The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1875-04-19
disastrous Flood in AIassachu-
HeltS,

BoroN, April lS.-A tremendous lloOt
with disastrous results occurred last eve
ming in the towns Of Wentham and
Norfolk, about twenty-five miles distant
by the breaking away Of u dam which
rctainsthe water OF Whiton's pond, thl
source Of the Mill river. This isa small
river not over twenty-five feet broad al
low water, but running with strong cur.
rent mostly through meadow land and
Cmptying into the Charles river at Wed.
way. At this town an immense body ol
water was confined in tho pond by the
dam about ono hundred feet in length, On
the Wentham and Franklin county
road the sudden bursting Of the
pond through this dam hurled tre-
nlendous flood upon the lands below,
sweeping away mills, bridges, country
roads and dams in their course, and caus-
ing damage to the extent Of between
100000 and $200,000., Hall mile be-
low this dam was tho saw and grist mill
Of the Eliot Fclting Company, known as
Fishers Mills. Such was the force OF the
water on reaching here that II burst tho
thirty-iOot dam and carried away the saw
mill portion Of tho establishment as
though II was toy ship. On rushed the
waters three-quarters Of mile through
tho lowlands 10 where there were located
the ,woolCn and shoddy mills belonging
to TIC ielting company. Both ends Of
the dam were washed away, and below
the mill large heap Of coal deposited
for use at the mills was carried of. Sew
enty yards further on tho great dam at
the Elliott Folting Mills was met. This,
with the road from the mills to Franklin
Centre, beneath which tho river runs,
offered substantial resistance to the
rushing current. The road, however,
soon yielded, allowing tho full force Of
the water to strike against the long dam.
Meanwhile, the inhabitants Of Franklin
and Wrentham rendered valuable assist
ance to the watChman at the mills in
opening place in the dam, hoping TO save
a portion OF 1t. Their labOrs were sue
cessiul, and although fifty feet Of the dam
was carried away, the mills were saved.
Down the stream half u mile further was
the track Of the New England 4 New
York Railroad, some forty or fifty feet
above the river bed. Beneath this the
water usually passed by M arChed cul-
vert about ton or fifteen feet in width.
Here the waters, with seemingly greatly
increased force, forced out the stone Cul-
vert as II II were constructed Of pebbles,
So firm was tho embankment Of sand
above the culyort that itstOOd apparently
intact for the space Of an hour and then
undermined II caved in for n distance
Of 100 to 200 feet, forming an impossible
barrier TO the waters above. A freight
train was within 100 feet Of the place,
though not IN motion, but the great
volume Of water had already passed the
railroad and hurried on to the achieve
ment Of It's greatest fent, forty rods below
at tho city cotton mills. Tho mill was
originally three-StOry wooden building,
but htterly was enlarged by the addition
OF n wing on each end. Tie bridge over
the county road succumbed and then The
water obtaining firm hold Of the main
building, lifted II and sent II crushing to
the meadows below. So thorough was
the work Of destruction that the cupOln
alone remained standing upon tho plain,
The machinery and watCr wheel shared
the fate Of the structure. The wings were
left standing, but so badly wrenclled that
they are probably ruined and will have
to come down. Down the stream again
about half mile was another county
road bridge near the Kingsbury pond,
this was snapped from It's foundation al.
most at the approach Of the water and
was carried away on tho level space on
the road and river. Tho waters spread
out aud ceased their work Of destruction.
The last bridge was swept away about
seven o'clock this evening. One body
was swept down on the flood, but II was
supposed 10 bG that Of man for some
months missing. As far as Is known no
lives are lost, but the damage to property
Is very large. No houses were swept
away rs their location on the bank was
such that the water did not reach them
The following are the losses as far as
can be ascertainedi Whitney's dam $4,000,
Eliot mills $4,000, the town Of Norfolk
5000, New Castle & New England Il. X.
$4,000, City mills $4,000 10 $4,000. A
large number Of persons arc thrown out
employment by the fall Of the City mills.