The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1875-04-20

Disastrous Flood In Massachusetts
bursting OIn Dam nt FrRnklin-MiIls
bridges and Railroad Track Washed
Away-A Large Number Of Persons
Thrown Out of EmplOyment-Loss
Two Hundred Thousand Dollars.
Boston, April ia tremendous
flood, with disastrous results, occurred
last evening in the towns Of Wren
than aud Norfolk, about twenty-five
miles distant, by the breaking away OF
the dam which restraints the water in
Whlten's pond, the source of Mill
river. This is u small river not over
twenty-five feet broad at low water,
but running with strong current, most
~ through meadow land and empty
ing into Charles river at Midway. AT
this time an immense body of water
was confined in the pond 10y dam
about one hundred feet in length at
the Wrentham and Franklin county
road. The sudden bursting of the pond
through this dam hurled tremendous
food on the lands below, sweeping
away mills, bridges, country roads and
dams, causing damage to the eX-
tent of two hundred thousand
dollars Half mile below this mill
was the saw and grist mill of the FL
lott Felting company, known as
Fishers mill. Such was the force of
the water on reaching here that it
burst the foot dam and carried along
the saw mill portion of the establish
ment, as though it was toy ship. The
waters rushed on three-fourths of II
mile through the low lands to where
there were located the wooden and
shoddy mills belonging to the telling
company. Both ends of the dam were
washed away, and below the mills
large heap of coal, deposited for the
use of the mills. Seventy rods further
on the great dam at the Elliott telling
mill was met. This was the road from
the mills to Franklin Center, beneath
which the river runs, and which Of
fered substantial resistance to the
rushing current. The road, however,
soon yielded allowing the full force of
the water to DtriRe against the long
dam. Meanwhile, the inhabitants OF
Franklin and Wrenthan rendered val
liable assistance to the Waterman at
the mills, in opening place in the
ualli, hoPipS w e"'N poi'ioh VI '''S
same.
Their labors were successful, and al
though fifty feet of dam was carried
away, the mills were saved.
Half u mile further down was the
track of the New England and New
York, road some forty or fifty feet above
the river bed. Beneath this the water
usually passed by an arched culvert,
about one hundred or one hundred and
fifty feet i'm width. Here the waters
with seemingly increased force, forced
out the stone culvert. So firm was the
embankment of sand above the culvert
that it stood for the space of an hour,
and then, undermined, it caved in for
the distance of one hundred to three
hundred feet, forming an impossible
barrier to the waters above. When
the robbed sank, freight train was
within one hundred feet Of the place,
though not in motion. But great vol,
ume had already passed the railroad
and hurried on to the achievement OF
its greatestlfeat, four hundred rods be-
low, at the city cotton mill. The MIL
was originally three story wooden
building. but latterly was enlarged ny
the addition of wing on each END.
The bridges over the country road sue
cumbed and the water obtained tirm
hold on the main building and
sent it crashing to the meadows
below. So thorough was the
work of demolition that the cupola
alone remained standing. The ma
chinery and water wheel went WITH
the mill. The wings were LETT stand
ing, but so badly wrenched and under,
mined that they are probably ruined
and will have to come down DOWN
the stream again about half mile
was another country road bridge. ms
was snapped from its Foundation anu
carried away. On the level space be-
tween the road and the river, the
waters spread out and ceased thelr
work of destruction. The last bridge
was swept away about Z O'Clock 10 the
evening. One body was swept down
OH the food, but it was supposed to be
that of a man for some months MISS
ing. As far as known no lives were
lost, but the damage to property
is very large. No houses We're swept
away, as their location on the bank
was such that the water did not reach
them. The following are the losses as
far as ascertained: Whiten's dam,
$4,000; Elliott's mills, $50, 600; town OF
Norfolk, 5000; New York and New
England railroad, $4,000; City Mills,
$4,000 to $4,000. A large number OF
nereons ara thrown ont of emplOymeut