The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-05-26
The Coroner's Inquest Into the
Cause Of the Disaster.
TESTIMONY OF The GATEKEEPER.
CareleSSneSS in the Construction and
Preservation Of the Reservoir.


from tie shock OF the great calamity occasioned
by the breaking away OF the Williamsburg reser-
voir, the authorities are very properly Investigate
ing the cause and tracing the responsibility OF the
sad and memorable disaster. There is a notable
absence OF curious visitors now, and the melan-
choly inhabitants OF the desolated valley are for
the first time within week permitted to enjoy
the peace and tranquility which the anliction and
excitement OF the past few days so earnestly de.
mands.
The inquest was commenced by Coroner Ansel
wright TINS forenoon, in the Hampshire county
Court House IN this town, and it Will probably be
nearly, II not quite, week before the investiga-
ton Is conc luded and verdict rendered The evil
dence thus far elected Is painfully suggestive or a
verdict OF extraordinary severity, and unless such
one is rendered and the guilty parties punished
the public will be sadly disappointed. Among those
present to-day were many OF the leading citizens
manufacturers and engineers OF the neighborhood,
and the evidence given in was listened to with a
degree OF melancholy interest and surprise which
1t Is utterly Impossible to describe.
THE BOARD OF INQUIRY
The jury Of Inquest summoned by Coroner
Wright consists Of George W. Hubbard an old
farmer, and the lately chosen President Of the
Smith Female College In this town; Sllas G. Hub
bard, also an old Hatfield farmer; Captain Enos
Parsons, an opuent Northamptonian; DR.. william
M. Trow, the village physician of Haydensville !;
Hiram Nash, one OF the Seectmen OF Williamsburg
director in the town bank and prominent citi-
zen generally and John Mayher, native of Ireland
and Treasurer Of the Easthampton Pump Com
pany Coroner Wright is q Northampton grocery
merchant, and one OF the deputy sheritfs OF Hamp-
shire county. Mr.. Charles Delanc, formerly men,
Der OF Congress from this district, conducted the
nv nfrot nm in, hahn Mt TIM
sellor d. W. Bond, OF this town, was present as
the representative OF the reservoir proprietors.
THE BEGINNING OF THE INQUEST.
The jury having been sworn in by the Cor
0ner, the examination OF witnesses was at
once commenced. The first witness called was
Mr.. Abner Miller, Of Williamsburg, brother-in-
law OF the late John Atkinson, upon whose body
the inquest was held. Mr.. Miller simply testified
to the fact Of the death of Mr.. Atkinson, and two
or three other witnesses followed with supporting
testimony to show that his death was caused by
the Hood.
THE STORY OF THE RESERVOIR GATEKEEpER.
George Cheney, the gatekeeper OF the Inflated
reservoir, was the first important witness called.
He said that when ne first went to look over the
dam, about SIX O'Clock IN the morning, he noticed
had finished his breakfast, he saw the earth NOV
ing away from the bottom Of the dam to a point
abou, two.thirds up and Tor pa about forty eet IN
he Immediately let the water out as fast as he
could by raising the gait, and then went and got
en- horse ana drove to Williamsburg. There
seemed to be about half dozen streams all going
dam was destroyed. Mr.. Cheney could not re-.
member how near the Jets OF the water were to
each other. he was SO much frightened. In going
TO Williamsburg about ten minutes time was
consumed. He first called at Mr.. Spellman's
and stopped about three minutes, and told him
spe i said To 1t can't BE- possible, re.
peated the remark three or four times. Mr..
Ssasy n s. ans ' 4n. was sa s sso sa
and drove down to Mr.. Belchers, in Williamsburg,
apd tod MIN the reservoir was breaking away.
and he rode on to haydensville TO notify the
Fssnc e. y sas ne m
man, started about . minute ahead of him,
with his milk wagon. and in the same direction.
found that all the water had gone out and also
that his family was SAFE He thinks that not more
than five minutes could have interviewed from his
liamsburg, that he was about ten minutes In
reaching Spelman's that he renamed there about
going to Belcher's, where he remained minute or
two and then started as last as his horse could 20
for Haydensvllle. Mr. Cheney has been gatekeeper
about two years and hall, and ever since he has
been there the
and the leaks nave extended its whole length, the
largest stream Deing near the centre OF the reser
volr and only rod or two from the gatehouse. One
Of these streams; ne SAID was as large as mans
centre OF the reservoir. THIS stream, Mr.. Cheney
SAID, had been there ever since he has had the
Dtmmock, one OF the reservoir committee, about
the leak and he went and looked at IL, but
SAID that It Oo was damn otnns n. p9ng
leaks, some OF them large and some OF them small.
When the water IN the dam was lower than the
some some cases disappeared altogether Nj. Cheney
said he had also often spoken TO Mr.. Spellman, one
OF the reservoir proprietors about these LEAKS and
near the gatehouse, and 1t was never replaced
and the break was never repaired: The overflow
ear tne and no e stone Whatever was usea IN
It's construction. Mr.. Cheney testified that he had
often said that II even the dam broke away It
would be precisely at the point where IL did break
away, and his reason for this fear was that there
was such great strain and pressure OF water at
water Tor three weeks prior to the accident, and
previous TO that time 1t had been gradually filling
all the spring, or since the snow and ice COM
menced to thaw He was emploJed by Mr.. spell
man, he said, as the agent Of the Reservoir Com
pany and besides his duties there he worked out at
away his wife looked out for the dam. His princi-
pal business was to open and close the gate, and
lie never had any special directions about looking
after the dam or reporting Its condition. His pay
TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS A YEAR
The late. Lieutenant Governor Hayden, Mr.;
Cheney SAID, had never given him any special
instructions about looking alter the dam, as had
been reported. When the dam commenced TO give
Tay the water seemed to come first from the
bottom rather than the upper portion OF the
reservoir.
Elias cheney, the father OF the gatekeeper and
an inmate OF his family said he was the first TO see
the dam giving way and he at once notified his
son, who was eating his breakfast at the time.
The first slide was from the bottom OF the dam to
within ABOUT twO-thirds OF the top. he went down
70 the slide, but went back again quickly, thinking
that he could see better II ne was "a little nigner
off, His son then went and opened the gate and
then jumped on o horse and drove towards Will
iamsburg, he himself going over to
nelghpor Hemingways to tell him 70 look
out for some cattle he had on the
mats. He had gone about three quarters OF mile,
and he didn't let much grass grow under his feet
either when he heard the roar, and then he knew
the dam had given way. He came back home as
soon as he could, and alter he got BACK there was
some OF the dam then giving way. That portion
OF the wall which fell was called stone wall, but
he thought ut was pretty shmpsy tning.n 1t
was nearly an hour, he thought, before all the
water was out OF the dam. ABOUT year ago Mr..
Dlmmock and Mr.. Stone looked the dam over aud
found place where the water was rushing out
IN fonf thnrn vnnAv v,an