Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-05-18
TIE MASSACHUSETTS, RESERVOIR HoRRoR-
Thrilling Details of ne Great Disaster
ONE HUNDRED AND PIPrY LIVES LOST.

IhriiifDg Details of ne Great Disaster
ONE HUNDRED AND PIPrY LIVES LOST.
In TIE STAR on Saturday our telegraphie
dispatches furnished the particulars OF the
bursting of a reservoir four miles north OF Hay-
denville, Mass, which was attended with great
loss OF life and property. Later dispatches say
of over one hundred acres, gave way early in
the forenoon on Saturday, preci pitating the
vast mass Of water IL contained three miles
down the steep and marrow valley into the
thriving manufacturing village OF Williams
burg, and thence f0rther down the valley
through the villages Of HsydeDyiile, Leeds, and
Florence into Northampton Meadows, where
The stream empties into the Connecticut river.
The huge torrent dashing into Williamsburg
With relentless power swept away in = moment
the manufacturing establishments and num-
bers Of dwellings, causing enormous destruction
Of property and terrible loss OF human life.
The lower villages suffered only less swfally.
The latest figures OF the loss OF life make the
total ia, divided as follows between the three
places Williamson co; Leeds, a.; HAYDEN
vile, IS. These figures only represent persons
whose loss IL positively known, though the
bodies Of all are recovered. Bodies are con-
SANITY being found, ard in some cases those OF
persons who were not supposed % be lost, so
that IL seems perfectly safe to say that the loss
Il life will exceed one hundred ami hf-y. m.
hundred.
THE CAUSE OF THE CALAMITY.
All accounts EtJribute the disaster @ weak
neSs and insecurity of the reservoir works. The
walls were not thick enough to resist the pres
uTe OF one hundred and twenty-five acres OF
water, averaging thirty feet in depth; and more
over, portion Of the walls at the time OF bnild-
ing, in ls66, was hurriedly finished bV the con-
tractor, owing 20 the approach of cold weather,
nd the work did not receive the careful super
-is!oa IL required. Persons interested in the
-tructure-the mill owners, who depended on it
'or a long time-fe,t that 10 was insec are, and
much had been done TO strengthen it. At no
line have the walls been free from LEAKS. and
.emetnes the volume OF water escaping vas 50
iaTge as TO cause alarm; bat repairs were mlde,
md the boards OF examiners OF Hampshire
county have repeatedly declared the reservoir
safe. Latterly more confidence had been felt.
THRILLlNG narrative OF A RACE WITH TRE
FLOOD.
George Cheney, gate keeper, who nrst dis
covered tie trouble, makes the following state
mont: He went out as usual SATURDAY. morning
about six O'Clock. Everything locked all right.
The reservoir Was full. as IL had been for sere-
raj days. Wafer was flowing out OF the waste.
Ii was on the west side past his house, the gate
was no sign Of an impending catastrophe, and
Cheney returned TO his house. His family, in
father, sat down 20 breakfast They were lust
finishing the meal when a great noise was
heard, and the old man, who was standing at
Gods sake, George, look there!" About forty
feet in length OF the bottom Of the reservoir on
The east side, just beyond the gate, was shoot
ing Gown ~. me , sIesm. Cheney seems 70 have
With single eye to the discharge Of his duty,
and almost without stopping to consider the
danger, he rushed 70 the gate and let on the
water full head, in hopes that this might posi-
bly, afford relief and avert danger. This done,
ne paused a moment to investigate the condi-
ion OF the walls where the break had taken
place. A glance showed him that il could
hardly fail in a few minutes TO give way en-
tiT6ly. Streams OF water as large as a mans
arm were forcing their way through, new ones
appearing everY moment. The wall was con-
SANITY crumbling away. Its utter downfall
vas evidently only question OF minutes.
Cheney rushed 20 his house aud told his father
he wss going TO the village 70 warn the people.
Together they hurried u the barn, few rods
below, and, whilo Cheney was throwing the
hridle upon bis horse. his father cut hun A stick.
LeaIing upon his horses back and plying Wig
oTously his lash, he rode sc tOptnost s. eei down
the road that skirtcd the stream 20 Williams
burg, covering the three miles, he thinks, in
fifieen minutes. It was then about half past
nine O'Clock. Driving 20 the holse Of Mr.. SPELL
nan, who had general charge OF the reservoir,
fast table TO startle him with 'sThe reservoirs
soiDg!" IL was but the night before that Che
reg had been talking with him about the reser-
voir, and both had agreed that everything
looked all right for the summer. SpeIlmsn
could not ct hrst credit the statement He
tsought the man little scared, and TO his
,tartling announcement replied: mo; it cau't
lie possible" But Cheney quickly told him
aboutthe giving away of the earth and streams
OF water rushing through, and soon convinced
hat the danger was most imminent, the first
duty was 20 warn the people further down the
stream. Cheney'e horse was exhausted. and he
clrecteu Dim 70 60 the nvery-etable, where
again precious moments we're lost In convipcins
incredulous people. Finally horse was male
ready and a fresh man got OF to notify wellers
further down the stream.
SOUNDING THE ALARM.
Collins Graves, o milkman, at the livery
stable, In Williamsburg, where gate keeper
Cheney was trying 70 get some one TO spread The
news, exclaimed, "If the dam IL breaking the
people must know it," and, flashing his horse
INTO q run, he dashed away towards Hayden
Vile shouting, "The reservoir n right herei
Run-it's all you can dol" IL was nov quar-
ter Of eight, and meanwhile Cheney had rang
he bell Of the Congregational church 20 further
warn the village folk. On went the horse and
driver, spreading alarm, Graves shouting an
the way. He made directly for the manufse-
tnripg establishments, "for, J" said be, "the PEI
PIE In the streets and houses could hear, butthe
roar Of the factories would drown any warning
for the operatives" At Skinnersville the mes-
seneer was i've minutes ahead Of the coming
torrent, but at Haydenviile had but two minutes
in which 20 spread the alarm. This famous
ride Of Collins Graves, which saved many hun
drec lives, ended at the hotel In Haydenville.
The horse and rider were both exhausted, and
here another herald took mp the tidings. Graves
could hear the thunder Of the coming food, but
not fully spYreciating t4 extent, he turned 70
20 back to WILLIAMSBURG. At the dugway the
disaster which he had predicted burst upon his
sight, and he had jest time TO turn OF into 4
bank when it crAshod pagt him. Indeod h -
not twenty seconds - ooon, and - A. ~ n
had almost deepaired q reaching n Dlsee M
safety, and had soon thought Of aSaDdoninS hfs