Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-03-30
The StafrordviIIe Freshet.

THE DAM INPERFECTLY CONSTRUcTED-THE
Loss LESS THAN AT FIRST REPORTED-A
THOUSAND HANDS THROWN OUT OF EN-
PLoYNENT-RIDING AHEAD OF THE FLOOD.
HARTFORD, CT. March 27-The disaster
at StatfJrdville Is not 50 destructive as at
first reported. The latest estimate puts the
actual loss at $3.50, 900.
A special to the COurant says tine recent
addition of six feet to the height of the dam
was never liked by the residents of the
valley, and it is said the owners had doubts
of the safety OF the work. for they have
never since 1t was finished allowed the
reservoir to rise to Its full height. They
put in an immense cast iron waste pipe
four feet in diameter to carry off the sur
plus and the filling of the reservoir was
owing to the heavy fall of rain, and not
because of any intention of the Ow ners to fill
the reservoir. The body of water covered
200 acres At the strain first the dam went to
pieces as had been prOpheSied by those who
said it was made OF frozen gravel and built
too hastily. The leak was discovered on
Monday. Workmen were busy all day and
night filling in about the waste pipe. Their
efforts were useless. At half past five, this
morning, work was abandoned. The water
then gained so rapidly that in few mo-
ments the pipe was shot out of its place,
the dam opened and the flood started.
f. L. Pinney, of the Glenville manufac-
turing company. mounted horse and rode
at the head OF the tllod TO warn the inhab-
itants in the valley, The water, which grew
greater by absorption of successive ponds as
each dam was carried of, moved at tho rate
of five miles an hour, and from the
time % PInney's warning up to the ar
rival of the water, people wero busy
moving their property. Little was rescued.
When the water burst out of the reser-
vOir. it struck and carried off side build
ing by the Converse mill the dwelling house
of Otis lolbrook and two bridges. and left
the mill and Bosch mill unhurt. Turning
with the channel it destroyed Amidon's ma
chine shop. several tenements and the
house OF Farley Howe, then the dams Of
tho Phoenix company, the Howe company
and Valley company, though the mills
were not hurt. Growing greater
the volume Of water, reaching
Stafford hollow, tore away the
iron bridge, griSt mill and several old
bridges, and making new channel by
Bebee's store it cut through to the high
way passage thirty five feet deep. 1t
spread over the meadow below there, but
was gathered again at the gorge, half
mile above the borough OF Stafford Springs.
llert IL cdGIleu Ou tue tTItu company \
dam; but tho mills and tcnementS escaped.
From here mass about 800 feet high,
made up of debris as much As OF water,
came rolling TO the dam OF the C0nyerseyllle
The people, who had gathered
in large numbers. acted like crazy per
sons, and In some eases had 10 be carried
to places OF safety. CJuvcrSe's mill WAS
not destroyed, but the dam went and also
the dam of ths Granite mills
The accident Is Il terrible blow to this
valley. About 900 hands are thrown out
lt work. The loss, down rs tar ~ Stafford
Springs, is estimated at from half mil
ion to million dollars. Much of tins IL
in small sums. The damage below Stat
lord Springs consists of injury to bridges
md roads, but no other mills
ire thought to be DESTROYED The
superintendent of the New London and
Northern road states that the track Is all
zone from Stafford to the passenger depot
Ialf mile south. and with the track went
reight ears and freight house and two
lowe truss bridges. Two miles south oi
IUlland the track Is washed away. and the
south Wilmington bridge Is probably under
mined. South Of that another piece of track
: washed out, and still another bridge en-
angered. Two bridges ut South Coventry
re in great danger. The water Is up to the
oOr and is reported still rising. No dam
&C Is reported on other railroads in the
tate