Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-04-19
\ I'l.enlen Flood
Another Dam Gives way on the
Mill River.
Disastrous Results.
MILLS, BRIDGES, HIGHWAYS,
ETC, SWEPT AWAY.

Boston, April Is. A tremendous flood, with
disastrous results, occurred last evening in the
towns of Wrenham and Norfolk, about % miles
distant, by the breaking away OF dam which re-
strains the waters of Whtuey's pond, the source
of Mill liver. This is a small river, not over %
feet broad at low water, but running with a strong
current, mostly through meadow land, and flow
ing into the Charles river at Midway. AT this
time an immense body of water was confined in
the pond by the dam, which is about 100 feet in
length.
The sudden bursting of the pond hurled a ire
mendous fooa upon the lands below, sweeping
away bridges, mills, dams and highways in its
course and causing damage Of between one and
two hundred thousand dollars.
\ half mile below was the saw and grist mill
of the Eliot Felting Co, known as Fishers mill.
Such the force of the water on reaching here,
it burst the 80 foot dam and carried along the saw
mill part OF the establishment as though it were a
toy shop.
On rushed the waters "a of mile, through
the lowlands, to where were located the wooden
and shoddy mills of the Co. Both ends of the
dam were washed away and below the mills a
large heap of coal deposited for the use of the
mills.
20 rods further on the great dam at the Eliot
telling mills was met This, with the road from
the mills to Franklin Centre, beneath which the
river runs, offered substantial resistance to the
rushing current. The road, however, soon yield
ed allowing the full force of the waters to strike
against the long dam. Meanwhile the inhabitants
of Franklin and Wrenham rendered valuable as
sistancc to the Waterman at the mills, in opening
Il place in the dam, hoping to save a portion of
the same. Their labors were successful, and
though 30 feet of the dam were carried away the
mills were saved
Down stream l-2 mile further the track OF
the \ y. x y. L. II. r., some 40 or so feet above
the rivers bed. Beneath this the water passed by
an arched culvert 10 or 10 feet in width. Here
the waters, with seemingly increased powers,
fnrcp1 tho on vert "A . If made Of pphhlpS
so firm was the embankment Of sand above the
CulveIt that 1t stood apparently intact for the
space of an hour and then undermined. 1t cavcd
in for distance of 100 to 200 feet, furnishing an
impossible barrier to the waters above. When
the road bed sank freight train was within 100
feet, though not in motion.
But great volume of water had already passed
the railroad and hurried on to the achievement Of
its greatest feat, 40 rods below, at City cotton
mill. The mill was originally three story wood
en- building, but later was enlarged by the addi-
ton of a wing on either end. The bridge over
the county road succumbed and then the water,
obtaining firm hold of the man building, lifted
it and sent it crashing to the meadows below. SO
thorough was the work of destruction that the
cupola alone of what few minutes before was a
valuable mill remained standing upon the plain.
The machinery and water wheel went with the
mill and shared the fate of the structure that
housed them. The wings were left standing, but
were so badly wrenched and undermined that
they are probably ruined and will have TO come
down.
Down stream still another half mile was the
small county road bridge, near Kingsbury pond
This was snapped from its foundations almost al
the approach of the waters and carried away. On
the level space between the road and the river
the waters spread out and ceased their work OF
destruction.
The last bridge was swept away about o'clock.
One body was swept down in the flood, but was
supposed to be that OF man for some time miss
IND So far a : known n lives have beeu lost but
the damage to property is very large. No houses
were swept away, as their locations on the banks
were such that the water did not reach them. A
large number of persons are thrown out of en-
ployment by the fall of City mills. As far as as
certaned, the losses are as follows
Whitney dam $4,000
Eliot mills 10000
Town of Norfolk 5000
n. Y. & n. /. Il. X. $4,000
City mills 5000