The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1853-04-21
RUNAWAY POND.

l
in the town Of Glover, Orleans county
Vermont, pond abou, half mile wild
and nearly two miles in length. II occup
ed a valley lying between two ranges Q
hills, and discharged its small surplus c
water by an Insignificant stream which raj
northward to Lake Memphremagog. 4
short distance from the pond, this outlet de
scendsd very rapidly into woody valley
far below the level Of the water in the pond
whence it wound very lesurely along TO it
entrance into the lake.
On this small stream an enterprisins
Yankee had built mill, which, for con
siderable portion of the year, he managed
to keep going with the scanty supply o
water, but which often was compelled 4
cease operations just when its invaluable
services were most earnestly required.
In October, 1910, during an unusual dry
time, it occurred to this 'cute' mi'l-owner
that il would not be bad idea to give na.
ture jog,' and make the pond pour its wa
ters over his wheel little faster. He &C.
cordngIy procured the aid Of few Of his
neighbors, who, with spades and pickaxes,
soon deepened the channel several feet,
leaving a narrow bank of earth next the
pond, to be removed when all was ready.
AT the word of command this was suddenly
cut away and the water rushed into the
aperture with terrific force. Not content
with the opening made for it, it immediate
Iy began TO deepen and widen its chan
which the lightness Of the soil rendered a
fatally easy and rapid operation, and in an
incredible short time il swelled to the d.
mensions of river. The terrified miller,
finding he bad raised devil he could not
exercise, thought now only Of saving bis
family, who dwelt in the mill below. He
rushed home, got his wife and children out
with all possible speed, and had barely
time 10 place them in safety, before the
mill and all appurtenances were swept ou,
Of sight. The entire waters Of the pond
seemed TO move at once toward the open
ing, annihilating every vss.ige of the en-
that once held them in place,
and rushing on, roaring and crushing with
wild fury, to Lake Memphremagog, twenty
miles distant. The shock was SO great
that the earth trembled as with an earth
quake, and the terrific aud unaccountsble
roar Of the food was heard with astonish-
ment and terror for many miles ia every
direction.
10 few hours the bed of the poad was
laid bare, the waters were all gone, and
men walked like the Israeites crossing the
Red Sea, where moment before the great
waters had been piled far above the path.
The scene in the track of the freshet was
fearful. Huge trees, that had stood the
storms Of centuries. lay crushed and broken
like twig., and piled in confused masses on
every side. Some were found lodged bod
lily in the top Of those left standing on
the sides Of the valley. A rock weighing
hundreds Of tuns, was carried down the
stream more than half milo. Deep rs
vines were cut, and bluffs undermined and
precipitating into the vale below. Fish
were found 10 the trees, forty feet from the
ground. Every thing gave evidence of the
presence OF an enormous, but erratc end
unusual course and when, the next day, q
party traced the progress Of the waters to
their entrance into Lake Memphremagog,
not ,ree was found standing 10 the cen
ter of the valley in the whole distance
No token of the mill was ever discovered,
except a small piece Of an iron wheel
picked up miles below.
The place where the pond had been soou
dried up, and was converted into fertile
meadows, and now a small stream winds
Iazily through the bottom Of the valley, and
the road to Barton runs directly through
the bed Of (" Runaway Pond"