was twenty
feet high and poured down the narrow valley with
irresistible sway. 1t was preceded by dense
spray thick as the heaviest smoke and au odor
ike that of siagnant water was emitted. The
stream came down the valley, and discarding the /
regular bed, rushed directly down the main street
Of the village sweeping houses and all before its
irresistible torrent, and marking out for Itself
new course, which it followed until 1t encounter
ed hill and then swerved again to the old bed +
The loss Of life 10 Williamsburg was flty-seven
embracing some Of the most esteemed citizens in
the place Entire families were, in one Ortwo i
borne away. Sweeping on from VIII 4
Iiamsburg the torrent resumed the river bed and /
gained renewed force iron its confined limits.
The warning had been given in the village below, 4
and the operatives in the UsquOmonk uiIl owned
by Mr.. William Skinner. had escaped 10 high 4
ground and saw the wave sweep along. 1t lifted |
the mil and carried it away so swiftly that it was
hardly possible to conceive that it had ever been
there Only four lives were lost at this village,
bat houses aud nearly:an the property of the
town we're ruined.
On to Hsydeuville the food rushed. The bur-
rying messenger had given his warning, but it had
been received BY some without credence. A
minute more and the crash of iimbers, and the roar
Of oneoping waves convinced them that action was
imperative. The river here was narrow and the ap-
pcarance as marked as anywhere. The wave was
ffioeu twenty feet above the usual level aud on
its surface foated houses, mills Sarns trees great
hay stacks, an indescribable mass Of confused mat
ter Il rushed over the dam, and one OF the houses
struck the old foundry and it joined the Of
ruins. Next breach was forced in The side Of the
brass works OF Hayden, Gere & Co, and the water
pouring in the solid building yielded and founda-
lion, sides and top all hurried on in confusion.
There were two hundred and twenty men at work
IN the mill when the alarm was given, and all but
one, French boy. who, resisting the warnings Of
lbs comrades returned 10 secure his boots escaped.
After the brass works the torrent took houses and
bridges and stores as if they were bot kindliug
wood The food swept by in an hour, and then
hey realized the extent OF the catastrophe Twenty
iix lives were lost at Haydcnsville. Then on to
leeds The first object it encountered was the dam
Il the Nonotuck six Works and it yielded Instantly.
The mad stream rushed directly through the middle
Il the village, demOlishng almost everything it en-
,ountered. About half Of the hfty-one persons who
,erished Leeds employees in the button fac
ories Of the towa- Too confused TO seek high
estiug place, many rushed down the street vainly
rying to escape the food. others started for their
ZONES, and, in sight OF them, were swept away.
eeds was the last town to suffer loss Of life, the
smage at Florence and Northampton being con-
med to property Numerous marvellous escapes
re related, but will give yoa only one, that Of
frs Mary C. Harding OF Leeds. She was at work
q the silk factory when the alarm was given. She
tarted across the bridge amid cries Of ePostulaion.
eeng that it was impossible TO return. she ran as
Toman never ran, and reached the bank just as the
ridge was swept away. She kept on, seeking high
round, and had just passed through gale when
he waier carried it away and threw her al the bot
ON OF some stairs, when Two men upon the bank
eized and saved her.
As soon as the deiuge lessened the sad task of re-
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