The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-05-23

ANSNl ~ VIZ GUuLbo VI al upuI1 ~ lue res
etvoir-the great source OF the creates
calamity that has ever fallen on New
England. This reservoir covers piecl
OF ground containing 1870 acres, and Sat.
urdsy morning there were 40 feet Of waite
In It. The wall Of the dam Is six fec
thick OF the bottom, and from eighteeI
inches 10 two feet thick at the top. Oh
either side Of the wall boulders had beer
piled In q loose wby, and the interstitia
spaces filled with the sand and grave
with which this country Is covered. o
course water will run through sand Il 1
gets half chance; and It Is surprising
that Massachusetts tolerated such an un.
safe disgrace as the Williamsburg reser-
voir. The dam was about 42 feet high
and the break In It Is 100 feet long. Thil
reservoir was built eight years ago, and
has never been considered safe from The
first. At least that Is what every one
says now. There Is another cistern ol
about the same magnitude up il
"Goshen," six miles from here, which the
people are dreadlng now. 1t would moi
be at oil surprising II there would be q
little legislation in regard to this reservoir
business before the present Legislature
adjourns.
THE DEAD.
One hundred and forty.fye persons Lost
their lives In the disaster. As soon as the
water had subsidized Saturday, detach-
ments Of men commenced to search for
the bodies oil the lost. The remains oil
fifty victims were found that afternoon.
Yesterday (Sabbath) over a thousand men
were at work In the debris, and at inter-
walls bodies were being carried to the
morgues OF different places along the
road. Upto this time about one hundred
and ten bodies have been recovered, and
most of these have been identified. Many
Of the victims were badly disfgured. One
body was found with the limbs torn en-
tirely from 1t, and another With the head
bruised of. Never in my lie did I wit
ness more sickenipg scenes than those
presented at the dead houses yesterday.
1t was there, too, that l saw evidences Of
pure, holy love as 1t came from hearts
broken down with anguish. II there is
anything tender about q mans nature
such occasions will always draw 1t to the
surface.
At Leeds, q man who started from the
button.factory 10 save his family, was cut
of from his house by the destruction. Of q
bridge, and the poor fellow had TO stand
on the shore and see his wife and chill
dren perish. At the same place n French
shoemaker, his wife and eleven children
were drowned.
Thousands of people from the surround.
Ing country, from Boston, New York,
Springfield and smaller places visited the
scene Of the disaster yesterday. Governor
Talbot was present, aRd Inoticed o sub
scription list for the relief Of the destitute,
headed by his name, with $500 marked
opposite. Hundreds Of people have been
out Of employment by the disas-
ter and most Of them are destitute. Aid
has been proffered by all Of the surround
ing cities, and will be accepted If needed.
Supplies are constantly being sent from
this city, and in every passing train can
be seen the outpourings Of liberal hearts.
To-day most OF the dead have been
buried. The bells have tolled almost
constantly since morning, and sad vii
lagos have paid tribute to the memory OF
those who were so suddenly taken from
them-a tribute which 1t Is fitting that
the living should pay to the dead.
]. T, Fl,