THE FLOOD OF 1 843. 27 



where very heavy damage was sustained. The dam attached 

 to these mills was considered one of the best in the county. 

 The water was used for the various purposes necessary for 

 carrying on an extensive edge tool manufactory ; for propel- 

 ling a flour mill, saw mill and plaster mill, all of which, 

 except the flour mill, were carried away, together with the 

 county bridge, which stood immediately below. The circum- 

 stances connected with the rise in the water, and the destruc- 

 tion of his property, is thus described by Mr. Beatty : "At 

 about five o'clock, P. M., the creek began to rise, when sev- 

 eral of the workmen, with myself, went to the shop to secure 

 some timber which was afloat and likely to be washed away ; 

 but we had not time to make any thing safe, before we 

 were obliged to make our escape, which, if we had not done 

 at the time we did, we must have been washed with the mills 

 down the creek. The water in the space of ten minutes, rose, 

 I think, seven or eight feet. The bridge was the first that 

 went — it seemed to fall over as if there was no strength in it 

 — then my wood-house, with about ten cords of wood and a 

 lot of chestnut rails — next the head gates were bursted out, 

 when the edge tool factory went down with a tremendous 

 crash, and in an instant there was nothing to be seen but 

 water in the place where it stood. The saw-mill was the next 

 to yield to the violence of the flood, and all the logs, plank, 

 boards, &c., near it were carried away. The walls of the 

 plaster mill and finishing mill were undermined, and those in 

 front fell out, leaving the back and end walls in such a 

 wrecked condition, that they fell in a few days after. About 

 half the race bank, and eight yards of the breast of the dam, 

 were completely swept out. All the hammers, anvils, unfin- 

 ished tools, coal, &c., were swept away, or covered with 

 stones and dirt below." The water at this place rose to a 

 height of about fourteen feet above its usual level. 



'1 he paper mill of John Lewis is a short distance below 

 Mr. Beatty 's. Tart of his dam was broken down, the head 

 gites forced in, and considerable injury done to his machinery 



