The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1875-04-22
Mill Dam Disaster.
FREAKS OF THE PLAYFUL VA
TERS-BUILDINGS, ,BRIDGESAND

FREAkS OF IHE RIA IrO VI va
TERS-BUILDINGS, ,BRIDGESAND
ROADS DESTRO YED - NARROW
ESCAPE OFA FREIGHT TRAIN
LIST OF L0OSERS AND THEIR
LOSSES.
BosroN, April IS "A tremendous flood
with disastrous results occurred last even
ing in the towns of Wrentham and Nor
folk. about twenty-five miles distant, by
the breaking away Of a dam which re-
strains the water Of Whinton's pond, the
source of the Mill river. This is a small
river not over twenty-five feet broad al
low water but running with strong cur,
rent mostly through meadow land, and
emp,ying into the Charles river at Med
way,
At this time an immense body of wa
ter was confined in the pond by the dam,
about one hundred feet in length, in the
Wrentham and Franklin county road.
The sudden bursting Of the pond through
this dam hurled tremendous flood upon
the land below, sweeping away mills,
bridges, county roads and dams in its
course, and causing damage to the ex-
tent of between 500, 900 and $2oo,oo
Half mile below this mill was the
O. saw and grist mill of the Eliot felting
company, known as Fishers mill. Such
was the force of the water on reaching
here that it burst the thirty foot dam and
carried along the saw mill portion Of the
establishment as though it was toy
ship.
On rushed the water quarters oi
mile through the loWlands to where
there we're located the WOO en- and shod'
dy mills belonging to the felting compa
ny. Both ends Of the dam were washed
away.
Seventy rods further on the great dam
at the Eliot felting mills was met, This
with the road from the mills to Franklin
Center beneath which the river runs, Of
fered a substantial resistance to the rush
ing current. The road, however, soon
Welded, allowing the full force OF the
water to strike against the long dam.
Meanwhile the inhabitants of Frank
lin and Wrentham rendered valuable as
sistance to the watchman at the mills in
opening place in the dam, hoping to
save a PORTION of the same. Their Ia
Hors were successful, and although fifty
feet of the dam were carried away the
mills we're saved.
Down the stream half mile further
vas the track of the New England and
New York railroad, some forty or fifty
feet above the river bed. Beneath this
the water usually passed by an arch cul-
vert about ten or fifteen feet in width.
Here the waters. with seemingly increas-
ed force, forced out the stone culVert as
II il were constructed Of pebbles. So
firm was the embankment of sand above
the culvert that it stood apparently in
tact for the space Of an hour, and then,
undermined, it caved in for distance OF
one hundred to two hundred feet, FORM
ing an impossible barrier to the water
above.
When the road bed sank a freight train
was within 100 feet of the place, though
not in motion, but great volume of wa
ter had already passed the railroad and
hurried on to the achievement of its
greatest feat, forty rods below, at the
City Cotton Mill.
The mill was originally three story
wooden building, but latterally was en-
larged by the addition of wing on each
end. The bridge over the county road
succumbed, and then the water obtaining
firm hold of the main building, lifted
i and sent it crashing to the meadows
below. So thorough was the work Of
demolition that the cuPola alone remain
ed standing upon the plain. The ma
shinery and water-wheel shared the fate
Of the structure. The wings were left
standing, but so badly wrenched and un-
aermined that they are probably ruided
and will have to come dowd,
Down the stream again abont half a
mile, was :another county road bridge
near Kingsburry pond. This was snap
ped from the foundations almost at the
approach of the waters, and carried
away.
On the level space between the road
and Tver the waters spread out ana
ceased their work of destruction. The
last bridge was swept away about seven
tAis evening.
One body was swept down on the food,
. but it was supposed that of man for
some months missing. AS far as known
no lives were lost, but the damage to
property is very large. No dwellings
we're swept away as their location on the
banks was such that the water did not
reach them.
The following are the losses as far as
ascertained: Whitneys Dam, $4,000;
Kliot Mills, $4,000; town Of Norfolk,
A5,ooo; New York and New England
railroad, $4,000; City Mills, $4,000 to
$4,000.
A large number of persons are thrown
cut of employment by the fall Of the City