Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1840-07-31
RUNAWAY POND.

where there Is Hosr pond, but from which
as the name iniimates, pond once run a
way. The facts in regard to this spot were
published in 1910, but by many may be
forgotten. There was pond Of water a
bout three miles in length, and some half a
mile in breadth, from which issued small
stream running to the south and IningIing
in its course with the waters that flow into
the Connecticut river. There was anoth-
er small stream taking lis rise a little TO
the north and west Of this pond, the waters
Of which were discharged 10 the north fall
ing into Barton river, and finally finding
their way through lake Memphramagog IN
10 the 81. Lawrence. On this stream was
a mill and the owner having viewed the
make of the ground 10 the north end or
head OF The pond, and finding its elevation
50 small as to oppose but trifiing obstacle
TO It's running in that direction, conceived
the idea of turning It's course to the north,
% as to aid the operations of his mill. Ac-
cordingly ON the 4th Of July, himself and a
number Of others, went with spades and
shovels and commenced digging. They
very soon found that few inches from the
surface there was nothing but quick sand,
and the moment the water began to run IN
that direction, this gave way very rapidly,
cutting a channel, and the whole water of
the pond soon appeared to rush to that
! pUinI-tte banks OF the new stream caving
I IN, were swept on BY the food so that the
party were only able to escape with their
I lives. The owner Of the mill seeing at
( cnce that there might be more water than
I he desired, and thai his mill might be In
danger, very iudiciously made rapid
movement In advance Of the water, and ar
rived just in time to apprise bis wife Of her
danger, and enable her to escape from tie
mil which she was attending in ler hus-
+ bands absehse. As the flood moved on
ward it bore down every thing that opposed
It's progres, taking along trees, earth and
rocks, and IN narrow places in the valley,
the moving mass would rise often to the
height ofilfy or sixty feet, and again reach
ing broader place would spread cut and
leave immense masses OF timber, stones and
earth. which, after Iispe Of % years. are
still visible-The beholder who was not
apprised Of what had been done, vas struck
with absolute amazement, as the srGter, the
moving cause, was wholly invisible. He
saw trees Of all sizes, and other substance,
which could be accumulated, rolling onward
rearing and crashing and shaking the hills,
and leaving perfect desolation IN its course
the forest and the morass were both OBJ
liberated, the hills were laid low, and the
valleys were exalted. Ii swept in this way
some 20 miles, the whole distance to Lake
Memphramagog, where finding nothing to
resist rs course it gradually mingled with lis
, placid waters. Leaving erect at every
: step the most enduring monuments Gifts re-
sistiess power.
d TIE width Of the track OF this flood was
: from or s rods to near lalf mile
). When the mighty torrent, rolling onward,
s struck the mill, for whose benefit this sslei-
{ tng out OF water" was undertaken, il was
crushed into atoms, and so completely OBJ
y liberated that not a ves,ige has ever been
r found. There was only here and there a
: solitary tree Jeff 10 show that forest lad
" been there. In one of them, fish was
: found 20 feet from the ground.
u Among tie extraordinary and almost IN
:, credible exhibitions of the power of this
q flood, is the fact that a rock was moved
about half mile, the enormous bulk and
y weight of which, may be gathered from the
4 following facts: 1t was granite, and has
l. lately been prepared for use by the progress
II Of splitting. Ii furnished stone for under
e pinn:ng two houses, and church and mos
= of a store There were also four walls fol
ie stones prepared from it for tagging in from
D. of the church which are l6 feet long and
Of inches thick and 2 feet in width. In split
y ting the rock, great deal wasted-the per.
1 son who did il not having understood the
& business. Its estimated weight was fifty
,e tons.
u The pond FAY between two mountains
4, occupying the whole space, and ON being
- drained i was found to have been 20 fee
in depth. Through the bed Of the 'run
Ct Faway pond the whole three miles, there /
now road Of considerable travel, leading
to Montpelier. The town Of Glover ha'
been greatly benefited by the opening o
this road. A delightful little village nov
a. occupies ground which was made by the
Il fiood.-It may be asked what was the fats
H. Of the inhabitants belowi The answer i
ID thai 20 years ago there was not house
OF and no building except the mill, 10 the traci