The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-04-01
THE GREAT FLOOD.
THE BURSTING OF THE RESERVOIR.



in the Track Of the Flood Swept Away.
After dribbling through its masonry for
thirty hours OF thercabouts warning to
the townspcople of Worcester and the VII
layers of the river valley the Lynde brook
reservoir dam burst at G 80 o'clock Thurs
day night. AT first, though heed was paid
to the leak, there was no apprehension of
danger then reports came down the valley
to Worcester that the reservoir wall was
certainly giving way, that the waste-weir
was clogged from disuse or bad construction
and that the whole five miles of valley
along the river was threatened. Then
came varying reports of gain made
against the water by drawing off all that
could pass through the opened pipes of the
clty-a very small part in twenty-four
hours of 10000, 900 gallons--by filling in
the break with bales of hay and earth, of
opening new outlet to divert a portion of
the food, and at last the dam gave way,
pouring its flood of pent-up waters down
the valley The devastation it wrought is
| described in the dispatches which follow.
| Al Worcester, as at Mill River two years
ago, there has been criminal negligence
which, and the singular inac,ion OF the city
authorities, after repeated warnings, are
clearly shown by the history of the dam
| given herewith.
THE STORY OF TIE FLOOD.
II was hoped that danger from the reser-
voir dam had been averted, but at $50
o'clock in the afternoon the water was
seen bubbling through the earth of the
dam back of the waste gate house. The
stream when first noticed was not larger
than a mans finger. II was at once
thought that the dam was going. An
alarm was given. The men escaped to the
side hills the teams were driven of to
places of safety, and messengers were sent
down through the valley to warn the
people that the flood was coming. While
the men had been fleeing to places of safety
the stream had grown. In less than half q
minute it was as large as mans wrist.
At the end of a minute 1t was as large as a
mans leg. In another minute 1t was as
large as barrel and three or four feet
high. Then stones and earth were thrown
up on the stream, and gradually earth
began to cave IN. Foot after foot Of the
once solid embankment, now thoroughly
honey combed by the action of the water,
began to cave IN. rben sections varying
in width from two to five feet began to
drop, until the embankment was gone
away back to the face of the dam. The
ccment-spleipg wall held for mo-
ment after the earth had sill been washed
away. Then a hole appeared in the center
of the wall. Gradually its size increased,
until with one grand crash the splicing
wall crumbled, letting Off 760, 000,000 gal
Ions Of water stored behind. The water
rushed down the ravne in n body twenty
feet high, whirling and rushing ut the same
time, and the roar was terrible. First in
the line of the sweeping flood was a stone
water-gate house. When the food struck
this it tettered. Then the keystone of the
arch dropped out. A corner OF the build
ing next gave way, followed by the
wooden roof, which was swept onward
until drawn into whirlpool, when il was
crushed to matchwood and thrown into the
air. The gate-housc was tipped over bodily
and not even a stone of it has since been
seen.
Down through narrow ravinc, 100 feet
wide and one mile long, the flood swept
on. The sides were gulled-fairly dug out
clean-in an instant Tor so feet, until the
edge of the embankment was almost per
one side of the ravine the waters tore.
The largest trees were twisted around like
straws, pulled up by the roots and carried
Nonward down the decline. The flood tore
out everything in the ravine, and rushed
onward towards the highway below.
A large barn was taken up bodily
and carried about fifty feet, when it
struck tree and was broken into pieces.
The next was Geo. w. Olney's dwelling
house, one of the finest in the village. The
rushing mas struck this broadside and COM
plctely cleaned out the rear and front walls.
The ends stood, and strange to say, sup
ported the roof under which the water pour
ed in a solid stream 20 feet high and 80
feet wide. When the dam first broke the
gap was about 30 feet in width, this increa.-
ed rapidly after the water had once gained
passage through it, and continued to in
crease until nearly the entire section,
which was 80 feet in width, had been de-
stroyed. The ravine being narrow, how
ever, held the water back, and it continued
to run for three hours before the reservoir
gcr e exhausted, and the worst of the dan
counte,ed, was over s siu fret village en-
stood on the opposite side of the road from
MIR. Olncy's. This was taken up whole.
whirled around on the surface like a ton
Tor time, and then thrown down into the
water. Three or four other small dwelling
houses were taken up and carried along
until they crashed together and sank out Of
sight.
The waters from the reservoir now
reached Kettle Brook, and abe vast
amount of water swept acros, a pond,
struck line beyond and was turn
ed down towards Cherry Valley.
GAINESVILLE, Leesville, Sioneville and
New Worcester. j. A. Smith & Co.'S
Woollen mill stood ut the head of the pond.
In front of it was dam which had with
stood many severe test, but it crumbled
uhuer the immense pressure brought upon
II ana gave way,and the waters of the pond
were added to the already uncomfortable
mass. The mill, a substantial brick struc.
ture. was next struck and crumbled. one
brick following another, until three-fourths
OF The mill was in RUNS, and the water was
sweeping through what was left standing.
A short distance below was the Bottomlv
mill. operated by A. +. Smith. This was
wooden structure about fifty feet square.
and stood below dam which held the
waters of pond above. When the water
struck this it gave way, and the waters of
the pond served TO still further increase the
flood. The mill was next struck and lifted
bodily to the top of the rushing mass. On
IL was swept at terrific rate, whrlng and
turning in all directions, until it struck
Answorth IL Jones mill. This was the
best mill on the stream, and one of the best |
in the country. 1t was substantial brick |
structure tour stories high, with an l. for a |
boiler house. The Bcttomy mill struck |
this l. with terrific force, knocking IL TO |
pieces. The Bottomly mill was completely |
demolished by the shock, as though it had
been blownup with dualin, and nothing more
was seen which could be recognized as the
mil standing but moment before. The
boller-house of Ashworth 6 Jones mill was
ruined in an instant, and one end of the