Year: 1874

THEORY OF THE DISASTER-AN APPROPRIATION FOR


REPAIRS MADE TOO LATE-MANY ADDITIONAL


INCIDENTS.


PROM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRIBUNEl


NEw-HAvEN, May 16.-The news of the ter
rible disaster at the northern terminus Of the New
Haven and Northampton Railroad fell upon this city
like q thunderbot. The long needed rain had been
thankfully received, and everybody had something
pleasant say about the magic which 1t working In
garden and treetop, when congratulations and salts
faction came to q sudden STOP Ever since the first
nouncement the flood has been the topic Of conver
saton; and depot and telegraph Office and newspaper
bulletins have been besieged by the and those
for whom the accident had a deeper meaning.


AT the telegraph office however specialorders had been
issued account Of the press of matter TO connect the
wires direct with New York and not "repeaf here.
crowd gathered the depot meet the down evening
train from Northampton. 1t came in an hour'behind
but brought little Of additional interest.


Concerning the Of the accident, persons ac
quanted with the topography OF Northampton and its
vicinity make statements in substance follows: From
Williamsburg, which is about twenty minutes by rail
Northampton down almost to the latter place. the
road and follow closeshut valley.
Near Northampton this widens into meadows; a fact
which gives the explanation Of tho slight damage done
the latter place. The nature OF the hills is sucn that
the river collects from an extensive watershed, and
while itself small ia subject to sudden and rapid rises
a thunGershower often .rasng 1t to perfect torrent.
Indeed not nrequent for barns and cellars " be in
undated by these sudden mountain storms.


Now at the head OF this valley, for the accommoda


ton of the factories along the river. the reservoirs"
have been built, Their use Is TO retain large quantity
against drouths as the reserve reservoir OF the
Croton Aqueduct does only is in this case for the
commodaGon Of mills, not Of city water
In ordinary times the reservoirs especial use,
but are highly valuable In dry seasons.


Now the criminal part OF The whole affair is that the
vrhi WA al he OF "A
ect TO such sudden Of water should not only have
been built insecurey, but should have been known 10
be unsafe for at least two years. This gentleman ac
quainted with the circumstances states tonight. In
deed the town had gone far to make appropra
ton OF a considerable for repairing the reservoir,
and the work was to have been soon entered upon.


The norhward bound train which left this city at G5O
this morning had most escape. 1t reached the
neighbOrhood Of the Mil River at about 10 a. m and
was brought to a sudden stop by a hagman, who said
that didn't look quite right and thought that
there was need of caution. A accordingly
ahead and reached the bridge just in time TO the
iron bridge from above como tumblDg along In great,
careenng torrent OF water that full OF machinery,
horses and debris Of all Sorts and take the wooden rail-
road bridge away as If it had been mere pile OF loose
boards Had the fagman not attended well to his
duty the train and Its passengers might have been
gulfed. Mr. Yeamans superintendent OF the road, will
put large force OF at work the bridge to-mor





may be able to the structure quite
as that The tone OF the officers OF the road tonight is
encouraging they putting the damage to the road
ut much less than was at first feared.


The telegraph operator at Leeds, who was lost, was
a New-Haven man. and is much lamented. 1t sup
posed to-day that Mr.. Dewey, route mail agent the
down train express was lost lie did not in with
his train, and could be got to dispatches
10 him. but his safety is announced tonight by those
who came down the delayed night train. Those who
came from the by this train give piful accounts
Of the collecting OF bodies Nineteen had been taken
house. including the young lady teacher Of tue
Leeds school, who notable for personal beauty 1t
is thought food must carry many bodies into the
Connecticut and that these may never, not till late
day. be recovered. The distress occasoned by the dis
aster is thus likely TO be much prolonged.


The sympathy Of this city illustrated by the follow
ing dispatches which have been exchanged up to the
hour OF this writing:


CRY OF Nav HAVEN MlY1Rs OFFICE Nav 10.


Please inquire ani IN rendered
city OF citizens IN the recent disaster your o
sno IN what manDer HKsRY q. LEWIS, Mayor


HArDESyLLB l6.
needed swept which causes
people who lett without mouihu
enougho themselves meeting Of citizens beng held VIII
telegraph again. d. Is. CA,M