Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1841-05-03
RUNAWAY pANn


of Glover, Orleans county, Vermont not where
there is moto pond, but from which, as the name
lntnates, pond once ran away. The facts in
regard to this spot were published in 1870 but
by many may be forgotten. There was pond of
wnter about three miles in length, and hall mile
in breadth, from which issued small stream run
ming to the south, aud mingling in its course with
the waters that flow into the Connecticut river.
There was another small stream taking its rise
little TO the North and West Of this pond, the
ters Of which were discharged to the North, fall
Ing into Barton river, and finally finding their way
through Lake Menphremagog into the St. Law
renee. On this stream there was mill aud the
owner having viewed the make of the ground TO.
the North end or head of the pond, and finding its
elevation so small DIS to oppose but very trfng
obstacle TO its running in that direction, conceived
the idea ct turning its course to the North, so as
to aid IN the operations of his mill Accordingly
on the 4th OF July, himself and a number of 9th
! ers u ent with spades and shovels and commenc-
| ed digging. They very soon found that few in
ches from the surface there nothing but quick
sand, and the moment the water began TO run in
that direction this gave why very rapidly, cutting
a channel, and the whole water of the pond soon
appeared TO BE rushing TO that poinl-the banks Of
the new sirentn, caylng in, were swept on by the
flood, so that the party were only able TO escape
with their lives. The owner Of the mill seeing
at once that there might I've more water than he
desired, aud that the mill might lie in danger, very
utlIciousl y made rapid movement in advance Of
the waer and arrived Just in time to appriZe his
wife Of her danger and enabled her to escape from
the mill which she wasatiending in her husbands
absence. As,the flood moved onward, it bore
down every thing that opposed its progress taking
along trees enrth and rocks, and in narrow plnc-
es in the valley, the moving mass would rise
often to the height Of fifty sixty feet, and
again reac hing broader place would spread out
and leave immense masses Of timber, stones and
earth, which, alter n lapse of 81 years, are still
visible. The beholder who was apprized of what
had been done, was struck with absolute amaze
inem, as the ,outer, the moving cause was wholly
invisible. tie saw trees Of all sizes, and every
other substance which could be accumulated, roll
ling onward; roaring and crashing and shaking
The hills, and leaving perfect desoation in It's
lcourse-he forest and Inorass were both oblitera-
ted the bills were laid low, and the valleys were
exalted. 1t swept in this way some twenty miles,
The whole distance to Lake Memphremngog,
where finding nothing 10 resist its couise, ii grad.
''aly mingled its placid waters, having erected at
every step the most enduring monuments of its
resistless power.
The width of the track of this food was from
six or eight rodsHto near halfa mile. When the
mighty torrent, rolling onward, struck the mill, for
whose benefit this "ierting out of waters was
undertaken, was crushed into atoms, and so
completely o5lteroed that not vosige has ever
been found. There was only here and there a
solitary tree left TO show that forest had been
there In one Of them fish was found 20 feet
from the ground.
Among the extraordinary and almost incredible
exhibitions ofthe power OF this food, is The lact
that rock was moved about half n mile, the esi-
mated weight of which was fifty tons!
The pond lny between two mountains, occupy
ing the whole space, and on being drained was
iouBd TO have been seventy feet in depth
Through the bed of Runaway pond" The whole
three miles, .here is now Il road Leading to Mont
pelier. The town of Glover has been greatly
benefited by the opening of this road A delight
tu village now occupies the road that was made
10y the flood. IL may be asked what was the fate
of the inhabitants below? I he answer is that
twenty nine years ago there not a house, and
no building except The mill, in The track over
which the food passed. Runaway Pond" will
long continue an object of much curiosity, and
the history of its uneerenOniois exit will continue
TO he told in generations YET to come Boston
Hechly Mag.