Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
1876 - THE MAD WATERS. Giving Way of the Dam at Worcester, Mass. A GRAPHIC SKETCH OF THE SCENE.

WORCESTER, March 30. - Later advices from the broken dam are of a more assuring character. Large tree trunks, bales of hay and loads of dirt are being thrown into the gap and the rush of water is lessened. Channels to connect the reservoir with a stream to the eastward are being dug with haste. Water in the reservoir is rapidly lowering, and though the gap in the dam is widening, it is thought the main structure will stand. There is less of a panic along the expected path of the flood, but efforts to lessen or avert the danger are still in progress throughout the entire Kettlebrook and Blackstone river. There is an immense crowd at the scene of trouble, which is growing constantly, and a large police is keeping order in the crowd and protecting goods on the hills removed from houses and manufactories.

2 P. M. - It is now decided that the only means of safety is in cutting through the east part of the dam and diverting the water from the break. - This will carry the stream down Parsons brook to the valley falls and thence to New Worcester by the highway. Parties on the line have been warned, yet there is great danger or loss of life and property. The city engineer thinks he can control the flow.

CHICAGO, March 30 .- General Anson Stager, superintendent of the Western Union Telegraph company, has a later dispatch from the manager at the Worcester office, dated 11:50 a. m.; which gives the following information touching the threatening flood:

WORCESTER, March 30. - The latest advices from the dam are now favorable. The most active efforts are being made to save the dam, with prospects of success.

2:00 p. m. - It is decided that a way must be cut through the east part of the dam, thus diverting the water from the break. This will carry the stream down Parson's brook, to Valley Falls, and thence to New Worcester by highway. There is danger this way, but the parties have been warned.

At 6:30 this afternoon the reservoir dam gave way with a great crash, letting off 760,000 000 gallons of water, which rushed down the ravine with a terrible roar, in a solid mass 20 feet high. First in the line of the sweeping flood was a stone waste gate house. When the flood struck this it tottered, when the keystone of the arch dropped out, a corner of the building next gave way, followed by the wooden roof, which was swept onward until drawn into the whirlpool, when it was crushed and thrown into the air. The gate house was tipped over bodily, and not even a stone remained. Down through a narrow ravine, one hundred feet wide and one mile long the flood swept, and the sides were fairly dug out clean in an instant, for 50 feet until the edge of the embankment was almost perpendicular. Through the pine woods on one side of the ravine, the water tore, and the largest trees were twisted around like so many straws. The flood tore out everything in the ravine and rushed onward towards the highway. The next was G. W. Olney's dwelling, the finest in the village. The rushing mass struck the broadside, completely tearing out the rear and front walls. The ends stood, and strange to say supported the roof, under which the waters poured a solid stream 20 feet high and 30 feet wide.

When the dam first broke, the gap was about 20 feet in width. This continued to increase until the entire section, which was eighty feet wide, had been destroyed. The water continued to run for three hours and a half before the reservoir was exhausted, and the worst of the danger at Cherry Valley was over. A small cottage which stood opposite Mr. Olney's [ineligible] whirled like a top on the surface for a time, and then settled down into the water. Three or four other small houses were taken and borne along until they crushed together and sunk out of sight.

The waters from the reservoir now reached Kettlebrook, and a vast amount of water swept across the pond, struck a line beyond, and was turned down towards Cherry Valley, Jamesville, Leesville, Stoneville and New Worcester. J. A. Smith & Co.'s woolen mill stood at the head of the pond. In front of it was a dam which gave way and the waters of the pond added to the already uncontrollable mass. The mill, a substantial brick structure, was next struck, and crumbled until three-fourths of the building was in ruins. A short distance below was the Bottomly mill, a wooden structure about fifty feet square, and stood below the dam which held the waters of the pond above. When the water struck this, it gave way, and the mill was lifted bodily to the top of the rushing waters, and on it was swept at a terrific rate until it struck Ashworth & Jones' mill, a substantial brick structure, four stories high, with an ell for a boiler house. The Bottomly mill struck the ell with terrific force, completely demolishing both structures. The boiler house of Ashworth & Jones' mill was ruined in an instant, and one end of the main building was swept away. The boiler was taken up and carried along like a shingle into the stream. Soon an explosion was heard above the roar of the flood, and a stream of water was thrown seven feet above the surface of the current. Another explosion followed and another, until five occurred, and the boiler was blown to pieces. Mr. Jones also lost a large barn, which was crushed like a [ineligible]. At Stoneville the dam gave away and the course of the flood was through a narrow valley, and the roar of the rushing water was distinctly heard for a mile. The flood next passed over a small dam and the Boston & Albany railroad, just above the Jamesville depot. Spectators who were standing near the depot say the water was thirty feet high when it approached the track. With one tremendous crash the railroad embankment gave away, opening a gap four or five hundred feel long and twenty feet deep. The [?] sheds were carried away, but the passenger and freight depots were left standing.

Just before the water struck the railroad embankment, at Jamesville, a section of the stream forced its way on the line of the road, passing on both sides of the depot, rushed down the track, and in its course, lifted rails and ties bodily from the road bed and turned them topsy turvy for more than a mile. Just before reaching the stone arch of the bridge, at Curtis pond, it bored a hole down into the road bed and made a gap about eighty feet long and forty-five or fifty feet deep. The water then found its way into Curtis pond. The devastation at this point will be as costly as any along the entire route.

The branch railroad track was taken up bodily and carried over on to the main road. Trees, stumps and shanties were also thrown down and washed away.

The flood reached Leesville about two hours after the dam broke, and struck the Satinet mill, owned by Albert Eustis, with great force. It gave way and crumbled into ruins and the dam was carried away. Three hours after the dam broke away, the effect was felt at New Worcester.

The course of the stream from the reservoir through the other villages in nine miles, showing that the water advanced at the rate of three miles and hour. One mile, however, was made in three minutes. The first indication of trouble at Curtis' pond, was a rise of water at 9 o'clock. The situation was critical. The water had cut a hole through the dam. The Boston and Albany railroad embankment served as a dam, and Webster square was rapidly converted into a reservoir. At a few minutes past nine one end of Curtis & Marble's large brick shop gave way, falling into the stream. Soon after the Arcade building tipped over and was left standing on end. About 9:45 the double arch bridge on the Boston and Albany railroad, below Curtis & Marble's shop, gave way, as section of the embankment, 70 feet long and 20 feet deep with it, an outlet being made, and the danger at New Worcester was averted.

After the second break in the Boston & Albany railroad, the mill of the Wieks manufacturing company at South Worcester, was destroyed. The water then spread over a series of meadows and in the south part of the city.

The water is rapidly subsiding, and no further damage is feared. It is impossible to estimate the loss to-night.

Decatur Daily Republican
Decatur, Illinois
March 31, 1876

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