The Portland daily press., 1890-05-16
coULDssoRo FRIGHTENED
When the Dam Gave Way and the
Waters Came Down.
ELLSWORTH, May 15.-The Americans
Gouldsboro correspondent sends the follow

ELLSWORTH, May 15.-The Americans
Gouldsboro correspondent sends the follow
ing:
The most destructive washout that has been
known here for more than 30 years. at least, Oc-
CURED this week. The upper dam,' as 1t was
called, located some two and a half miles north
Of s the county road, rievriss depth OF some 10
with full head on, while the pond bosSg' was al
ready running over. This dam has been co.sssscd
IN good repair as It was supposed by those having
control Of It, and this spring no one had any fears
extent Of the damage such an event
ed but it would sweep the stream Of all the mill
property below, and also the town landing which
at this time is nearly covered with wood and
slaves. The damage is considerable and the
fright for few hours or until the flood reached
At ABOUT IL O'Clock in the morning. Earnest
Whitaker, bright lad of 16. living half mile be-
low. happened to have his eyes turned in the di-
rectlon of the dam at the moment and saw and
heard the first terrible plunge OF this mighty pow
er, and without waiting for second thought,
came running at break neck speed down through
the village, sounding the cry OF alarm Men left
their work and women came into the streets.
Ieams were running races, it seemed, and the
be done? Nothing. At IL O'Clock 1t was hardly
percelvable that tt0Od was upon us in this vcin-
ity Half an hour later it was evident that the
boy was right and at 1 o'clock the stores and the
postofnce were surrounded by water, but their
contents had been removed to a place of safety.
The ship yard was flooded and Master Strout
was having water courses cut through the chips
as best he could, but there was danger that the
bed-logs would undermine and launch the vessel
before her time. At this time piles of wood be-
gan TO drift away, and an old pine log 90 feet in
length, came from some wharf and stretched it.
self in front or the old and deserted store OF the
late H. M. Soule. AT 1.30 the stage from the
west arrived, to find men wading knee deep in
water in the road before it. Throwing the mail
bag to some one, the driver, VIM. Dyer, rushed
ahead and crossed the bridge with safety. 1t
was the work Of only a few minutes to shift the
mail, but before the strap could be tucked
through the iron loops and the lock replaced, the
stone piers of the bridge disinteTated and fell,
and the bridge was swept away. Communication,
II seemed, was now entirely cut off with the east
but the postmaster, A. K. Guptill, shOuldeTed the
bag, and half mile below, where the fresh and
salt water quietly rested in each others embrace
crossed over, and soon after was seen from our
Slde delivering MS baggage TO the driver.
At this time the carding mill of w. l.. GuptilI
was losing portions of its foundation. and was ex-
pected soon to fall, together with VIM. Sowles
shingle mill, Henry HOvey's match mill, 7. s.
Dunifer's boarding house, and also the vessel on
the stocks For two long hours, or till O'Clock,
when the waters began to recede, there was
watching and waiting and the greatest anxiety
by this entire community, but strange to say,
none of the mills Yielded but nearly all the dams
on the stream nave disappeared, besides the
bridge and some cord wooo. 1t is said that four
make this number, are now high and dry in the
| heldS and pastures along the river.
In 1888 there occurred a similar misfortune
here, carrying away the bridge and almost every
mill on the stream. May it be hundred years be-
fore such another event, is the wish of your cor
RESPONDENT.
The carding mill will be ready to start up again
| in about two weeks.