South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1874-05-22

tte Flood.
On Saturday morning last the manufacturing
villages of Williamsburg Hay denville, Leeds and
Florence, Massachusetts,, situated on Mill river,
tributary Of the Connecticut, were suddenly ov-
erwhelmed by deluge caused by the breaking
Of a reservoir above Williamsburg The torrent
swept down upon factories, mills end tenement
houses taking the thousands Of men, women and
children unawares, sweeping away or overturn-
ing buildings, and carrying down hundreds Of
people, many Of whom were lost. The latest
estimate Of the loss of life places It at over $50
persons, the bodies Of many OF whom have been
r,coTered. The loss Of property Is estimated at
over 100000. The following gives some of
the particulars OF the calamity
SCENE OF THE CATASTROPHE
BosroN, May 1.-THE reservoir above
Williamsburg, Massachusetts,, constructed
with two others TO supply the IN auufactories
OF Williamsburg, Leeds aud Haydenville,
gave way ot an early hour Saturday, the
water sweeping everything before it, and
causing large loss of life. The villages
affected By the disaster, including Florence,
are situated on Mill river, which is a trib-
uthry of the Connecticut river, running in.
TO the latter at Northampton. IN the vii
lage of Williamsburg, Mill river divides iu-
TO two branches, one of which has its rise
IN Goshen, and The other at about the edge
of Conway. Two large reservoirs are sit
uited on the Goshen branch, and one on the
Conway branch, containing a total depth
OF not less that six feet. The reservoir
dams were all most substantially construct
ed-built By skilltul engineers in the most
approved modern method, aud large sums
of money have been expended during the
last year 10 putting them in what was sup.
posed TO be perfect order
The Goshen reservoir which gave way
! covered $50 acres OF ground at an average
depth of thirty feet The reservoir was
constructed about twelve years ago in order
to afford reliable supply of water Cor the
various factories on Mill river, which is one
OF the most tickle and uncertain of streams,
liable alike 10 floods K amost utter drought.
Ii was built by company Of capitalists
who were interested in the various manu-
featuring enterprises on the stream, and has
caused them sppreheusions of disaster sew
erai tunes. Last year, how ever, it was re-
paired az heavy expense, and since then
has been supposed to be until now tolerably
well secure, although known to be lenky.
The reservoir broke about s O'Clock in
the morning, and the water came rushing
down the hits, carrying everything before
1t. IL struck the southeastern portion of
Williamsburg village about two miles north
OF HaydenvIlle, carrying away large
plumber of dwellings, thence to Skinner
vile, where 1t swept away MIR. SINNERS
large silk mills and his boarding and dwell
ing houses. Continuing on, il struck the
large brass mAnufactory of Messrs Hay
dep, Gree Il c., sweeping i, away in an
instant. L'rge stones and machinery we're
swept through the main streets of Hayden
vile at fearful rate, and well-built houses
were instantly crushed, not giving the in
mates q moments warning.
The a 'od then struck the village of Locd0,
where large pumber Of shops, dwellings,
&c were swCp. away The loss Of life is
very heavy, whole families in some ins'an-
ces having been carried away over dams,
and were either killed or drowned. Whole
blocks of tenement houses filled with wo.
men and children were swept down the
stream, and all the inmates, Of course, were
lost. Bodies arc constantly being found,
and 10 some cases those Of persons who
were not supposed to be lost, so it seems
perfectly safe TO say the total loss Of life
will exceed one hundred and fifty if indeed
it does not more nearly approach 200.
It is utterly impossible yet to give de-
tailed estimate Of tie losses Aside from
the buildings destroyed and damaged, bridg-
es have been carried away, roads ruined
and hundreds of acres of meadow land rem
dercd almost valuoless. The total loss
must far exceed 81 900, 600, and will prob
ably come nearer 81 900 900
- H. NJ " A L