Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-05-30
From the .aueusfa fire of Man %.

From the augusta .ags Of May %.
We are visited with the most terrible treshet
ever known on the Kennebec. On Saturday 1t
commenced raining and continued without inter-
ruption, and most of the time with great violence,
till Yesterday morning. The river at this place
has risen nearly 90 feet some fee, higher than IN
the great freshet of 1896. Several dwelling
houses situated near the river, IN the upper part
Of the village are inundated with water, aud the
families have been compelled TO abandon them.
A valuable carding mill belonging to Turner 4
Tucker was carried off ON Monday morning.
Yesterday morning, about 8, a saw-mill Sup
posed to be Kendall's from WaterviIle) came
down the river; considerable anxiety was felt
for the safety Of the Kennebec Bridge, for the
water was so high, that it could not pass with
out striking.
1t was indeed a severe test of the stability 81
that structure. The mill struck the western arch
of the bridge nearly midway, crushed, and vent
down. leaving the bridge unlnjured.
One accident occurred which strongly marks
the fearless and enterprsing character of onr
lumbermen. A large pile of boards, apparently
swept from the piling place OF saw mil, was
borne along by the current with fearful e'Ocit,
while upon it were three men, and TWO IN boat
GOODNESS and effect in directing ITS course. We
understood they had navigated the stream in that
manner for Is miles, unable to land aud secure
their charge, and unwilling to abandon it.
A part of Ticonlc Bridge at WaterviIle ha:
been swept away, also the Seba,ticook bridge
and it is feared that all the bridges On the river.
above this village are gone. The abu,ment which
supports the east end of the Kennebec bridge
| rtlr dor pob nv tho ua and al.
ter stone is dropping away.
| Several vessels broke from their m0orines and
one went down the river.
The loss of lumber on the river is immense. Al
the booms above US are gone. Usher's new boom
at Gardiner has broken, and there is nothing tt
stop the logs and lumber that has covered the ri
yer these three days, unless it is picked up OF
the way or secured in Merry meeting Bay.
Ertract of letter daied HallOweA Nay s2d
published in the Boston Transcript.
alt is truly melancholy to look from our win
dow and witness the destruction of property. anC
see it floating down the river. No less than three
mills and nine bridges have passed this forenoon
Among the bridges were two large ones; one o
them from Watervie. have just sounded i'm
medately under our window. and the depth o.
water is l4i feet Six feet from the window i
IS IL feet deep Our store is nigher thah any
other. have to go to my boarding house and
return in boat. Business of all kinds is sus
pended and the stores are closed. Some OF then
are entirely under water. l attempted to 60 tt
Gardiner yesterday but was obliged to come
back.
The water is still on the rise, and has risen
Inches 10 the last hour. 1t was never known 81
high before, not even when there was jam o
ice. Now there is no ice. and the river free foI
the water to 60 down. The lower part OF thu
town is all under water, and several schooner
Law at anchor across the street. The water rush
es by US with great velocity.
Thousands and thousands Of dollars in proper
ty is already lost, and if the water continues tt
rise, there is no calculating the extent o! the da
mage. We are preparing to remove all ou
goods if the water rises much more"