The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-03-31
THE BROKEN DAM !
Over 7eO, 900, 900 Gallons Of
Water Loose.
A Mile in Three Minutes.
Mills, Dwellings, Shanties
and Trees Crushed Like
Egg Shells.

and Trees Crushed Like
Egg Shells.
WORCESTER, March 30.-Lster advlces
from the broken dam are of q more assur-
ing character. Large tree trunks, bales
of hav and loads of dirt are being thrown
into the gap and the rush Of the water IS
lessened. A channel to connect the
reservoir with the stream TO the eastward,
is being dug with haste. The water in
the reservoir is rapidly lowering, and
though the gap IN the dam is widening 1t
is thought the main structure will
stand. There is less panic along
the expected path of the flood, but efforts
TO lessen or avert the danger are still in
progress throughout entire Kettle Brook
and Blackstone river. There is an i'm
mense crowd at the scene Of trouble
which is growing constantly, and the
large police force is keeping order in the
crowd and protecting goods on the hills
which were removed from the houses and
manufactures.
2P.M.-It is now decided that the
only means of safety Is in cutting
through the east part of the dam AMI
divertlng the water from the break
this will carry the stream down in vari-
! Gus brooks to the Valley Falls, and
thence to near Worcester by high way.
Parties on the line have been warned,
vet there is great danger Of loss of life
and property. The city engineer thinks
ne can control the flow.
WORCESTER, March 80.-Thirty Ave
feet of the dam had gone away at 6;39
Pm. The widest rumors prevail.
WORCESTER, March 30.-At $50 this
evening the reservoir dam gave way
with great crash. The spiling crum-
bled ,sletting Oh 760,000,o000 gallons Of
water stored behind The water rushed
down the ravine with terrible roar in
solid mass 20 feet high. Just in the
line of the sweeping flood was the stone
waste gate house; when the food struck
this it tottered; then the keystone Of the
arch dropped out. a corner
of the building next gave way, followed
by the wooden roof, which was swept
onward until drawn into whirlpool,
when il was crushed TO matchwood and
thrown high in the air. The gate house
was tipped over bodily and not even H
\ stone of it remains. Down through
narrow ravine hundred feet
wide and one mile long the asod
.yept on. The sides were fairly
dug out clean in al instant for fifty feet,
until the edge OF the embankment was
almost perpendicular. The waters tore
through the pine woods on one side OF
the ravine. Trees were twisted sround
like straws, pulled up by the roots aud
carried onward with the decline. Tne
food tore out everything in the ravine,
and rushed onward toward the highway
below. A large barn was taken up bod
ily and carried about fifty feet, when 1t
struck tree and was broken into pieces.
The next was &. W. Alney's dwelling
house. one OF the finest in the valley.
The rusning mass struck this brosdside
and completely cleared out tho rear and
front walls. The ends stood, and strange
to say supported the roof, under which
the water poured in solid stream 20 feet
high and 80 wide. When the dam first
broke the gap was only about 20 feet in
width, but this increased rapidly after
the water had once gained passage
through it and continued to increase un-
til nearly the entire wall, which WAS 80
feet wide, had been destroyed. The rs
vine being narrow, however, held the
water back, and it continued TO rush for
three hours before the reservoir was eI.
housted, and the worst danger at Cheny
Valley. the arst village encountered,
was over. A small cottage house
stood on the opposite side Of the
road from Mr.. Oiney's; this was
taken up. The whole whirleG around
m the surface like top for a time, and
the went down into the water. Three
or lou, ,I'her small dwellings were taken
up and oo'-n, away until they crashed
together ana INK out Of sight. The
waters from tue 'I-aryoir now reached
Kettle Brook, and ,.st amount Of
water swept across pond. struck
line beyond and VAS turned
down towards Cherry Vale. James.
vile, Leesville and New Woroesr,r. J
A. Smith & Co.'S woolen mill stocd at |
the head Of this pond and in front Of il
stood a dam which mad stood q severe
test. but crumbed under the immense
pressure brought upon il and the waters O.
the pond were added 10 tho already uD"'n-
trollabe mass. The mill = substantIal 3riok |
structure was next struck and cr1moied /
till three-fourths oft was in ruiis, and f.
the water was sweeping throlgh. a /
short distance below was the 5ottoniy I
mill. operated by h. +. Smith; this
was wooden structure abost hity feet .
square, and stood be.Ow am Whlch .
held the water Of q pond abo'e. w men /
the water struck this it gave 7ay, and the |
waters ofthe pond served tostill further |
in, rease the vast amount which was ,
ALREADY sweeping destructiou before 1t.
The mill was next struck and llited /
bodily 10 the top OF the runIng waters
On il sweps at a terrifi rate, whirl- /
inv and turning in all directions until II 1
struck the Ashworth & Joes mill. This |
was the best mill on the srean, and one !
Of the best in the country. 1
1t was a substantial brick struc- .
ture four stories higL with an ell .
for a boiler house. The BoItomly mill
struck this ell with terrfc force. knock
ing j, to pieces. The BO:tomly mill was /
as completely demoraliIh by the shock .
as though it had beer blown up with .
duoline and nothing more was seen .
which could be recognized as the miiI .
standing. Bu. 8 moment before tue .
boiler house Of Ashvorih and .
Jones mill wa ruined 10 sn
instant and one endof the main ttruc- .
iure was swep. axsy. The boiler ""
taken UP and carried along As though 1t .
was a single in q mill stream. A'soon
as the explosion was heard above the war .
of food. and = stream OF water Was I
throvp above the surface Of the current, .
another e1plor0a followed, and another,
until FIVE had occurred and the boiler wss
blown 10 pieces. NJ. James also lost 8
large barn. which was crushed ike a.
egg shell.