The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1874-05-23
FLOOD.
MASSACHUSETTS, AFFLlC-
TED BY WATER.
Destruction Of Life and
H Property.
INCIDENTS OF THE GREAT
DISASTER.

Correspondence ofthc y. Y. lIerald)
The devastation at Leeds is indie
cribable. Only three houses on the
east side of the river remain in their
original positions. The water first
struck the Nonetuck silk dam, solid
structure, and plunged through at is if
it had been bank of sand. The dam
was built twenty-five years ago, and
had twenty six foot fall in the CEN
ire. 1t originally cost $4,000, and
was retaced few years ago. The
stone wall of the mill facing the
stream was nearly swept away. The
mill was damaged but slightly, but
work will not be resumed on it for
months, thus throwing many hands
out of employment. The silk mill
boarding house was totally wrecked.
AN .iiU Ininates escapeu, except capt.
Vaughn and Miss Woodward, both of
whom lost their lives by returning for
some valuables. Miss Woodward was
a daughter of the old proprietor of the
Woodward House, at Northampton.
The old wooden mill, occupied in part
as a saw mill, was next crushed by the
seethiug waters. This was a three and
a half story building, $50 by 40. The
food in its course took Selectman w.
F. Quigley's house down the current n
few rods, leaving only the old l. part
on the site. In this i part Mrs.
Quigley, two daughters and Miss Mar
bel, teacher at the Leeds school were
sitting having just completed break
fast. They flew inrv tlle upper story
and so escaped. 1t was while they
were standing here that the main part
OF the house parted from their
TOWER OF SAFETY,
leaving them with thin partition to
fence out the surging sea. Gazing out
of a window they saw Walter Hum.
phreys on the roof of house, that ap-
oeared as ship on the sea. Happily
t foated near the window, and Miss
Nellie Quigley and Miss Marbcl raised
he window, grasped him and drew
lin into the little harbor that bravely
TODD out the storm, and he was saved.
Mr.. Humphreys knows nothing of the
way he came upon the roof. His
amily, wife and two children and an
ged lady, were all saved. Mrs. Hum
hreys was surprised by tho food, and
he and the old lady took each child
nd stood upon bed, holding the lit
10 ones above thewaves that were clam
ring for more life to destroy These
omen in saving others were saved
lemselves. The Iron bridge was car
ed away and from this point the wa.
RS poured down into the drowned viii
ges, bearing on its bosom the form of
estruction. House after house crum.
led in an instant. The old residence
Thomas Musgrave, who was killed
me months ago on the Morris Essex
hlroad, was among the first to fall and
Ut whit of it remains. One house
dyed by large maple tree and an
lher dovetailed into an adjoining
lilding. Frederic Clough, foreman I
the button factory, heard the roar of
&c coming flood and FASTENED TO Mrs
onneys house, and, as it were, com
anded all those present there to fee.
'rs' Bonney Obeyed, running
the hills. Clough Selling }
10 OF Mr.. Ryan's children, grand.
'ughter of Mrs. Bonnoy, begged Mrs.
AIRY Ryan aud Carrie Bonney to fol.
W him, but they stood fixed to the Z
ct in terror and fright. lie fed with ]
G child. They remained with an
her child and so were swept away
rs bonney's other daughter Annie
"a IRON the mill and was saved. The i
llage chapel followed the way to do. r
ruction, and also two or three douhIo
buses, The current had now noanI',
ached George p. Warmer hu,,ay ~
ctory, which was totally ruined THa "
arm had been given and all the em N
Dyes except Carrie Bonney and Eva
n Sherwood escaped These two no. A
inc bswlldcred and started far hama
hen they Were SWEPT down tbc ,'".