Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1853-02-03
nttsfellaueolls.
Runaway Pond.

Previous to the year l6l there existed in the
town OF Glover, Orleans County. Vermont,
pond, about half mile wide and nearly two
miles 10 length. 1t occupied valley lying be-
tween two ranges of hills, and discharged lis
small surplus of water by an Insignificant stream
which ran nortbward to Lake Memphremagog.
short distance from the pond this outlet de
scendcd very rapidly into woody valley far be.
low the level of the water in the pond, whence
it wound very esurely along to its entrance into
the lake.
On this small stream an enterprising Yankee
had built a mill, which, for a considerable por-
ton of the year, he had managed to keep going
with the scanty supply of water, but which often
was compelled to cease operations just when its
invaluable services were the most earnestly re-
quired.
In October, 1910, during an unusually dry
time, it occurred to this " cute " mill owner that
it would not be bad idea to "give nature jog"
and make the pond pour its water over his wheel
little faster. He accordingly procured the aid
of few of his ighbors, who, with spades and
pick-axes, soon deepened the channel several
feet leaving 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 waters rushed into the aperture
with terrific force. Not content with the open
ing made for it, it Immediately began to deepen
and widen its channel, which the lightness of the
soil rendered fatally easy and rapid operation,
and in an incredibly short time it swelled to the
dimensions of a river. The terrified miller, find
ing he had raisad power he could not exercise,
| thought now only of saving his family, who dwelt
in the mill below. He rushed home, got his wife
and children out with all haste, and had barely
time to place them in safety before the mill and
all It's appurteuances were swept out of sight
The entire waters of The pond seemed to move
at once toward the opening, annihiating every
vestlge of the embankment that once held them
in place, and rushing on, roaring and crashing
with wild fury, to Lake Memphremagog, twenty
miles distant. The shock was SO great that the
earth trembed as with an earthquake, and the
terrible and unaccountable roar OF the flood was
heard with astonishment and terror for many
miles in every recion.
In few hours, the bed of the pond was laid
bare, the waters all were gone, and men walked,
like the Israelites crossing the Red Sea, where
moment before the great waters had been piled
far above their path,
The scene in the track of the freshet was fear
centuries, lay crushed und broken like twigs
and piled in confused masses on every side.-
Some were found lodged bodily in the tops of
those left standing on The side of the valley. A
rock weighing hundreds of tons, was carried
down the stream more than half mile. Deep
avlnes were cut, and bluffs undermined and
preclpitated into the vale below. Fish were
found in the tops of the trees, some forty feet
from the ground. Everything gave evidence of
the presence of enormous. bat erratic and unu-
sual force; and when, the next day, party ira
) ced The progress Of the waters TO their entrance
into Lake Menphremagog, not "A tree was found
standing in the centre OF The valley in the whole
distance. No token of the mill was ever discoy.
ered except small piece of an iron wheel,
: picked up miles below.
Tho place where the pond had heen soon dried
: up, was converted into fertile meadows, and now
a small stream winds lazy through the bottom
. of the valley and the road to Barton runs direct
y y through the bed o. +" Runaway Pond."--.Nsu
B.. York Times