The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-03-28
A BROKEN DAM.
Serious Disaster at Stat
fOrdville, Conn.
A Large Amount Of Property
Swept Away.
Loss of S5OO,OO0-Two Men

STAFFoRDvILLE, March 27.--The dam of the
reservoir at this place gave way this morning.
The consequent damage in the village is fear
full. The railway freight house and all the cars
here were washed away. The national Bank,
Congregational church and Is other buildings
were destroyed. No lives are yet reported lost.
The passenger depot was not damaged. About
three miles of road are destroyed. Two Howe
truss bridges between Stafford and Tolland are
washed away, and there is trouble all along the
railroad line.
The reservoir belonged to the Reservoir Co.,
composed of owners OF mills on the stream be-
low. The dam was raised six feet during the
past winter, and the storm last night filed it
for the first time. 1t was mile and quarter
long aud averaged quarter OF mile VIDE
The dam was about 20 feet high but short,
standing in the gorge of the stream: The ped
was narrow for some distance below. The
water is the head of the Willimantic river. Six
years ago the dam on tributary stream above
here gave way and caused great damage. The
only line to Staffordville is owned by the New
London Northern Railroad Co., which has con-
troll of the wires. The road is damaged badly
and the Co. send no dispatches but their own.
HARTFORD, March 27.-The losses by the
Converseville or Stafford disaster are estimated
at from five hundred thousand to million
dollars. One person, Richard SPEEDING. well
known resident of Stafford Springs, is thought
to be drowned. The dam broke about o'clock
after the workmen had been all night trying to
prevent the disaster. The two mills nearest
the dam were not injured. The machine shop
of Amidor and two houses were destroyed. The
mill of the Phoenix Manufacturing Co. at
Hydesville was not damaged materially. Down
at Stafford Hallow, the iron bridge, a tenement
house and grist mill were washed away and the
roadway cut out 35 feet deep. The dam at
Chenille went but the mill stood firm. At
Stafford Springs the dam was carried off and
then the Granite Mill Co.'S dam was taken.
Eight tenement houses belonging to this mill
were carried away; then L. W. Cranes store
building; then the Congregation al church,
The Granite mills were damaged and partly un-
dermDed, but stand. The Stafford Nation al
Bank, Levi Gerry's stable, block of Baker &
Head, storehouse and granary of G. O.. Cleve-
land, warehouse of W. Smith & Co., Shoddy &
Flock dealers, lumber and COW yard of G.
Holmes, ard the Barough Hall and engine
house were all swept away.
The losses are Granite Co.'S mill, $4,000;
600; Smith s. Co., $4,000 to $4,000; G. o.
Cleveland, $4,000; Thompson & Whiten $1O,-
L. w. Crane, 10000; Congregational church,
$25, 900; most OF the others from 900 down.
The whole region is devastated The damage
below Stafford Springs, if any, is not included
in the estimate Of this despatch.
Ex-Lieut. Governor Hyde. well-known
agriculturst and stock raiser, lost $4,000 at Stat
ford Hollow by the sweeping away of small
buildings, and about $1,000 worth of fertilizers
in cars were swept away at Stafford Springs;
5000 an acre was destroyed. Mr.. Hyde esti
mates the loss of the town of Stafford in roads
and bridges at 100000 apd the total loss by the
flood at least $500,000 Reports this evening
say that TWO lives were lost, Richard Speddn
and and VIM. Burwell.