New-York tribune., 1874-05-18


pr occupation. From Northampton to WILLIAMSBURG
tits one SCENE of sorrow suffering, ruin ana cohiu-
sion.
Thu varons manufacturing companies in that re-
- oro rho ioint owners of three great storage res
srvoirs in the hills above Williamsburg. constructed
for the supply of their mills during dry seasons.
Two of these reservoirs are on the western branch
of Mill River in Goshen, about four miles north
west of Williamsburg, the lower one being about
twenty- years DID, while the upper was built only
last year. The other reservoir is on the eastern
branch about two miles from the village. and was
built in 1867 or 1863 The two branches
of Mill River unite in the center of Will
hamsburg and thence the stream flows south, with
a gentle fall and many windinGs, through q close
valley. from a quarter to half of mile VIDE, past
the manufacturing villages of Skinnersyllle nay
denville, and Leeds, all of which lie within 'nieo
miles of Williamsburg. Below Leeds the VaiioS
widens considerably, and the stream turns 10 tno
southeast passing Florence running 10 the rear Oh
Northampton and falling into the connecticut at
the great bend called the Oxbow, just above Mount
Tom The distance from Williamsburg to North
ampton is eight miles by the New-liaven and
Northampton Railroad.
The reservoir on the eastern, or Conway branch of
Mill River. is said to have been carefully con-
structed but people declare with great free
dom that they have long regarded it as unsafe and
that of late il has been unusually leaky How much
truth there may be in the charges made against the
companies responsible for its safe condition. 1t Will
perhaps be prudent not to determine until the ex-
citement has died away and the facts are more
accurately known. 1t is certain. however, that the
dam has been subject TO great and frequent strains.
Mill River receives the drainage of pretty extern
sive hin country and though it is but insgnii-
cant little watercourse in dry seasons, it is subject
10 sudden rises and after hard rain often becomes
torrent. The only outlet for the pent-up volume
in the reservoir is iron pipe set IN masonry which
pierces the dam and is closed by d gate.
Arain storm set in yesterday afternoon. and this
morning broke dark and cloudy. About o'clock the
watchman at the dam discovered a small leak near
the base but such things had been seen before and
caused no great uneaSness In a few moments. how
ever the trickling stream began TO run faster and
wider; considerable gap appeared and then the
guard suddenly realized the immnence of the dlsas-
ter He started on a run for Williamsburg. Long
before he could traverse the two miles of down-hu
road a loud rumbling noise went up behind him,
the whole cmbankmeut gave way and huge wall
of roaring waters swept down the valley from hill
to hill The motion of the great was not so
swift but what the watchman could save himself by
escaping up the hill side, and thence he watched the
progress of the destruction against which he was
powerless to utter word of warning.
In the little village below the operatives had fairly
begun their work for the day; the mills were alive
with busy workmen there were the moDotonous
whirr of wheels the buzz of spindle and loom, and
all the multitudnous sounds that so to make up the
monotone Of industry in such hive of activity
and energy. In that busy little community OF
$500 souls there were few who were not up
and abroad at this hour of the morning. For
none of them was there any warning Of
the peril which, back of them on the bills,
was sweeping down bearing ruin destruction, and
death Not until the tremendous bore 80 feet high
and of the width of the valley, throwing up spray
like smoke and bearing great mass OF timber,
earth and stone in its teeth, in sight and fairly
lowering them dld they apprehend their danger
Looking up at it then in the horrible moment of
agony that was left them there escape. To-
ward the coming flood there possible
outlet. Only death in that direction. On
either side toward the hills-oh, so far away-they
looked in vain. The hill of waters hanked them,
and hope on either side was cut Off Down the val
ley there was chance for the heetest rider to out
run the hungry monster that roaring after. 1t
was moment of deadliest terror. Hemmed in
rounded. overwhelmed what could they dof There
was nothing left but to raise white faces and impor
ing hands to Heaven, and to Gods mercy leave their
fate
The great ghastly horror Of that dawn shrink
from contemplating. The shreks of women and
children the dumb helpless CONSERVATION of strong
men, the roar of the rushing waters, the crash of
timbers the wrthing, gurgling, and drowning of
the victims as they were seized up whirled onward,
crushed, and swallowed up III the flood beggar de-
scription. Here slowly rising stream, driving
its victims inch by inch from floor to floor till they
waited on the roof to be delivered from the
croaching tide; nor was it confagration
driving the terrOr-stricken inhabitants from house
to house and from street to street until 1T had laid
city in ashes. These are calamities which. appa-
ling though they be- give at least sign OF warning
and a chance of escape. But here was village
that woke with overwhelming destruction its
head that left them hardly time to pray before it
swallowed them up in very hurry buIly of death.
The water they had stored up and held back that
it might turn their wheels and do their bidding had
risen against its masters. and with the of
an insurgent mob had come down upon them with
out any thought of mercy.
And the tremendous power of this vast volume of
water can hardly be conceived The great stones in
the dam and in tho foundations Of buildings We're
tossed about by it like pebbles 1t seized deep
rooted trees and whirled them out of the
ground as O man might hirt half planted
shrub from its place. 1t plunged against mas
sive walls. and as they tottored and fell. it
caught great blocks of masonry and flung them
far and wide in the track of it's fury 1t burrowed
under the heavy boilers that with derricks and jack
screws and powerful machinery had been slowly and
laborOusy set in their places it tossed them up like
feathers. and using them battering rams. carried
them aloft in its with great sweep OF destruc
tion and death as it went. 1t lifted buildings
from their foundations, and crushing them
together. scattered their fragments, iron and