Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-04-21
Tne village OF East Lee Inun.
dated and Devastated by the
Breaking Away Of a Dam.
Eleven Dead Bodies Found and
Three Missing.
Inc Loss Estimated to be Over $780,.
ooo.-lntense Excitement in the
Village.
PITTsFIELD, Mass. April 9,

PITTsFIELD, Mass, April 90.
AT O'Clock this morning, the village of
East Lee, in Berkshire county. Massacbu.
sets, was inundated and devastated bv the
breaking away of dam at Mud Pond reser-
'olr. ms reservoir formed mountain lake
ABOUT - miles from the village The pond
covered many acres of swamp land, and was
increased from its original limited size by ex-
tenslve dams built by club of manufacture
ers VINO needed stronger place for water
East Lee village is situated on a stream ted
py TINS lake. Halt-a-dozen paper mills take
their power from the stream at this place.
The village received its first news of the
accident when flood of water, varying in
depth from four to six feet, came pouring
down the streets. The torrent brought with
1t trees, portions of houses, barns, fences,
wagons and every form of movable property
The people fled to the slopes of the valley
along which the torrent was pouring, and
from their places of refuge saw their houses
moved and toppled about like chips on a
river.
The flood passed East Lee and went on
down the road destroying gardens, lawns,
fences and moving smaller buildings But it
had not the power to wreck utterly the larger
houses, though the damage done is sufficient
to reach many thousands of dollars.
AS soon as possible people went up the line
of the flood toward the pond. They found
the ruin worse as they approached the start
ing point of the torrent. Fortunately the
track is along sparsely Inhabited country,
but what destruction there was for it to do in
wrecking the three or four houses along its
way, was thoroughly done. Much stock be-
sides property is lost.
The explorers at the very first of the search
found the bodies of six persons and search
was Immediately organized for others. The
scene was one of the most terrible desolation
and destruction, and the whole town of Lee
was in the widest excitement. At 9 o'clock
nine bodies had been found, and from the
knowledge of people who lived in the track
of the flood the searching parties were led to
believe that several more would be found.
At noon eleven bodies had been recovered,
and three people were missing. Among the
dead who had been identified were A. N.
White, his wife and two daughters; Theo-
dore King, his wife and daughters; Charles
King (son of TheOdore) and his wife; Sim
con Dowd.
The latest estimates place the value of the
property destroyed at Sl50,00O.
Whites carriage shops were destroyed; !;
Harrison Garfields paper mill was under
mined; Decker's, Vennan's and Gilmore's
paper mills were also badly damaged; and
John McLaughln's machine shops were
wrecked.
AT nightfall the entire population of Lee
seemed to be gathered along the track of the
flood, which in half an hour this morning,
ruined this happy valley of its pretty homes
and busy industries. Five of the bodies re-
covered lay sheeted in the little chapel, and
two blers beside them awaited the finding of
the two who are still hidden in the chasm or
heaps of rubbish made or swept together by
the torrent
Chairman Phelps. of the board of select
men, has been on the grounds all day assur
ing the distressed of proper and abundant
aid in their calamity and trying to organize
companies of men to search for the missing
ones. In the latter purpose he has totally
failed as the men even hired at the best OF
pav wouldn't make a steady search, but wan
dered about intent only on seeiug the sights.
Tonight citizens meeting in the town hall
organized searching corps and relief COM
mttees.
1t is expected the missing bodies will be
found tomorrow and all be buried with one
funeral Thursday afternoon.
Mud pond was originally a small pond in
the middle of swamps. 1t lies in the noun
tain valley about two miles from East Lee,
which is a suburblof Lee, two miles from the
centre of the town. Thirteen years ago John
Dowd, Harrison Garfield, Nathan Gibbs and
other manufacturers on the stream, partly
fed bv this little pond, decided to build a
dam and make the pond a storage reservoir,
all contributing to the expense. A dam was
built ten feet high across the valley of stone
and earth, and wide enough on top for
driveway. The dam made the pond cover so
acres of land and it held vast amount of
water For year or two it was watched,
but when it became compact and settled no
further attention was paid to it. The pond
has teen very full of water this spring and
people living near have had some fear for the
strength of the dam, but these fears were not
regarded as it was thought everything was
safe.
Ats 80, Mr.. Goussett, who lives near the
pend, heard the rush and roar of the water
and the crash of trees and knew his fears
were realized. He gave an alarm to his next
neighbor, Shultz, and then to Jno. Baker.
Their houses are along the stream, but on the
slope of the hills and above danger from a
flood
Dwight Baker and Levi Shultz ran across
lots heading the pouring flood, Baker alarm
ing the families in the track of the water. He
describes the appearance of 1t as wall of
fifteen feet high, the solid material
apparently in front ike breastwork pushed
by the floods. It's first appearance in the viii
lage was at bridge 20 feet long, spanning the
stream. Panks and logs were gathered into
the advancing walls and it was swept clear.
Edwin Sturgis' marble shops, with monu
ments and tools and everything on the prem
ises was swept away. 1t next poured into the
dam of Dowds grinding shop, flooding the
buildings, undermining them and plowing
new channels around the dam. The houses
of Mrs. Isaac Gardner and James Fletcher
were next struck. These families were
aroused by Baker barely in time to get on
their clothes and reach higher ground out of
reach of the floods. Both houses. with all
the furniture and clothing, were wrecked and
their ruins went on with the tide. Jno.
Dowd's manufactory of paper making ma
cainery was next destroyed, and Whites car
riage shop next. This was three-story
building, and in the third story lived the fami-