American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1826-04-21
Gardner, (Me. j Iiareh IS.
GREAT FRESHET.

II falls to our LOT to record this week The occurrence
#of freshet unparalleled for than thirty five
gears. On Friday evening last, the wind commenc
He'd blowing gale from the south east, and torrent
&nf rain was poured upon the earth throughout the
hight, but ceased on Saturday morning The Ken
#ntbec was, at this time, covered with ice, OF an av,
#erage thickness of at least twenty inches and as
the river was not greatly swollen on Saturday alter
moon, at the usual time Of high water, it was gene
rally supposed that the great thickness OF the ice
would prevent its breaking up but at three
O'Clock of Sunday morning, the ice gave way, about
half mile above this village. At this time, the
water being four or five feet deep on the wharvcs-
great body of ice pressed down upon them,
Ind at the first shock, ware house, situated nearly
the end of the upper, or long wharf, was swept
nto the dock below This was the chief damage
SUSTAINED here at that time, excep, that consdera
4 BILE number of logs broke from boom and went
down the river AT five, the water had risen two or
threc feet more and small quantity Of wood, lum
ber, &c. lost. The ice still held on above, aud
by IL o'clock the water had fallen two or three feet.
Do the mean time most melancholy accounts of da.
MTnage done were received from Hollowell. The
III &c having damned below that village, formed
dam, and the water already inundating the vii
age sweeping off buildings, filling the lower stories
pf the Stores on the river side of the main street..
nd destroying large quantities of perishabe articles
#8Eonained in them. All the vessels on the stocks
bt that place we're swept away, and four or five
schooners were driven from their moorings, and
had appeared in sight Of this village, fast wedged in
4he at that tme) immoveable mass OF broken ice.
About twee the water again began to rise, and con
4nued rising till four, when it had attained its for
ner height and then great body of ice. which had
accumulated for mile above this village, suddenly
Started, and with tremendous force rushed down
@lpon US. The scene at this time bcggars all des
&rription. To have been realized, it should have
Been witnessed. To give our distant readers some
$idea of 1t, we will attempt faint sketch. On the
upper wharf and directly by the side of the
'&housc before mentioned having been carried
lsaway stood large building, used as an ice house
land containing at the time nearly one hundred
Cords Of ice. Piled agans, it on the wharf, and
#reaching to the street, was or 600 cords of wond
This wharf, with the formidable barriers upon it,
Twas anxionsly looked to, forming the only posi-
8ble protection TO the property the wharves below,
3and the vessels five 10 number lying in the docks.
the barrier above were destroyed, it that
#sil below must be swept away. The sole attention
Iof the hundreds OF spectators who viewed with in
|9tense interest the approaching shock, was turning
ITO this point. II came;he ice leaned twenty feet
from the surface of the water upon the House--it
S5whstood the shock. Cake upon cake.--mass upon
ssnass, pressed upon the rear OF the frst-stil it
8sood small schooner which lay few rods
&above, dashed BY the ice against the house, and
Hn moment was shattered into pieces as easily as
zone would crush an egg she'll Logs twenty feet in
Rength, and three feet in diameter, reared their
whole length and fell upon it--st it stood. For
two minutes the conflict seemed doubtful--in two
'$nore it was decided. The barrier remained-aud
'khe great amount of property below was chiefly
saved The breathless anxiety OF the spectators
Nurng this sublime scene, can be more easily con
|scelved than described; and a sudden shou, of Joy
burst forth when the careerIng mass sheeted off
3ffom the contest. Attention now turned to the
compact mass Of ice, logs, trees. lumber, &c. float
Ping rapidly by, in the midst of which we're imbed
ed eve schooners, hurrying to what appeared certain
3destluction The ice proceeded but mile or two.
when it was stopped by an unbroken field below,
*Rnd damned as to cause the water TO rise ,apdy,
ITO an unprecedented height in this village.
4 At six O'Clock the water had risen thirteen feet
Sabove the common high water mark. At seven it
Rhegan TO subside and in a hours had fallen about
-four feet; and no farther damage is apprehended.
|5fhe loss sustained cannot now be ascerained but
I'm s thought, that, at this place. it will not exceed
5000 dollars. The chief sufferers are Fl. Gar
|adiner ESQ and P. Hunter s. Co. TIE loss of
She former is the warehouse which now stands in
She dock, and considerable portion Of the cause
E7@ay across the basin OF the stream which pres
E{sld by the ice several rods from its original posi-
|}hon. The Messrs. Hunter have lost great mum.
F8her flogs There were buf few goods in the
|dhouse, and they were owned as we understand in
III augusta. The other items Of loss are boat bull
E3ier's shop belonging to Mr. Patten which stood by
4 he side OF the ice house, and crushed by the
Nee and logs driven upon it the fishing schooner
Hoi Mr.. Enoch Dill, utterly destroyed small guam
Mites Of salt in some Of the lower stories wood
Humber, &c. and some damage to two vessels
which now lie upon the wharves. Opposite this
village, in Pittston, large brig ne stocks be
longing to ]. N. & A. Cooper, lifted from her
blocks but is not much injured-they also lost
Eor two small buildings
Ii At Hallowel the destruction was very great.