Windham County Democrat. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1836-1853, 1852-02-18

On Wednesday afternoon last thriving sister viii
lagc, North Bennington, was visited by destructive
mensc damage broke from pond just above the viii
lags. which pond .a but lately been filled Pho dun
was formed by the Western Vermont Rnroad which
crosses the stream at this place and composed of
frozen dirt and mud dumped in fill for the grading
of the track of the Railroad, and 30 to 40 feet in
depth. The amount of water sat back by this dam,
vast, and covered, at depth of from to % feet,
thirty trtyhvc of land. For this large body
of water, there outlet through flume of
four six feet in diameter, and over short danl low
err than the surface of the main dam, over which
bridge swings for the support of the rails. Any water
that escapes from any other source, must sweep
the track or through the IN. On Wednesday morning
last found its way through the mud and sand,
which had till then mpeded it and in spite of labori-
cXertons to prevent it, continued to work larger
passage until one o'cock in the afternoon, when all eff
forts TO saunch the flood ceased and in short time,
the entire Of water rushed through the opening
it had formed and precipated itself upon the village
below, carrying with its rcsstless current 10 or 10
buildings, woman and a child, and every description
of property to an immense amount. The avalanche of
water followed the course of the river until reached
the heart of the village, whore it spread across and
down the street, tearing buildings from their founda-
tons and hurting them and their contents into avorlex
Of surgng water that tore them 10 pieces with pow
cr and velocity truly terrific
Although notice of the impending danger was given
TO the citizens before the breaking of the dam, they
had not prepared for great rush of water, and 10
II families driven from their buildings to Wit
the destruction of everything they owned in the
world, and to rejoice at their deliverance from
fearful death seemed inevitably would overake
them. When the current had reached Truman Esty,
Esqr.s pond, it had gained such power and was
fined in space that its force perfectly
irresistible. Two large double houses were carried a
way from here, and not the slightest vestge left TO
mark their previous location One Of these houses
occupied by VIM. butcher and Ansel Kane. Mrs.
butcher, the first ALARM stepped out of the door to
see how the flood was-eaving her child, II
months old, sleeping in the cradle Before she could
return, the house floating on the fierce current
Mrs Kane being in the house. noated off with it. The
building held together until it went through the
first dam below-here il careered and broke. Mrs.
Kane having hold of the raters threw herself upon
the roof which parting left her TO take refuge up
on the fragments and timbers floating past her. Upon
these she supported herself until by almost superhuman
effort she gained the shore, nearly mile from where
she started, alive but almost chilled through. The
body of the child found the next morning tangled
in the fence, about half mile from where the house
started.
The damage done by this sad occurrence cannot be
correctly estimated al present 1t cannot be less than
$50, 900 Mr. Esey loses largely lie must have
been damaged TO the amount of $4,000. L. NJ. We'll
ding, Hawks, LOOMS IL Co.. P l.. Robinson, Jones a.
Richardson-who lose a woollen factory and its con-
tents-P. E. Ball, Drs. Bruce IL Ranney, Mrs. Chris
tie, Hiram Mcintyre, Rufus Bangs, b. F. Fay, Geo.
Clearwater, Chas. Cameron, Geo. P. Harwood, VIM.
butcher, Anse Kane and John Colvin are among the
principal losers.
The loss the town, by the destruction of bridges,
roads, &C. large. The Railroad Co. also lose
siderable amount.
There is not water privilege available in North
q. All the dams are gone, and the wheels, factories
ApS Shops that standing, are filed with mud and
water and are deserted.
MIR. Wellings stone Gristmili was submerged in
part its filled, and their contents Of graiR -four,
&c, buried in sand and water Jones and Richard
sons Wooden Factory is parted and ruined its machin-
cry gone, one knows where and the stock on hand
gone after the machinery. Bangs Square Shop has
vanished entirely. Balls Blacksmith's Shop ditto.
Jones' Welng's and Esty's dams gone, and the
embankments so injured to retard the progress of
rebuilding, The water entered the eounuug-room, on
the sales.room floor of Hawks, LOOMS 81 Co.'S Store,
hurled safe weighing or 500 lbs. through the stout
pannelng of enclosed desk and carried it to the OPP
posite side of the The weer also entered the
countng-room of p l.. Robinson Esq, the same
his safe, and left its filthy insignia four 6ye feet from
ihe floor the ceiling of the room.-Drs Bruce q
Ranney suffered severely The of water which
entered their residence broke through the floor and pre-