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BOW TBS DISASTER BIGAM. gGeorge Cheney, the gate keeper, who c first discovered the trouble, nays It has c been his practice upon rising in the n owning to inspect the condition of of- CW|3* M J||M Jkttwdtf - iI morning about six o'clock. Every thog I I looked right. The reservoir was as full t | as it hsa been for several days. The 1 water was flowing out of the waste way * 1 on the west aide, east of bis house, the £ I gateway having been closed a fortnight. 1 I There was no sign of the impending ca*I tastropbe, and Cheney returned to the i I bouse, and the family, Including his J f wife, several children, cad his father, sat J I down to breakfast. They were just flu- i tsbing the meal when a great noise was I heard, and the old man, who was stand- t ling at one of the eastern windows, ex- lt;I claimed, “For God's sake, Geoage, look i there i“ About forty feet In length of 1 I the bottom of the reservoir on the east 1 I side, just beyond the gateway, was shoot- 1 tag down the stream. iCheney seems to bare realized the sit- 1 I uatlon *t once. Without stopping to I consider the danger Involved he rushed 1 I down to the gate and let on the water I I foil head In hopes this might possibly afI ford relief and avert the threatening dan- i 1 ger, This done, be panned a moment to ] I investigate the condition of the j 1 Where the break had taken place. A I I glance showed him that it could hardly lt;I foil in a few at notes to give way entire- lt;(ly. Streams of water as targe as a man's 1 I arm were forcing their way through and ‘ uew ones appearing every moment. The 1 wail was constantly crumbling away. Its I ntter downfall was evidently only a quea-Ittou of minutes. Owner rcshed up to 1 I his house and told bl9 father that he was going to the village to warn the people.It was then about balf-paat 7 o'clock.I Driving to the bouse of Mr. Spellman, 'II breakfast table to startle him with The'Ireservoir 1* going 1, It was but the , night before that Cheney bad been talk-i ing about the reservoir, and both had , I agreed that everything looked all rightI for summer. It is not strange, therefore,II that Spellman could not at first credit■ the statement He thought the man n ■■ I little frightened, and to his startling anil nouncement replied, “No, it cannot bepossible.1* But Cheney quickly told him ' about the giving way of the earth and 11 the streams of water rushing through, and soou convinced him that the danger t was most imminent. .‘I The first duty was to warn the people 11 further down the stream. Cheney's I horse waa exhausted and SpeHmxa dl-I rected him to go to the livery stable,I where again precious moments were lost | In convincing the Incredulous people that I the messenger’s story could be true.t Finally, a horse was made ready and a , fresh man got off to notify the dwellers , I forther down the streamTHE COURSE OX THE WATER.
Newspaper Details
Fitchburg Sentinel
Fitchburg, Massachusetts, US
Mon, May 18, 1874
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Lenox L.
MA, USA 12 May 2023
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