Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1839-02-01
BUR Z nc @ u O W
FRIDAY MORNING., FEBRUARY, I.
THE FRESHET.

The valley of Onion River has again
been visited by one Of those sudden inuuda
tions. incident To oil hin countries The
warm south wind Of Friday. and the warm.
or rain and sun of Saturday. sent down
upon us from the mountains and hillsides |
n rushing torrent Of water, as unexpected |
as it was resist less and overwhe lminr.--
As 1t were by msgic, the ice. covering of
the river was suddenly lifted from its bed
and borne along in masses, fearful in mag. |
n'ude and number. These, collecting at
the narrow passes, formed dams, which |
sent the waters rushing back upon their
sources until the valley above was flooded
to the very mountains base, and then burst.
ing through these distractions, the whole
mass swept on TO nsw encounters with the
rocks. and new trlumpbs over every thing
else that impeded its progress, In some
instances barns were submerged and stocks
of cattle lost, before the proprio,ors were
even aware that there was freshet. The
first in,ima'on we had of its existence WINS
the arrival of messenger from the Col
chester side, on Sunday afternoon. announ.
cling that the whole in,ervalc was inundac cd
and that NIGH and his family, who reside
on Dr.. Pomeroy's farm, were hemmed in,
without the possibility of escape. The
people collected, boat was procured, and,
manned by experienced sailors, put off to
their assistance; but in vain. The current
swept the boat down the meadow, like the
merest weed that foa,ed. and it finally
drifted ashore near the swamp. Another
and another attempt was made, but with
no better success; and by this time night
closed in upon us. And what a moment,
The whole intervale presented the aspect
Of an inland sea, dotted by an occasional
ireetop, with here and there barn or
house riding at anchor. The water was
still rising, and the weather intensely
cold. The beacon light at the farm house
told US that the family still survived, and
the signal gun that occasionally reached
the shore, told also Of their distress
See says one, the light is now in the
chamber the house is ahoat Aye, by
heavens, it moves-'tis gone All was
dark. Mems hearts sank within them, and
those who never prayed, Involuntary ex.
claimed. "Great God protect them for
tits thou alone can stay the elements" Ho!
light, light! shouted thousand voices.
The easement was again illuminated, and
again the signal gun proclaimed that there
still was hope. Another effcrt was made--
the boat was reclaimed, and about mid.
night Capt, Price. with a brave crew,
again put out, determined to bring the
family off or perish in the attempt. They
succeeded in nearing the house, and much
TO their JOY found its inmates in a cond
tlon to express their gratitude for so time
ly a deliverance.
The bed of the river from the Falls to
the Van Ness farm. is literally packed with
cakes of ice-insomuch that a portion OF
the way the water has taken a new chan.
mel. Large portions Of the interval are
slill flowed, and the wheel of the new fac
tory, it is said, wades in seven feet of back
water. Opposite this establishment, lum-
Der, logs, fragments Of bridges, and blocks
of ice are piled in promscuously, in way
to defy competition! or even description.
Through fifteen feet Of these fragments,
dry ground may now be seen, where one
week ago the main channel Of the river
measured several feet of water.
The damage on the river, in bridges,
booms, logs, lumber, wood &c, must be
very considerable. Many cattle and sheep
have persisted, and there will be severe
loss of hay in stacks and barns upon the
intervaIe. The Bridge at Richmond il
gone, and Foelt and BradIeys have LOST
their boom and large number of logs, al
Willstop.
The rain on Saturday broke up the ice in THU
vicinity before Sunday morning The Conneccu
had not been so high for ten years. Some damag,
was done 10 the Bridge across it al this place, an,
a good deal, we understand, at Summers Mills
above. The new bridge NJ Charleston is gone
also that across While River at West Hartford
A good deal Of damage is done on the small streams
Windsor Chronicle.
From The Rutland Herald.
East Creek bridge,the Pooler bridge, tn
West Creek bridge, and all the bridges il
the town on Ouer Creek except the new
arch bridge at Grokln's Falls, we lear
are swept off The dam at the Falls re
ceived some slight injury.
In Pitsford, we learn that the bridg
at Pendfeld's nj lilo VIVA cnrri led owav. , N