The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-19
DESTRUCTIVE FLOOD.
Dams, Mills, Bridges and Country
Roads Swept Away.
LIST or PROPERTY DESTROYED

BOSTON, Mass. April Is, 1878.
A tremendous hood with disastrous resulta oc-
CURED last evening In the towns OF wrentnam aud
Norfolk, about twenty-five miles distant, by the
breaking away OF q dam which restraints the water
OF Wnltin's Pond, the source or the Mil River.
This is small river, not over twenty i've feet
broad at low water, but running with strong
current, mostly through msadow land, and
emptying into the Charles River az Med
way At this time an immense body OF
water was confoed IN the pond by the dam about
one hundred ieet In length, at the wrentham and
Franklin county road. The sudden bursting OF
the pond through this dam hurled q tremendous
mood upon tine lands below, sweeping away mills.
bridges. country roads and dams In its course,
and causing damage to the extent OF between
$780, c0 and 100000. Half q mile below is
the saw and Rrist mill OF the Eliot FeltIg
Company known as Flsners mill. Such was the
force OF the waters reaching here that It burst
the thrty.ioot dam and carried along the sawmil
portion OF the establishment as though tt
was o toy shop. on rusned the waters three
iourths OF mile through the lowlands TO where
there were located wooNen and shoddy mills be-
longing TO the ielting company. Both enos OF the
dam were washed away. and below the mills q
large heap OF coal, deposited Tor at the mills.
Seventy rods further on the great dam at the
Eliot Feltlng mills was met. Tnis with the road
from The mills 10 Franklin Centie beneath Wnicl
the river runs. onered
to the rushing current. The road, however. soon
yiclued, allowing the full force OF the water 10
strike against tne long dam. Meanwhile he in
valuable assistance TO the Waterman 81 the mills
IN opening place IN the dam, hoping TO
we're succrssiul. and although iuY 'eet or the
dam were carried awas me mills were saved
Down ne srss% hall mile Srt3er was the
some forty or nity leet anove the rivers bed Be-
meath Inls rhe water usually passed by an arched
culvert. about ten or fifteen eet 10 width. Here
the waters with seemingly increased power
forced our tho stone cuvert AZ u u we're con-
structed OF pebbles so drm was the emoauk mt
OF sand aaovc the culver that IT stood apparently
intact or the space OF an nour, and then, under
mined, 1t caved In Tor distance OF $50 u 200
ieer, forming impossible barrier 10 the
waters anove. Wnen the road PED sank
freight train was WITHIN 100 feet OF the place,
water had already passed the railroad and hurried
on to the achievement OF
ITS GREATEST FEAT
forty rods below, at the lily Co tan Mill. The mill
was originally q three story wooden building. but
eacn end. Tn bridge yer tns country road sue.
cumbed, and then the water. obtaining firm u I'D
OF the mann buhoing. lifted 1t and sent II crashing
To tine mesdOwS Datow So thorough was the
work OF demolition that the cupola alone 81 what
a lev minutes before was valuable mil
cninery ana water.wheel went with the
mil and shared the late OF the s'ruc ure
let sianding. but were so badly wrenched ani
undermined that they are PROBABLY iuned ana
will have 10 come down.
Abuut nall q mile below was another country
road uridge, GEAR Kingsburg Ponu. THIS was
snapped from It's !ouulIt,ons almost at the APP
proach OF the waters aud carried away. On the
level space between the road and the river the
waters spread out ana ceaseu thef work OF de-
srructon. Tde,ast bridge was swept away about
seven o'clo X IN the evening. one body was
swept down on the nOud nu; a. was supposed TO
be thar OF a man Tor some months missing. AS
Tar as known no lives nave been lost. hut the
damage 10 property IS very large. No houses
were swept a way. as their location on the banks
was suca that the water did not reach them. The
following. as Jar as asccrtained, are
TUE LOSSES.