Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1828-09-16
convey pretty correct idea of the extent Of
the effects Of the late freshet:--

Disastrous consequences have followed
from the long and heavy rains of the Sd and
4th. The streams had risen considerably
on the 4th, but the very constant and heavy
fall of rain on Thursday night produced the
principal part of a freshet which is unexam-
pied in this quarter of the country. Yester-
day morning, at an early hour, Connecticut
River and its tributaries were found to be
rapidly rising. The river continued to
swell until A, p. M. when its rise, as sup
posed, had attained to Is feet above its or
binary level, and, at the time of writing of
this article, had not very perceptibly subsid-
led.
! During the whole day, innumerable guam
titles Of all kinds of valuable lumber in RATS
and pieces passed along. From z, A. M. to
a late hour in the afternoon, the most lively
fears were entertained that the Cornish
Bridge would be swept away. Perhaps
there never has been more intense ankle
ty felt and expressed, than there was by the
Hundreds of all ages and sexes who watch
cd this showing Of the waters" hourly. we
may say momently, expecting to see it yield
to the enormous pressure of the accumulated
mass of timber which gathered about its de-
fences. But we are happy in being able to
say-this noble structure, though considera-
| bly, injured, yet stands. Its eastern section
has sustained many violent shocks-it will,
however, be but short time before it will
again become passable-perhaps not more
than two or three days.
1t would crafty us if we could stop here.
But all accounts which have come in agree
in representing of the food to be most inju-
rious and destructive. Indeed, there remains
no doubt that the whole country suffers I'M
der this great calamity. Summers Bridge,
crossing Connecticut River, above Hart Is
land, four miles north of this village, is, I'M
happily, in part carried off, though we have
not yet become acquainted with the circum-
stance. TWAS an interesting moment when
the ruins of that bridge appeared in sight
and rspidly nearing Cornish Bridge. Hard
ly one present expected that the latter could
stand the shock, as not more than one foot
Of clear space remained between the level
of the stirrups of the bridge and the surface
of the river. To the Joy of all, it stood the
encounter, and the immense beams of the
floating bridge separated and passed under
the Cornish Bridge, leaving it safe, but leav-
ing also upon its exposed parts, evident to-
kens that the meeting was not intended in
kindness.
| The list of smaller casualties is numerous.
It IS not in our power now to detail them.
They will be found, when fully known, to
have fallen heavily upon both publick and
private interests, creating much inconven-
fence and interruption in travelling, disar-
rangement of mails, and the necessity of
making, in most of our towns, burdensome
expenditures for repairs of roads and brid-
ges.
| We have learnt the following -
| AS TAR as heard from, all the bridges but
one, on Mill Brook, gone. The Bridge on
this brook at the soutl end of our VILLAGE,
Partly torn away and now impossible. The
bridge at the north end of the village sunken
IN and impossible. More orIess other iniu-
res to other bridges through the town. In
Hartland, a large number also carried off,
In Cornish, the bridges on Chase's brook
mostly destroyed. In Woodstock, the
bridge over Queechy river, west of the vii
lage, swept away. In all directions the
roads very much cut up, and, from appear
ances, there is sufficient reason to apprehend
a great destruction of property in mills, dams.
&c.-Windsor, Vt. Journal.
1t is shocking to behold ctr meadows. on
ly on Monday last literally groaning with
the greatest crop ever known, now covered
over as far as the eye can reach, like one
great sea. Not vestige of land can be
seen on the Wethersfeld road east. The
long East Bridge, next to st-Hartford, on
the meadow, was expected to go off. The
trussels were raised, and the water is nm To
the floor. Several live oxen fioated by YES
terday-one pair yoked. Several are now
standing on the highest part of south mea-
dow, their backs just out of water. A fox
and gray rabbit, probably visitors from Yer
mont, were caught Just east of Morgan,s
bridge. The timber prepared and laid for
the guard lock at Enfield Falls went by two
days since all the embarkment under wa
ter, leaving not ripple. The water is 24
leet above low water mark. 1t is superfu-
Gus to say, that all the crops on the meadows
are destroyed, for hundred or two miles up
the country. The same writer states that
the losses and damages cannot be estimated
less than 100000 dollars.
The injury which the Pennington Canal
Company has sustained is estimated nv
a gentleman in the service of the Compa-.
ny, who has visited the line since the storm.
to amount to from 8 to 5000 dollars. The
Canal was just completed, and but for this
misfortune would now have been navirabIe.
~ Letter from Hartford.
The meadows in the valley at Watertown
were one vast sheet ofwater; small BRIDGE
between Watertown and Waterbury was car
RED away-also the sluceway to the button
factory at Salem Bridge, where a thousand
loads OF earth were removed. Mr.. A. Good
year, OF Waterbury, lost about 80 fine Meri-
no sheep, Mr.. J. Buckingham between 90
and 30 and several other orent1ar,o,, ........ =.