Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1874-05-22

when he was met by the coming wave
and swept away. His house and his
family within were almost miraculously
saved, the Louise of Hiram Hill, which
stood in the track of the food, break
ing its force. Mr.. Adams was about 90
years of age, and formerly ran Touring
mill at West Chesterfield, coming into
Williamsburg about four years ago.
THE DEATH OF DIR. JOHNSON.
Prominent among the victims at Will
liamsburg was DIR. L. M. johnson, 36
years of age, the village physician, and
it is curious fact, by the way, that he
had perfected plans for visiting New
York to day, intending to place himself
under medical treatment neccessitated by
his close attention to his professional
duties. He was seen rushing out of his
house toward place of safety, with two
of his three little children, his wife, who
was a native of Frederick, Nd, carry
ing the other, but the whole family were
overtaken by the flood and lost together.
DIR. johnson came to Williamsburg after
the close of the war, in which he had
served as surgeon. He formerly lived at
Feeding Hills, being a nephew of DIR.
Bell, we'll known in that region, and
graduated at the New York College of
Physicians and Surgeons in 1862. He
was conscientious and ambitious in his
work, universally beloved, a rising man
in his profession, of which he was the
only representative in the village. He
was deacon in the Congregational
Church and prominent in religious mat
tiers.
NORTHAMPTON AND FLORENCE.
The damage at these places is mainly
to bridges, highways and meadow lands
which are overlooked with debris, mud
and gravel, in some places several feet
deep.
A THRILLING INCIDENT.
OF thrilling incidents and interesting
details there is absolutely no end. A
most wonderful rescue, and probably the
only one of an adult person from the
flood itself at Leeds, was that of Mrs.
Mary c. Harding. She was at work on
the second floor of the silk factory when
the alarm was given, and hardly had
she reached the ground when the shout
was raised, run across the bridge
She started, leading the whole company,
but soon the cries we're of another sort,
and Come back aud Don't go over"
were sounded on every side. 1t was too
late for Mrs. Harding, though she was
on the bridge, and going back was as
perilous as going forward. She ran as
woman seldom ran before, and no soon
er had she, and perhaps half dozen
others, reached the farther shore than
that immense mass of debris struck the
bridge and it went down with crash,
carrying with it six or seven girls and
women, who were just little too late.
The woman kept on running for Ross
store and making, as she AYERS, pretty
good time, while her companions, who
had crossed the bridge, entered the fated
boarding house. She passed the little
gate near the bridge and Just got through
the larger gate below the steps leading
to the store, when the water rushed up
carried off the gate and threw her down
near the lower stair; luckily two men
were on the bank, and she was drawn
up, but not moment too soon, for Just
then the steps went off, and the three
had to seek safety higher up the shore.
The escape from the bridge, from the
descending debris, from the chance OF
entering the house as her companions
did, and from the water aiterward make
Mrs. Harding's case most marvellous
one. She only Of all the thirteen who
started over the bridge was saved. i
SO happened that one of her rescuer'
was Willie Swift, the lover of her room
mate, Mary Woodward, who was sweep
away in the tide.
Mrs. Harding lost Everything she had
her property being in the boarding
house, but thoroughly wet and some
what bruised as she was, she went pluck
lily to work tending to the dead and be
reaved living, and starting at night will
friends for Springfield.
BABY AFLoAT.
A baby was seen sailing down the cur
rent in its cradle, but it was soon en-
quilted and never seen more.
A boy, six years old, foated dow
from Leeds, clinging to the roof of
house, and was finally rescued.
OF one large family at Leeds all wer
lost, save the youngest child. The grea
loss of life at Leeds is due to the fac
that most of the families were at break
fast, and we're swept away without me