Litchfield enquirer., 1843-05-11
A LIQUID AVALANCHE.

! count of the breaking away of Canal Re- servoir m that county on the 24lh:
 LEAKV RESERvoIR.-The Lebanon Res ervolr, one of the costly structures devised 1 for the purpos" of 1reasuring water in the vicinity of the summit level of the Chenan- 1 go Canal, about four miles from this village, l broke down portion of its bank, which
 was supposed to be as indestructible as the 1 everlasting hills, on Monday last, and the
 havoc and destruction which the mighty torrent made in its all-conquering course, can only be imagined by those who have 1 taken view of the stupendous ruins. We have seldom if ever seen any thing that fil-' led our mind with such magnificent concep- tions of power. The torrent rushed with lnconceivable impetuosity into the narrow and deep ravne, through which tho stream passes, uprooting trees of all sizes up to two feet in diameter. and forcing them along with the current, gullifying the rugged banks of the ravine, and absolutely quar- rying hundreds of solid perches of stone. and carrying them from half mile to mile: and depositing them upon the rich and fertile meadows below. Several acres of woodland were swept entirely clean, taking off not only the trees, but the entire surface down to the solid rock. Two or three saw mills were swept away so clean that not a vestige of any thing is left to mark the place where they stood. These trees and rubbish. together with the stones quarried out of the sides ot the ravine. are deposited in immense masses and heaps upon the beautiful mead ows bordering on the Chenango River, rem derlng desolate and dreary some 100 to 150 acres of the fairest portion of that delightful valley, There is one portion of from to acres of Kingsley's meadow that is per- tectly covered. from one to four or five feet ceep, with stones and gravel, and appears to us to be entirely ruined! while the bal ance of the meadow that received the de- posites of gravel, trees and rubbish, is mate- rially injured, besides the great labor of clearing it up.
 To give some idea of the power of this avalanche of water, we would mention that we observed boulder of granite, in the midst of the great field of stone upon the meadow, the weight of which is estimated at not less than ten tons, that could not have been picked up within half mile of its present resting place. People residing in the neighborhood describe the trembling of the earth to have been like that produced by an earthquake. A large stone house, MT. A Campbell's, standing at considera- ble distance from the course of inc cnraged element, is said to have. exhibited decided symptoms of ague. We cannot, perhaps, give a better idea of the grandeur and magnificence of the scene, than was given by gentleman who resides in the neigh borhood, and witnessed it. On being asked how it affected him, he answered, that it made him feel as though he was not more than six inches high and withal very lean.
 The damage to individuals is very consi- derable - we presume not less than or &50O0-the greater portion of which, we be- lieve, is sustained by the Kingsleys and MT. A. Campbell. The damage to the State would be very great if this reservoir was dant supply of water for the canal from the other reservoirs, and that this structure was useless expenditure in the first place, and probably will not be repaired,
 From London paper.
 Lup1cRous EFFECTS or THE APPEARANCE or COMET IN 17l2.-In the year 17l2 Mr. Winston having calculated the return of a comet, which was 10 make its appearance on Wednesday, the 14th of October, at five min utes after five in the morning, gave notice to the public accordingly, with this terrifying addition, that total dissolution of the world by fire was 10 take place on the Friday tol- lowing. The reputation Mr. Winston had long maintained in England, both as divine and philosohper. left little or no doubt with the populace of the truth of his prediction.- Several ludicrous events now took place. A number of persons in and about London sei- zed all the barges and boats they could lay their hands on on the Thames,very yationalIy concluding, that when the conhagration took place, there would be the most safety on the water. A gentleman who had neglected fa- mily prayer for better than five years, infor- med his wife that it was his determination 10 resume that laudable practice the same eye- ming but his wife having engaged ball at her house, persuaded her husband to put 1t off till they saw whether the comet appeared or not. The South Sea Stock immediately fell to 5 per cent. and the India to II ; and the Captain of Dutch ship threw all his powder into the river, that tho ship might not be endangered.
 The next morning, however, the comet ap- peared according to the prediction, and be- fore noon the belief was universal that the Day of Judgment was at hand. About this time 323 clergymen were ferried over to Lambeth. it was said, to petition that short prayer might be penned and ordered. there being none in the Church Service on that occasion. Three maids of honor burned their collection of plays, and sent to the booksellers to buy each of&hem Bible, and Bishop Taylor's :lIoIy Living and Dying The run upon the Bank was prodigious, and all hands were employed from morning ti!l night in discounting notes and handing out specie. On Thursday, considerable more than 1000 kept mistresses were legally mar rjed. in the face of several congregations And in croyvn the whole force. Sit Gilbert