River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1875-04-23

| BOSTON, April IA tremendous Hood
with disastrous results, occurred Satur.
day evening, in the towns of Westham
and Norfolk, about twenty miles distant,
by the breaking away of the dam which
restraints the water of Whiton's pond,
the source of the Mill River. This is a
small river, not over twenty feet
broad at low water, but running with a
strong current, mostly through meadow
land and emptying into Charles River at
Midway. AT this time an immense body
Of water was confined in the pond by the
dam, about hundred feet in length, at
the Wrenham and Franklin county road.
The sudden bursting of the pond hurl-
ed tremendous flood upon the lands be-
low, sweeping away miles of bridges,
country roads and dams in its course,
and causing damage to the amount Of be-
tween 100000 and $1,000 900.
/ A half mile below this mill was the
saw and grist mill Of the Eliot Fcltine
Company, known as Fishers Mills. Such
was the fierce Of the waters, on reaching
here it burst the thirty foot dam. anC
carried along the mill portion Of the es
Enlistment as though it was
toy shop. On rushed the
water three-fourths of a mile, through
the lowlands to where there was located
the WOODEN and shoddy mills belonging to
the felting company. Both ends Of tn,
dam were washed away and below tn,
mills large heap Of coal, deposited fol
use at the mills.
Seventy rods further on the great dan
at the Eliot Mills was met. This will
the road from the mills to Franklin Cen
ire, beneath which the river runs, offered
a substantial resistance to the rushin.
current. The road however, soon yielded
allowing the full force Of the water
to strike against the long dam
Meanwhile ths inhabitants Of Franklin
and Wrentham rendered valuable assist
ance to the Waterman at the mills il
opening place in the dam. hoping to saw
a portion Of them. Their labors wer
successful and although fifty feet Of tn,
dam was carried away the mills wer,
saved.
Down the stream, half mile further
was the track Of the New England & New
York railroad SEINE forty or fifty fee
above the river bed. Beneath this tn,
water usually passed by an arched cul
vert, about ten or fifteen feet in width
Here the waters, with seem
ingly increased strength, forced on
the stone culvert, as il il were made o
pebbles, but so firm was the embank
ment Of sand above the culvert that i
stood apparently intact for the space o
an hour, when, being undermined, il cayet
IN for a distance OF one hundred and fift,
TO two hundred feet, forming an impassi
BILE barrier to the waters above. WheI
the road.bed sank freight train wa
within one hundred feet Of the place
though not in motion.
But great volume Of water had al
ready passed the railroad and hurlie,
on TO the achievement of its greatest feat
Fifty rods below was the City eotto
mills. The mill was originally a three
story wooden building, but was latel
enlarged by the addition Of wing Of
each end. The bridge over the count
road suceumbed, and then the water Oh
tanning firm hold OF the main building
lifted II and sent Il crashing to the mead
ows below. So thorough was the worl
Of demolition that the cupola alone RI
manned standing upon the plain. Tn
machinery and water wheel shared IA
fate Of the structure. The wings wcr
left standing, but so badly wrenched an
undermined that they are probabl
ruined and viii have to come down,
On the stream agar
again, about halfa mile below, was ar
J other country road ard bridge, nea
Hcigsbury pond. THIS was snapped fror
its foundations almost at the approach {
! the waters and carried away.
On the level space between this roa,
and the river the waters then spread on
and ceased their work Of destruction.
The last bridge was swept away abou
seven o'clock yesterday morning. On
body was swept down on the food but
was supposed 70 be that Of man 70
some months missing, aud SO far as
known no lives have been lost by IN
flood, but the damage TO property is yer
large. No houses were swept away. !