feeder bottom went out. The following year – almost to the date – a second break occurred. It was close to the scene of the previous one and cost $50,000; a third in 1899, cost $17,000. Farm crops of oats and hay were lost as fields flooded. The city of Rome was threatened with a water famine on account of the big break in the feeder. Should fire break out, it would have been disastrous. Strong suspicions were that both breaks were man-made and inspired by persons – the saloon proprietors – who would benefit by having larger sums spent locally. The suspected sabotage forced authorities to hire the Pinkerton Detective Agency from New York City to investigate and find the culprits who were responsible. The detectives socialized incognito throughout the community. Agents discovered the saloonkeepers promised to pay men to undermine the towpath wall, hoping that an influx of workers would boost business at their establishments. Pinkerton found that saloonkeeper Charles O’Connor allegedly offered money to anyone who could damage the feeder enough to cause a break. He was arrested and sent to jail. Charley was 35 years old; he had no prior convictions. He was fined $500 or spend 500 days at Auburn Prison. He immediately paid the fine that he could easily afford. William James, a liveryman from Forestport, was arrested, and by November 1900, at least 10 other men stood trial and were convicted of aiding and assisting in the Forestport feeder breaks. Saloonkeeper Walter Baynor was sentenced to a year in Auburn; John Conley, hotelkeeper, received a year sentence; Cornelius Breen, a 46-year-old hotelkeeper, was fined $300 or 300 days and could fortunately pay the fine. Only one canal employee was arrested; he was a locktender by the name of Frank Bassett. Local boatmen who were unemployed were given the new construction jobs immediately, but 1,700 men were needed to work day and night shifts, and soon those who came first were hired. A Rome Sentinel reporter at the scene during the rebuilding of the feeder said that “strict discipline is observed.
Delta Dam, Black River Canal at Aqueduct and Tripple Locks, Rome, NY
Corrupt bartender, Charley O’Connor
Courtesy of Ed Fynmore of Boonville
e v i t c e l Se conds Se
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