The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1855-05-05
DRY POSp.
From he ". II. .S'otoSman


From he " H. .Satc$man
The travelled roal from Barton and GLOW
er to Grecnsborouyh. Vermont leads through
the basin and bed Of Runaway Pond. Bush
es and small trees have crown IN, and cas-
ual observer would pass along without not
cling any thin. remarkable to one acquainted
with the high hills and deep deiilcs of Yer
mont. But one apprized Of this memorable
freak in nature would at once discover the
outlines Of the old water level, indicated by
the old growth of hemlocks above, and the
Second growth of birches below. His eye
would comprehend at a glance the capacity
Of the principal, or upper pond, which would
now evidently be filled with water were it
not for the outlet on the north side, which
has the appearance Of an enormous excava-
ton for railroad or canal
Close to the northern and lower extremity
of this excavation are the remains of pond
furmcrlv one half mile in length, which re-
ceived in lis bosom the vagrant waters of its
upper nei.hhor: but being unequal to the
unu,utl pressure suffered material drprcS
sion in its outlet. It's deep water was diSplac-
cd bv the E.lin. ruin of rocks, trees and
gravel, and when the dcluse had passed this
worthy pond remained only wreck Of what
it had been for scores Of centuries contrac-
ted to small fraction of its former size: its
surface briS;ing with tree tops. some of which
are visible still and shorn of its Importance
as the head of Barton river This river, ia
kin. its rise here. runs north and cmptics
into Mcmphrcmayoy Lake. Tie upper and
principal pond was one mile in length, with
abrupt shores, formed by prccipi,ous noun
tans shutting down on either side. Its ont
let was TO the south. formin. the head of the
Lamolc river, which cmpties into Lake
Champlain.
Between the two ponds was a formidable
sand ridge. rising at one point. however, TO a
height of only few feet above the water
level of the upper pond. Against this ridge
as a great natural dam, the wate: OF this
pond had rested ever since the creation, and
would doubtless never have found its trust
BETRAYED If it had not been for the intrusion
OF spades and shovels.
The dates of the kataba>is of those two
ponds is June s. 1910, which was tie pecu-
liar holiday of New Hampshire called Eiec-
:on The New Hampshire settlers of this
then new part of Vermont cast about for
some new source of amusement for the day.
The critical position of Glover pond had
been observed, and various opinions had
been ven.urcd as to what the result would
be, s.,pposing ditch to be dug so as to
change the outlet of the the pond to the
north instead of the south. These specula-
,ions had become o: so much interest that an
expedition to Glover Pond was planned for
Election U,y, in order to test the matter bv
actual experiment.
Accordingly, on the morning of the memo
rable 9th of June there were assembled on
the ridge a. the north end OF Glover pond
abont sixty men, with implements suitable
for the work they had in yicw. Two or three
hours sulliced for the labor, and at noon the
-cquis:t. c~.ava,ion had been made and the
>rstcr vas actually running slowly through
ahe ditch to the north, and gliding down the
slope of the ridge to the pond below: ma
king a fall of $50 feet or so in distance of
half as many rods. The water continued to
run thus slowly. till the spectators, expecting
nothing more to be seen, were beginning to
di>perse to their homes. when suddenly the
sides OF the ditch began to fall in, and the
sand of the Ridge moved as if itself were
water. The earth gave away under the very
feet of some of the lockers on, who were
with difficulty saved from falling into the
rushing flood. The flood increased till it
was literally a pond running away" 1t
crowded in an immense volume through the
passage of its own making. SO rapidly that in
two hours the whole pond had gone. leaving
only small muddy stream issuing frcm its
bottom. and a multitude of lu>ty trout tcun-
derins in the mud or tapping on the sand.
In this short space OF time there was pour
ed out in body. volume of water one mile
in length and 50 feet in depth for half that
distance 1t made an excavation in the SAND
ridge l2j feet deep, and one third of mile
in length on the bottom. The enormous a.
mourt Of sand moved must have been cqua!
to six or seven hundred thousand cubic wards
as much as would be required to be moved
for twenty miles of ordinary railroad con-
.truct.on in New England.
The Holiday of the Granite settlers result
ed i'll an exhibition exceeding in grandeur
and effect any thing conceived by its boldest
projectors. The perpetrators Of the deed
were amazed, and took little pleasure in a
sight which. although grand and imposing in