Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1839-10-18
NO Il.
From The Boston 7raceier.
STORM OF 1885.

- >-'-~s's - tDpOs
The recent storm which happened on the
30th of August reminds us oflhe great storm
which occurred on tn 10th OF August, 1895,
and which is recorded by our early histori-
ans, as the greatest which they experienced
IN New England for many years Morton
tells US that beat down the corn, overtnrn-
ed houses, and tore up by the roots ''many
hundred thousand of trees !" the east wind
blew with such violence that the tide was
turned before the ebb had fallen, and the
tide rose fourteen feet, SO that the Indians
were compelled to climb trees for safety,
and some OF them were drowned. A vessel
was wrecked at Cape Ann, the relation of
which is preserved by Winthrop and others.
There were twenty-three persons on board,
twenty-one of whom were drowned. Among
the last, were the Rev. John Avery, with
his wife and six children. The only persons
saved were MIR. Anthony Thacher and his
wife, ancestors ofthe respectable family of
TEACHERS, so many of whom have been emf
nent as ministers. Mr.. Thacher himself
lost four children. The Rev Mr. Mather
has preserved this account as one OF his re-
Remarkable Providences and Mr.. Thach-
er wrote the relation OF this awful event,
, ~ nAiNu nc " 40 81 Pftott-
we'd. He says-"It pleased the Lord TO
send SO mighty storm as the like was new
er known in New England since the En-
glish came, nor in the memory Of any ofthe
Indians Ii was so furious that our anchor
came home--then we were. by the violence
of the waves and fury OF the winds, lifted
upon rock. between Two high rocks yet all
was one rock The waves came iuriously
and violently over US and against US, bu.
by reason of the rocks proportion could
not lift us of, but beat her all TO pieces.
Our foremost was cut down, our main-mast
broken in three pieces, the fore part of the
pinnance beat away, our goods swimming
about the sea- my children bewailing me as
not plying themselves, and so likewise my
cousin, his wife, and his children, insomuch
that from the greatest 10 the least of us, Tiers
was not one screech or outcry made, but all,
as silent sheep. were contentedly resolved
TO die togetherfovingly. AS Twas sitting in
the cabin room door, one Of The sailors, by a
wave, being washed out of the pinnace, was
gotten in again. and, coming into the cabin
room over my back, cried out we are all
cast away. The master ofthe pinnace look
ing up at the scuttle OF the quarter deck,
went out at ii, but never saw him afier-
wards The sailor that had been in the
sea, went out again. and leaped overheard
toward the rocks. when. aiterward. could
not see. BY mighty wave was washed
out upon part Of the rock. where the wave
left me almost drowned but, recovering my
feet, saw above me, on the rock, my
daughtersAlary, 10 whom | had no sooner
gotten, but my cousin Avery and his eldest
son came TO us, being all four washed out by
Ne same wave. Presently came another
wave. and, dashing the pinnace all 10 pieces,
carried my wife. with the greater part ofthe
qnatrr deck, into the shore. We four BY
lthatwave were clean swept away from of
the rock into the sea. the Lord ia one in
slant OF time disposing Of fifteen souls ofus.
Mr.. Thacher only was preserved. And
there is one thing remarkable about his
preservation. which confirms the statement
we made some weeks since, about swim
ming. The moment he gave himself up
for lost. and made no more excrlion, he
ceased TO sink, as himself tells us, he had his
senses perfect" that he was. lfpossessed.
his head was lifted up above the Top Of the
water, so that he could breathe without any
hindrance." He, says " stood bolt up.
right, as if stood upon my feet, yet felt no
bottom" He was soon cast upon the shore,
where he found his wife. the only other per.
son saved. After remaining several days,
they were taken in boat and carried TO
Marbehead The places have sicce been
named Avery's Rock and Thachers Island.