The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1859-03-26
Another Flood.

The people below 40, on the Connecticut
river, have been severe sufferers the past
week or account OF great freshct caused boy
heavy rains, and1he liquidation Of numerous
banks (snow bapkO In Northern Vermont
and New Hampshire, which have discounted
so freely rs to cause tnsA 90 the Low cr
part Of this, and the States tina. are below
Va.
In consequence Of this rush OF waters
great damage has been done to property, ca.
pecialy TO the railroads aud bridges. A
early as "Wednesday oflnst week the ice be-.
came-brokcn up IN the river from Norlhamp'
ton down, The Springfield Republican Of
Saturday says that at tie bend IN the river
above Northampton large dam Of Ice had
accumulated, and gave way about noon Of
that day, coming down with such power No
to sweep oil the ice before IT,. and the whole
mass striking against the east end of the
bridge between Northampton and llpdlry,
swept away two piers aud three spans, or
about one.thrd OF the whole structure. The
portion broken of split In pieces, large
HNNlN fNlNk NHlNlN ANN NlAlNh ANNN hNlN AllN
rest distributing Itself a, "loodwood" among
the jewellers on the bank below ns far a.,
Springfield. Some men were crossing that
part Of the bridge when the ice struck II, but
by feet running managed to reach the Had.
ley shore before il hovrd Of on its voyage
When this constantly nceumulating mas,
Of heavy ice reached lIolyoke, the up after.
noon train Of the Connecticut river ronl Wat,
just passing around the curve Of the pond
by the river bank, and was stopped midway
by huge masses Of ice pouring ia upon the
track both before and behind il, aud billing
themselves one above the other tearing the
track 10 pieces and twisting tho rails up like
so many willows. Fortunately the spot
where the train stopped escaped this rAtra.
ordinary attack, but when the food pissed
by i found its retreat aud advance both cut
oil. The passengers were relieved 10y stages
which carried them around two mites 20 THE
track above, where train sent down from
Northampton received ard eenvc, cd them
on.
The river continued to rise till Sunday
night, nearly reaching the hcgh, Of the
food Of 1854, and carrying CT a number Of
bridges on tie Connecticut and its ,ributar.
les. In speaking Of the grand spectacle pre-
-aeAicd- Ia ihG -LGhallGI--iLr RriIuLliean E4lG-
"lhc river presented a fine sight, either
from its banks or the hills back, when the
water was Mt its height on SUNDAY. The.
0ood stretched away opposite Springfield 10
the width OF some two miles, dotted tbickh
in some portions OF its waste with orchards,
and in Others with lone and lorn DIVE lings-
:hyir inhabitants cmbargord in the uppcr
stories while the current of the main stream
ran furious and rapid, bearing down huge
masses OF ice, intermiuglrd with which, but
unapproachuble by the skiii, of the eager
fishermen for fuel, that were Watching in
large numbers from the shore, were frequent
logs. boards and smaller bits of timber the
wrecks OF lost bridges or captured houses,
broken to pieces in coming over the Ilolyokc
dam. The scene drew many spectators and
excited great interest, and the height OF the
water was discussed with more interest than
the preachers best sermon. And indeed.
it was an imposing and absorbing spectacle"
There was also severe frrshct ON the
Merrimac river. An account from Concord,
~, H., says the Montreal railroad near that
eitywas entirely submerged, aud one Of the
pile bridges completely turned round. The
Northern railroad has lost half mile Of the
new track laid last summer at Fort Eddy"
which will prove serious loss to the compa-
ny. One house in the vicinity of Concord
Vas surrounded by eight feet of water on
Sunday morning, and the family who had
taken refuge in the attic were saved in boats
sent for the purpose.