The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1840-07-21
RUNAWAY POND.

. RUNAWAY POND.
This is II name given TO place in the town
of Glover, Orleans county, VT; not where there
is no,O pond. but from which, as The name in
Inmates, pond once run away. The facts IL
regard to this spot were published in 1910, bu
by many may be forgotten. There was pont
of water about three miles in length, aud some
half mile in breadth, from which issued q
small stream running to the south and ming
ling in its course with the waters that flow into
the Connecticut river. There was another
small stream taking lis rise little to the nortl,
and west of this pond, the waters OF which
were discharged to the north falling into Barton
river, and finally finding their way through lake
Memphramagog into The st. Lawrence. On this
stream was mill; and the owner having view
! ed the make of the ground to the north end or
head OF the pond, AMI finding its elevation SO
small as to oppose but triling obstaclc TO lis
running in that direction, conceived the idea of
turning its course TO the north, so as to aid the
operations of his mill Accordingly on the 4h
of July, himself ami q number of others, went
with spades and shOvels and commenced dig
glng. They very soon found that a few inches
rom the surface there was nothing but quick
sand, and the moment the water began to run in
that direction, this give way very rapidly, CUT
ting channel, aud the whole water OF the pond
Soon appeared to rush to that poirt-the banks
Of the new stream caving III, were swept on by
the flood SO that the party were only able 10 es
cape with their lives. The owner of the mill
seeing at once that there might be more water
than be desired, and that his mill might he in
danger very Judiciousy made rapid move.
ment in advance Of the wafer, and arrived jus.
in time to apprise his wife of her danger, md
ennble her 10 escape from rne mill which she
was attending in her husbands absence. As
The food moved onward il bore down every
thing that opposed ITS progress, taking along
trees, earth and rocks, and in narrow places in
thfav NIL tho riS fran
the height of fifty or sixty feet, and again reach
ing broader place would spread out and leave
Immense masses of timber, stones and earth,
which, after lapse Of % years, still visible.
The beholder who was not appraised of what
had been done, was struck with absolute amaze
ment, as the tUdter the moving cause, was Who'll
Iy invisible He saw trees ofal sizes, and eve.
ry other substance, which could DO accnnnlnt.
Ell, rolling OH ward, roaring and crashing and
shaking the hills, and leaving perfect desola'ion
in its course-ihe forest and the morass Were
both obliterated, the hills were laid low, and The
valleys Were exalted. Ii swept in this way some
20 miles, the whole distance 10 Lake Memphra,
magog where finding nothing to resist its course
it gradually mingled with its placid waters. Leav
ing erect ut every step the most enduring monu
ments of its resisess power.
The width Of the track Of this fool was from
orS rods to near half mile. When the nigh
W torrent, rolling onward, struck tie mill, for
" hose benefit this ''lrtng out of writers" was TN
der,nkeu, il was crushed into atoms, aud SO com
pletely ohliterair,' thar moi vestage has ever
been found. There was only here and there a
solitary tree left to show thnt forest had been
there. In one of them, a fish was found 20 feet
from the ground.
Among the extraordinary aud almost incredi
hle exhibitions of the power Of this food, is the
fact that rock was moved about half mile,
the enormous bulk and weight of which, may
he gathered from the following facts: 1t was
granite, and has lately been prepared for use by
the usual progress Of splitting 1t furnished
stone for underpinning two houses, 81 church
and most of store. There were also four walls
for stones prepared from il tor f1agging in front
of the church which are Is feet long and inch
es thick and feet in width, In splitting the
rock; great deal wasted-the person whS did
it not having uu,ie rs,ood the business Its eSti.
mated weight was fifty tons.
The pond lay between two mountains occu.
by ing The whole space, and on being drained it
was found TO have been 70 feet in depth. Thro'
the bed of the Run away.pondp the whole three
miles there is now road Of considerable travel,
leading to Montpelier. The town ofGlover has
been greatly benefitted by the opening of this
road. A delightful little village now occupies
ground which was made by the flood.-It mny
be asked what was the fate of the inhabitants he
low? The answer Isl that 90 years ago there
was not house, and no building except the
mill, in tho track over which the flood passed.
Run away pond viii continue an object OIL
much curiosity, and the history Of its unceremo
Nous exit will continue to I've told Ivy genera
tons yet 10 come.
A,otiL .Murder.-A murder OF the most horri-
BILE description was yesterday committed, about
10 O'Clock in Prince street, between Mott and
Elizabeth, by n butcher named Thomas Butter.
ling on the person of X obert Dow ling, grocer.
1t appears that they had warm dispute, on Sun
day last, upon some trivial affair." and Yesterday
The quarrel was renewedin the store of MIR Dow
eli TO 90. and some more warm words passed he
tween Them: when Bulterling seized large
butcher knife that was lying on the counter and
severed his victims head almost entirely from
his body. g H-ss-F t.rfl- Is .4rs.U
The murderer fled, pursued by the crowd; and
after being Knocked down, and leaving portion
of his coat with his pursuers, he ran into the 70
lice Office, placed his hand upon the bar ana
jumped over in the midst of the Justlces.-Jns-
81 az eJ NJ