The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-04-19
MASSACHUSETTS,.
Another Broken Dam.
Mills and Bridges Carried Away.
Loss Between 100000
and 100000,
MASSACHUSETTS,.

Boston, April 18-A tremendous food with
destructive results occurred last evening IN the
towns of Wrentham and Norfolk, about 70 miles
distant, by the breaking away OF a dam Whlch
restraints the waters of Whitney's Pond, the
source of the Mill river This is small river
not over % feet broad at low water, but running
with strong current mostly through meadow
lands, and emptying into the Charles river
at Midway. AT this time an immense body OF
water was confined in the pond by the dam
about 100 feet in length at the Wrentham and
franklin county road. The sudden bursting OF
the pond through this dam hurled tremen-
dous flood upon the lands below, sweeping
away mills, bridges, county roads, and dams IN
its course aud causing damages between SlOO,-
900 and $4,000 A half mile below this dam
was the saw aud grist mill of the Elliot Felting
Co.. known as Fishers mill. Such was the
force of the water on reaching here that IL
burst the 30 foot dam and carried along the
saw mill part of the establishment as though 1T
were toy ship. On rushed the waters three
fourths of a mile through the lowlands to
where were located the wooden and shoddy
mills belonging to the telling company Both
ends of the dam were washed away, ana below
the mills large heap of coal deposited for use
at the mills. Seventy rods further on the great
dam at the Eliot telling mills was met. This
with the road from the mills to Franklin Cen
tire, beneath which the river runs, offered sub
road, however, soon yielded, allowing the full
force of the waters to strike against Long
dam.
Meanwhile the inhabitants of franklin and
Wrentham rendered valuable assistance to the
Waterman at the mills in opening a place in
the dam, hoping to save portion OF the same
Their labors were successful, and though 30
feet of the dam was carried away the mills
were saved. Down stream one-haf mile furth-
er was the track of the New York 81 New
England railroad, somee40 or fifty feet above
the rivers bed. Beneath this the water usu-
ally passed by an arched culYert about 10 or 10
feet in width. Here the waters with seemingly
increased powers forced out the stone culverG
as If it were made of pebbles. So firm was the
embankmen of sand above the culvert that it
stood apparently intact for the space of an
hour and then was undermined. 1t caved in
for distance of 100 or 200 feet, forming an
impossible barrier to the waters above. When
the road bed sank freight tram was within
100 feed of the place, through not IN motion,
but the great volume of water had passed the
railroad and hurried on to the achievement OF
its greatest feat, forty rods below, at the City
cotton mills. The mill was originally three
story wooden building, but later was enlarged
by the addition of wing on either end
The bridge over the county road Succumbed
and then the water obtaining firm hold OF the
main building lifted it and sent it crashing to
the meadows below. So thorough was the
work of demolition that the cupoa alone, OF
what few minutes before was valuable mill,
remained standing upon the plains Machinery
and water wheel went with the mill and shared
the fate Of the structure which housed them.
The wings were left standing, but badly
wrenched and undermined, SO that they are
probably ruined and will have to come down.
Down stream still another half mile was the
small county road bridge near Kingsbury pond.
This was snapped from its foundation almost
at the approach of the waters and carried
away. On level space between the road and
the river the waters spread out and ceased their
work of destruction. The last bridge was
swept away about o'clock. One body was
swept down on the flood, but was supposed to
be that of a man for some months missing. So
far as known no lives have been lost, but the
damage to property is very large No houses
were swept away as their locations on the banks
were such that the waters did not reach them.
AS far as ascer.ained the losses are as follows:
Whitney's dam, $1,000; Elliott mills, $4,000;
town of Norfolk, $4,000; New York & New
England railroad, $4,000; City Mills, $50, 900
to $4,000. large number of persons are
thrown out of employment by the fall OF the
City Mills
Affairs at Lowell.
LOWELL, April 1.-THE warp is gradually
giving out in all the mills; as it does one after
another is compelled to discharge its help. All
the ring spinners were dismissed this morning
till Monday. The agents have made careful
estimate, and say that in less than week 1000
operatives will be out of employment That
will be substantially the basis on which the
mills can run indefnitely-that is, about two
thirds of the full average capacity of most OF
the corporations. The Lawrence company
have large hosiery department., which is less
exposed to the ill-consequences OF The strike
than some other departments. The strikers
held a meeting this forenoon and passed the
usual set of resolutions.
Banquet ia Honor OF the President.
BOSTON, April 1.-THE banquet at the Parker
House at $50 p. M to-day, given by the Com
mercial Club in honor of President Grant and
Cabinet, was grand affair." Ohe hundred and
twenty-six guests were present, and Hon.
Alex III. Rice, President of the Club, presided
President Grant, Secretaries Robson, Belknap,
Fish, Delano and Postmaster General Jewell
were present. and all the local celebrities of
sufficient caibre to warrane an invitation. The
President left for Concord at $50 by special
train over the Lowell road.