THE FLOOD OF 1843. 33 



ation of great depth. The water at this place rose to the 

 height of eighteen feet, aud was at its greatest height about 

 6 o'clock. 



The next mill below is a woollen factory, owned by- 

 Charles Sherman, and occupied by E. Taylor. Their dam 

 was partly destroyed, the head washed out, and the race con- 

 siderably injured. Three dwellings" were carried away, the 

 mill itself much injured, and the machinery and goods in the 

 lower story were either destroyed or greatly damaged. Great- 

 est height of the water fourteen feet. 



The next mill in order is the woollen factory of Samuel 

 Bancroft (formerly Ronalson's.) The flood attained a height 

 of twenty feet, and was very destructive at this point. Fifty 

 by thirty-six feet of the factory was entirely destroyed, with a 

 large amount of machinery, and one thousand pounds of 

 wool. Four dwellings were also nearly demolished, occasion- 

 ing the loss of five lives. The water was at its greatest 

 height at half past six o'clock. 



On a tributary of Ridley creek, in this neighborhood, the 

 flour mill dam of Thomas Hutton was entirely swept away. 



At the paper mill of Park Shee, Esq., the breast of his 

 dam and the mill itself were much injured. Two small 

 buildings were destroyed. The water rose to the height of 

 twenty feet. 



At Charles Sherman's lower factory (formerly Benning- 

 hoves,) occupied by E. Taylor, the dam was swept away, 

 and the machine manufactory and picker house (one large 

 building,) with all their valuable machinery, were washed 

 down and destroyed. A quantity of wool and cotton were 

 carried off, and the machinery and goods in the basement 

 story of the mill were greatly damaged. The water rose 

 fourteen feet, and was at its greatest height about 7 o'clock. 



The bridge between this mill and the rolling mill of J. G. 

 Johnson was nearly destroyed, the wood work entirely carried 

 off, and the abutments greatly damaged. The damage sus- 

 tained by Mr. Johnson at his mills was, comparatively, not 



