New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-04-01
THE WILD RAvAGEs BY THE FLOOD.

THE WILD RAvAGES BY THE FLOOD.
THE DREARY ASPECT OF THE BROKEN PoND-DAMs,
| BRIDGES, FACTORIES, AND EMBANKMENTS SWEPT
| AWAY IN A TwINKIISG-THE BOSTON AND AL
BANY RAILROAD CUT IN THREE PLACEs-LossEs
| OF THE MANUFACTURERS.
| IBY TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUNE
WORCESTER Mass March 31.-The water in the
great reservoir of this city burst its bounds last
evening and brought disaster upon many manu-
facturer but although there a great destruc-
ton of property, the city escaped suffering ten
fold worse disaster feared during the day before.
The flood expended its violence on the factories
situated in the valley the reservoir. and by the
time il had reached the city it was comparatively
harmless and the city factories escaped with slight
damage. A clear sky and warm sun brought nun
dreds of residents into the streets to-day ana there
were throngs of strangers from ncighborng towns.
| To-day the visitor can look through gap III the
dam so feet in width almost level with the bottom
of the reservoir and having perpendicular sides OF
| almost 40 feet in hight. portion of the masonry
cngs to the right side In the narrow woody valley
below the water has cut gully of 20 feet III depth
by 80 feet in width. All trees in the path of the
| torrent have been FRUSTRATED the earth carried
away and nothing left except stre'ch OF large
| powders. Here and there among the powders one
secs tho large iron pipes that once carried wafer TO
|
| remain tons Of masonry of brick and granite, the
| only remnant of the gate-house.
| A mile below. after flowing through the woody
detile referred to and known Cherry Valley. the
| flood reached passed and ruined the house,
! barn and garden of George Oney. the owner OF n
| flannel mill tho other side of the valley. The
barn was torn to pieces and its timbers disappeared
down stream. heap of powders has taken the
| place of n garden containing "A beautiful hedge
several handsome evcrgrocns and a fine croguet
ground. The framework of the house ruined;
chairs and tables broken, and q marble mante-
piece split into two pieces Mr. Oiney estimates his
| loss at $4,000.
| Below Mr. Olncy's house there is n wide, level
valley ut the lower end Of which was the dam of j.
| 4. Smith q Co.'s factory. This dam held the flood
for few moments and then giving way the water
swept against a wing Of the factory projecting into
| the stream and destroyed it, Above the dam little
stream now runs through the expansc of mud,
| and below there stand the ruins OF the fac
! tory without back walls and tho remaining
| machinery il each room plainly visible. Nr
| Smith estimates his loss at $4,000. and says
! that the authorities of the city were informed
of the danger of putting lash-boars on the face of
| the dam in order 10 increase the capacity oi The
reservoir that he intends 10 sue the city tor the
| amount of his loss. He employed 30 hands. The
I
were whirled off down stream and tumblod to pieces
were empty the occupants having abandoned them
on hearing Of the dams condition. OF A. +. Smiths
satinct factory and dam nothing remains. The prop
erty was worth 500. 600 A few rods below stands
the large four-story brick building owned by Ash
! worth * Jones, used by them rs 4 WOODEN manu-
factory. They employ 50 hands. The food here
DESTROYED two dams, an cngne-house, and carried
away the rear end Of the building. The boiler was
! found half mile below the factory. large amount
Of finished cloths was swept away aud the finishing
| room was filled with mud. Mr. Jones estimates his
| loss to be from 5000 10 $4,000. -
| The valley deSccnds sharply below the factory.
Tho channel of the original brook is narrow, and
! the stony banks are covered with eyergreens The
trees are prostrate and against them lie a large
! ouantity OF timbers from the buildings and dams
DESTROYED above. The valley grows wider at ths
point but still the flood showed sufficient power to
| sweep away the dam of j. 4. Hunt. manufacturer
Of satinet and wreck his mill. lie employed twenty
five hands, and loses $1,000 The mill OF Albert W.
Darling, who transacts business under the title OF
the "IIopeville Manufacturing Company, was next
reached. but nothing beside the dam destroyed.
Hero the brook makes sharp turn and flows
around n bend in the bank t. the arch
bridge Of the Boston and Albany Rail
| road The bridge was carried away, and 900
feet of railway was undermined and the rails carried
several feet preventing all travel for several days
After passing beneath the railway bridge the stream
flowed into the GAINESVILLE pond, covering several
acres of ground. AT the lower end of the pond was
| the cashmere factory OF Is. James, tbree-story
brick building about 300 feet long. Mr.. James en-
ployed 100 hands. The flood destroyed an end Oh
! the mill. n storehouse filled with supplies, coal
she'd two dams and shoddy factory. Mr. james
estimates that it will cost him $4,000 to rebuild
| Z. a., nm be
| over and DESTROYED "a bridge of the Norwich and
Worcester Railroad, and after filling large culyert
beneath an embankmcn 80 feet i'll hight of the Bos-
ton and Albany Railroad finally flowed over the ein
| bankment and destroyed the road-bed
Below tho railroad embankment was the large
reservoir of Albert Curtis who had cotton mill at
| the lower end The dam resisted tho pressure for
long time and as a consequence tho water rose until
IL had covered large part Of Leicester Curtis and
| Wcbster-sts The Wcbster-st. bridge was lifted
| from its supports and lloated short distance.
| Shortly afterward the dam gave way, ana man
standing upon the cmbankment disappeared, as did
| also two boys, named Simeon Harris ana FRANK
| DIVER who were standing near him. The north end
of Messrs Curtis IL Marbles mill was destroyed
and the tmbers loated down stream and were dashed
AGAINST bridge of tho Boston and Albany Railroad.
DESTROYING it, This the third break III the track
of the Boston and Albany Railroad caused by the
! flood Mr Curtiss property was damaged Sloooo
worth The food now reached South Worcester
where il swept away two bridges South Bridge
A. and damaged tie factory of the Wicks Manu-
featuring Company to tho amount of $1,000 Be
low south Worcester the flood did slight damage.
The low lands at Mllbury, Uxbridge, and Mllvle
were overlooked, but slight damage was done, and
the only token of the flood was the yellow waters.