Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-04-05
Another Mil River Disaster
The Lyndc Brook Reservoir. Worcester. Ma.
Breaks Away, doing Immense Damage.


the city, and It's principal source Of water suppl,
leak was discovered In the dam Of the reservoir
on Tuesday Of last week, which every Effort
proved Intellectual to close The dam burst avn,
about half-past six O'Clock Thursday night 4,
first though heed was paid to the leak, there wa.
no apprehension Of danger then reports CANA
down the valley to Worcester that the reser,ol,
wall was certainly giving way that the waste.
weir was clngged from dsusc or bad construction
and that the whole five miles OF valley along tbo
river was threatened, Then came varying 70.
ports u gain made against the water by draw.
ing Of all that could pass through the onened
pipes Of the citya very small part in twenty.four
hours Of six hundred and seventy million gallon.
by filling in with bales Of hay and earth of
opening q new outlet to divert a portion Of Tho
flood, and at last the dam gave way, pouring II.
food " pent-up waters down the valley m.
devastation it wrought is described in the dis.
patches which follow. At Worcester az at Mil
River two years ago there has been criminal moo.
lisencc, which, and the singular naction Of the
city authorities, after repeated warnings. nre
clearly shown by the history Of the dam given
herewith.
TIM sroiN 90 riE rloop.
Il WAS hoped that danger from the reser,oi,
dam lad been atertod hnt nj i 20 o clock in the
afternoon the water was seen buhbling throuot,
the earth Of the dam back Of the waste-eaie
house The stream when first noticed was no,
larger than mans finger twas at once thought
that the dam was going An alarm was given
The men escaped TO the side hills, the teams were
driven of 70 places Of safety and messengers
were sent doWu through the valley TO warn the
people that the food was coming. While the men
lnd been fleeing 10 places Of safety the stream
had grown In less than half minute Il was n.
large "a mans leg. In another minute Il was A.
large a. a barrel, and three or four feet hinl
Then stones and earth were thrown M ON the
stream and gradually earth began to cave ia
Foot after foot Of the once solid embankment.
now thorough, honey -combed by the action of
the water began 10 cave In. The sections. varying
in width from two 10 five feet, began to drop, until
the embankment was gone away back 10 the face
II the dam The comentspeing wall held for a
moment after the earth had an been washed away
/ Then hole appeared in The center Of the wall
Gradually is size increased. until With one grand
crash the splicing wall crumbled, letting OF seven
I hundred and sixty million gallon. ~ water store,
/ behind. The water rushed down the rayine In a
| body twenty feet high, whiting and rushing a,
| the same time. and the roar was terrible First
10 the liucof The sweeping dood was a stone water
gate house. When the flood struck this it tottered
/ Then the keystone Of the arch dropped out A
/ corner Of tho building next gave way. followed
/ by the wooden roof which was swept onward
until drawn intoa whirlpool, when 1t was crushed
TO maich-wood and thrown into the air. The gate
heiiso WIS tipped over bodily, and not even a
stone Of il has since been seen. Down through
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