Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1840-03-10
Tmm tie Nnnhamninn CnuIinr
GREAT FRESlIET ,-DEsTnucTioN OF 7

GREAT FRESlIET !-DrsTRucTloN OF THE
SDpfRLASD AND NORTHAMPTON BnIDGEs I,
he warm rains and the mild weather ofthe
faN week have carried off the snow in great
quantities. and raised the Connecticut, to one of
lis hgaes' points. The ice opposite this town
stared on Monday morning, and with it we
regret TO state, carried away about half of the
Great Bridge leading TO IIadley AT o'clock
ihe ice was trm but soon after, il began to
move. About o'clock Intelligence reached
town that the Sunderland bridge was coming
do"n tie nrer, and would soon be brought in
contact with the Northampton bridge. To the
as'oasanent and pain fevery body, however,
lon. ,t0re the collision, one Of the middle
| pes Of the Northampton bridge was swept of
.al iWo reaches fell and were carried away by
DE psh and irresistible pressure of the ice and
waters.
by this time the river appeared literally chok-
e1wlh he heldlong rush OF timber and crowd
i1g Of the ice. Nothing seemed capable Of
outstanding lis power. As the Sunderland
tndgc approached, resembling a huge ark, the
scene was one of the most exciting and painful
Interest and the result was watched by hun
dreds Of SPECTATORS on the high river banks,
with breaihless emotion. Nearly two hundred
ieel came rushing onward, and struck about
ma way Us centre against one of the outer
pers OF the Northampton bridge, where the
breach had been made. The crash was trc-
mendous, aud every man held his breath. Part
olhseparaied and went downthe river, through
Ne opening the remainder was broken up
nae bundle Of reeds, and passed under the
oniee, which seemed literally 10 totier and
"fi under the predictions power Of the coils
soh.
very soon, about three hundred feet more
"'ae Sunderland bridge was seen hurrying
NHolsiy along with the maddening elements,
nns1 the rushing and crowding ice. 1t was
M'Ang Us way endwise. direct for the center
p We part the bridge standing on the Hadley
voc. lis fate seemed sealed, its destruction
Seemed inevitable When it struck, it hap
f''e' fortunately TO be upon one of its piers
anu loi moment, the contest lor mastery,
or5"een The rushing ice, the floating wreck
a'u me Northampton bridge, was really per-
Us ail sublime. The latter stood firm, vet
seemed 10 reel and siagger and brace itself,
1Sfoag man, for the struggle. The rcash
! 'oG md breaking up oithe floating mass,
FtsQ 10 pass under the bridge in irap-
- sngth asserted the strength and su-
-E'f The upright structure. In amoment
~ NE suspense was ended, the danger was
r.''ei' aud the broken bridge yielded TO the
,iloT strength Of the stone piers and passed
- "esmen's down the stream. The victory
- proclaimed by the shouts of the spectators
uVln pom sides Of the river Blu, this plea
su''oie sensation did no, endure long. II
~lse''deni the masses Of ice. dashing against
- p'efs "iih headlong fury, and crowding
-. each other, like contest OF giants. with
'ts'suole power, had already weakened the
,gs, Shieh seemed grow giddy and falter
~ w <sieadiasiness, as il looked down on the
sapui struggle which was going on around
- uSheaih u. Suddenly and when least ex-
800 and when the spectators on the Hadley
~ ~ were eagerly crowding into it, stone
ri gave way. The bridge yielded despair
.l' : paraled and fell over in two immense
- UPON The rushing ice, with loud and
49, 49,, crash. The sight was sublime and
~, 'a',s' Tor moment, bot when the cloud Of
- 1aaPpeared, and the iumuli Of the caias.
s1bsided, they 10aied down the stream
a. ogngh' position, among the ice, serenely
owe i4y sporting upon the bosom Of their