Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-08-11
THE NORTHERN FLOOD.

The Middlebury Standard which arrived this
morning contains the following melancholy ont
interesting detail of the effect OF the late storm
at New Haven, (Vt.)
Dreadful CaLamify.--One of the most terrible
foods that ever desolated this or any other coan-
try carried ruin and death through the valley OF
New Haven river on Monday night the Goth
inst. The New Haven river has its source
among the mountains of Bristol and Llncon.-
Its source is very rapid until it reaches Bristol
village when it energies from the mountains and
winds with fine rapid current tn ough an open
country, forming fine and beautiful intervals I'M
Ill it reaches New Haven West Mills, or Bee
mans Hollow, when the stream IS narrowed by
rugged ard PERCEPTIONS banks which continue
about one mile when 1t enters Utter Greek
The weather the week previous had been fine,
warm but dry. Saturday the wind blew strong
FROM the South but the weather was sultry. 1t
began to rain Saturday night between and 9
O'Clock and rained nearly the whole night. Sun
day great deal of rain fell and the mountain
streams we're very much swollen. Sunday night
aud throughout the day Of Monday there were
frequent and very severe showers. About sun.
down on Monday IA very dark dense cloud set
tied around Bristol Mountain, and the lightning
was for TWO hours incessant and vivid. The
rain poured down in torrents upon the devoted
valley, and the lofty mountains that cast their
rushing waters into its bosom. The water ran
with unexampled rapidity. Before II o'clock
the water had rose from ten 10 twelve feet high
er than was ever known to the oldest inhabitants
the dams in Lincoln and Bristol gave way.
At New Haven East Mills, the dam, bridge
and all the mills were torn away. From the
East Mills to the West Mills in New Haven is
about four miles. At the West Mills The banks
are high and the river just above the Mills and
below the upper bridge makes short turn to the
North, and small rocky island divides the river
at this spot into two channels, the East and
| West, which unite again above Wilson's Mills.
The cluster of buildings were chiefly situated on
the East side of the river, on piece of high in
| teryale, which commences soon alter the stream
turns to the North. John Wilson'S house and
the house occupied by Mr.. Stewart, blind man,
were several rods from the river on the flat and
near each other. A few Rods below the VIII
sons Mills, which were situated on the lower
dam. the stream turns short to the West and
dashes through narrow passage in rocks called
the narrows. There was narrow bridge above
the Wilson's Mills. Between ten and eleven
O'Clock at night, the water rising rapidly. the
Wilson's became alarmed for their property, and
some of the neighbors collected to assist in its
preservation. Miles Far and his son crossed
the river for that purpose before the bridges went
of. While thew were at work about the Mill
for this purpose, the wafer was rising with fear
full rapidty. The upper bridge went, together
with the grist mill and cloher's works. The
floating mass paused a moment at the lower
bridge-that gave way and all was thrown on the
lower mills and darn. When John Wilson and
his son and the two Ears gave up attempting to
save any thing from the mills and went to John
Wilson's house, they found to their establishment
that rapid and powerful current of water was
sweeping along between the house and the high
ground beyond. They attempted to ford it in
vain. The two Ears crossed to the Stewart
house, when Lemuel B. EIdridge, Esq. and his
son young man about twenty, and Il Mr. Som
ers, hired man of Mr.. Edridgc, had already
arrived, Mr. Eldridge rode horse through the
current to the Stewart house but considered that
it would be very hazardous to attempt to return
in the same way They Immediately commenced
building raft at the end of the wood house with
view TO take off the Stewart family. They had
previously left the house and taken refuge in the
barn which stood on little high ground.
| Justas the raft was completed the wood house
started, and was swept away BY the current
! They could no longer hold the raft, and the man
who was holding il when the wood house began
to move was obliged to jump on the raft and 20
with the rest. There was on the raft when it
started Lemuel B. Eldridge and son. Misses Farr
and son. Mr.. Somers. & oneof the Stewart boys.
They were hurried along towards the narrows,
but all kept on until they reached that trghttuI
charnel house. In a moment the raft was scat
tered, and every one on it precipitated into the
water. Mr.. Farr seized plank from the raft
with his right hand, aud soon found some float
ing substance to grasp with his left. Holding
firmly by these, the current carried him down to
the fiat about halt a mile below the mills. where
he lodged against large pine stump He let go
his planks, thinking he had found something
more safe; but in moment quantity OF Hood
wood came against the stump and he was again
driven down the current. He was nearly ex-
hausted and discouraged; he however made one
more effort for life which proved successful -
He succeeded in clearing the food wood. when
the stump again grounded and he remained hold
ing on to it until taken off in the morning. MIR.
Eldridge was carried nearly through the mar
rows, when he seized a board which proved OF