Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1830-08-11
From the burlington ny Sentinel, of Friday.
Unprecedented Storm and Devastation.

from me burlington ~ Sentinel, OF FRIDAY.
Unprecedented Storm and Devastation.
The late freshet has probably occa-
stoned more extensive mischief than any
other occurrence since the settlement of
the country. The extraordinary, and at
this season unparalleled, rains have rais-
ed the streams in this vicinity to a great
er height than has ever before been
known, and the crops were at Just that
period ofgrotwh which renders them most
liable to injury from heavy and long con-
tinued rains.-The heat, for five or six
days before the storm commenced, had
been great, and the soil was consequent
ly parchcd and dry, and therefore looser
and more easily washed than it is in the
spring and fall, when the greatest rains
usually occur. The difficulty ofcommu-
nication in consequence Of the destruc-
ton of bridges and roads, has prevented
us from learning the extent of the evil,
but the ascertaned loss in this county is
very great. The highest freshets known
to have occurred in the valley of Onion
River are those of 1863, 1917 and 1923.
The river was at its greatest height on
Tuesday evening, 9th inst and the wa
ter was from eight to twenty three feet
higher than in either of the freshets above
mentioned, according to the width or mar
rowness of the channel
All the recently constructed bridges
and mills have been built as near the wa
ter as was supposed, from former expert
ence, to be safe, but the extraordinary
rise ofthe waters passing far beyond all
former bounds has disappointed every
calculation. Every bridge over Onion
River in this county, including two re-
Gently built between this town and Col
chester, at an expense of near S 5000, is
destroyed, and all the mills upon the riv-
or, excepting the saw, paper, and grist
mills at Catlin's falls, and Bradey's saw
mill in Willistown. Many dwelling
houses and other buildings, in the valley
of Onion River, were carried away, and
five dwelling houses were seen floating
together on the flats few miles above
this place. AT Hubbell's falls, every
thing was carried off except the grist mill,
which is of stone, and was erected by
John Johnson, Esq. in 1919, breasted
several hours rushed against in a depth
of25 feet and with incredible velocity,
without receiving the least injury.-The
whole loss at this place, including the
bridge, is estimated at 1000.
The distinctions proportionably great,
on the tributary streams of Onion River.
But great as is the damage to roads and
bridges, it is probably of far smaller a
mount than the loss of crops. The grass
and grain upon the river intervals is who'll
ly destroyed, and the upland crops of
every description, which were not de-
stroycd, arc injured to that extent, the
supply Of bread stufs must come al
most wholly from abroad.
The loss of property in Addison and
Franklin counties is said to be nearly as
great as in this, and we are sorry to say
that must also record an awful loss Of
lives at New Haven in Addison county
We learn from the Vermont American
that 90 buildings were swept away, and
II lives lost, including the wife and three
children of Mr.. John Wilson, a son and
hired man of Mr.. j.. Is. Eldredge,
family by the name Of Stuart consisting
of seven individuals, and one other per-
son were carried away. Two younger
sons Of Wilson were also carried down
the stream about halfa mile, but escaped
by clinging to the trees. Two men were
drowned on Wednesday morning, in at
tempting to cross Robinson's mill pond
in Fcrrisburgh.
The mails due from the east on Mon
day, Tuesday and Wednesday, did not
arrive until yesterday noon. Every
bridge this side of Montpelier is swept a
way ut Middlesex the destruction was
great, sweeping all the mills, and other
buildings of every description near the
river, which rose 81 feet. We are hap
py to learn that the damage at Montpe-
ler was not so great as many apprehend-
ed, the water not rising but few inches
higher than il did in 1923.
The violence of the storm and destruc-
ton of property was as great on the 9th
or side of the Lake as here.
Mans years viii be required to repair
the evils which last night has brought