Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1875-04-21
Another Mill River Flood.

\ flood occurred on Mill river. in Wren
than, Mass. on the 10th instant, cars-
inc considerable damage to property,
but Is far as known. no loss to life. 1t be-
gun by the bursting of Il dam, 100 feet in
lenyth,at WEiton's pond, the source Of the
river. Mill river is 4 small stream only
% feet wide. but with rapid carrcnt and
passing through Wrcntham and Norfolk,
cmptics into the Charles river at Mctav
The flood passed down the line of the
river with irresistible force, sweeping
away mills. bridges. country roads and
dams in its course, and causing damage
to the extent of between 100000 and
500, 900. Half Il mile below Whitons
dam the saw and gri~t mill of the FL OF
Fc.tinr Co.. with its dam WAS carried
away like Il toy shop. The great dam at
the Eliot Fclting mills was next met.
This, with the road from the mills to
Franklin Centre, beneath which the river
runs. offered Il substantial II si>tancc to
the rushing current. The road however
soon vicld d. allowing the full force of the
water to strike against the long dam.
Meanwhile the mhthtant> of Franklin
md Wren,h;m rendered valuable a>sis-
lance to the Waterman at the mills in
opening place III the dam hoping to
portion of the same. Their labors were
successful, and although fifty feet of the
ltm We're carried away, the mills were
~nv, Il. Down the stream. half mile
iurther.wns the track of the New England
md New York railroad, some forty and
Iiitv feet above the rivers bed, Beneath
his the water usually passed 10y an archcd
ruIvcrl. about 10 or II feet in width
Here the waters, with seemingly increased
force, forced ont the stone culvcrt is if ii
were constructed ofpcbbes. 50 firm WIS
the cmhankmtn ut of sand above the culvcrt
thnt 1t stood apparently intact for the
space Of IN hour, and then. undermined,
il caved in for Il distance of loo to 200
feet. forming IN impossible barrier to The,
waters above. When the road had sank
l freight train WAS within 100 feet of the
place, though not in motion. But Il great
volume of water had already passed The
rlilrold and reached the City cotton mills,
Il three story wooden building, with wings
on each side. The bridge over the coun-
try road sUccombc,l. and then the water
firm hold of the main building.
lifted it and sent it crashing to the meadows
below. So thorough WAS the work of de
moliticn that the cupola alone of the main
remained standing upon the
plain. The wings resisted the shock, but |
Were badly wrcnchcd and un lermined, |
md they are probably ruined and will |
have to come down. Here the destruction /
'"aSed, except near kingsbury pond, half
| mile below the cotton mills, where Il
country bridge was swept away about
II. The flood then spread out on level
ground and did no further damage. One
)o' " WAS swept down on the torrent, but
I Is supposed to be that of 4 man for some
months missing. As far as known no
ives have been lost. No dwelling houses
we're swept aw;,ya lis their location on banks
vas such that water did not reach them
he following are the losses rs far as asccr-
aimed: Whitney dam, $4,000; Eliot
mills, $4,000; town of Norfolk, $1,000;
sew York and New England Railroad,
$1,000; City mills, $4,000.