Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1859-09-28
iCoPTRIGHr SECURED. 81
CLEARFIELD COUNTY,:
OR, "REMINISCENCES OF THE PAST.

IT is a rare thing for the river TO rise to such
hight as to do much damage or cause any ap-
prehension Of danger. When much above the
ordinary running freshet, few small bridges
and some fences are carried off. The princi-
pal and most reliable freshet is that of the
spring caused by the melting of the snow
The most remarkable rises however, which
have fallen under the observation of our citi-
zens, have occurred late in the year. and were
caused by the large quantity of rain which had
fallen within short period. In November,
1911, the river and small streams emptying in
to it rose higher than they were ever known
to rise before or since. The river overflowed
its banks and at some points presented the ap-
pearance of vast lake. Bridges, fences in
the vicinity of the stream, and some live stock,
were swept away by the wild and rushing cur
rent. In this county the damage was trifling,
but in the lower counties the loss occasioned
by the food was great. During time
rho stream literally covered with pump
kins which had been torn from their vines, and
hence originated the name by which this fresh
ct has been designated-ssthe pumpkin fiood.''
In the fail of 1S47 another flood occurred, in
which the water reached within few inches
the stage attained in 1911. The inmates of
several houses built near the stream were COM
PEELED 10 abandon the lower floor, by the water
which rushed over it, and one house on the
Sinncmahoning, in which lady and her
three children, was fioated down stream. Pig
pens, chicken coops, rails, lumber, portions of
dams, spans of bridges and drift floating on
the bosom of the river, told the tale of de-
struction, which could not at the time be ae-
curately ascertained because of the impossible
condition of the overfown roads. V This flood
destroyed many of the principal bridges on the
main stream, and caused much loss. 1t was
during this flood that the Ringoid mill on
Clearfeld creek, owned by Kratzer & Barrett,
left its foundation and foated some thirty miles
down stream, when it was arrestedSin its course
by the Karthaus bridge. Since then we have
been visited by only one food of threatening
aspect. 1t occurred near Christmas in 1851.
4 fall of snow, followed by heavy rain, caus-
ed the river to rise suddenly. Our Court was
then in session, and many anxious ones were
heInmed in by the waters which completely
surrounded the county seat. All things SEEM
ed TO indicate a greater and more disastrous
freshet than had formerly been experienced,
but the cold caused the water 10 assuage, and
relieved of their apprehensons those whose
property was threatened.
y sudden rise in the early part of the year,
when the river is lined with RATS ready for, or
on their way to market, is most fraught with
danger. Whole fleets are then liable to be
torn from their fastenings and destroyed,
whilst those who have them in command, worn
out with the fatigue of rafting and running,
gre almost untitled to watch over their proper
ty. Notwithstanding the exposure and toll
connected with trip down the river on raft,
such voyage is pleasure TO be sought and
remembered. The scene is ever varying. At
oae time you may be attracted by farm, and
whilst thinking how happy one could live in
that neatly painted house nesting under the
hill, you become completely surrounded by
mountains rising abruptly and high above the
waters edge, and the serpentine course OF the
river cuts off all view of entrance to,
passage from your position. During your
rapid course you glance at hills covered with
dense, everything foliage, and sometimes huge
piles of rocks, devoid OF vegetation. Here
and there are isolated farms. Occasionally on
ore or on either side is the valley, with hills
rising slowly in the distance, and now and then
4 thriving country village or town comes into
sight. The appearance of numbering estab-
hshmenl or other mill is to a raftsman, at first,
cause OF excitement and anxiety. The
dreaded schute passed, You can more calmly
look upon surrounding scenes. Going through
ialls, where speed greater than that obtained
on the best railroads is attained, an involunta-
W zhudder passes Ger the frame, when reflect