Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-04-22
From the Springfield Republican, Aprf 2I.

From the Springfield Republican April2I
tremendous Freshet In Connections River.
The present flood in the Connecticut river
bids fair to be one of the most memorable ever
known, both rs regards the extreme hight of
the water, and the singular circumstances at
tending it. During the day and night of Sat.
urday, the flood increased rapidly, and at noon
Sunday the water cached hight little if anv
exceeded by that OF 1854. In this city it fell
short one inch from high water of that wear.
but at West Springfield and other places near
it exceeded il by several inches. AT the toll.
bridge, al o'clock Sunday night, it stood %
feet lhcheS above low water mark, and was
at about Il stand still The following are the
remarkable tluodS during the present century ::
1901, Il feet inches, 1913, 20 feet s inches ::
1854, Y feet inches 1856 Is feet inches !:
1859 20 feet inches.
During Saturday night, the water over
topped the d} Ike surrounding lIampden Park
anu on Sunday II was one broad eXpanse of
water, broken only by the unsubmerged por-
ton OF the buildings. a slight ripple near
the south side alone showed tile position OF
the dyke at that place. a small shanty from
the northern part of the enclosure was up.
rooted and tioated down to the soutI, gata
where it was secured
lhe damage to property cannot be vet esti-
mated. The southern streets leading to the
river are deeply dcluged, York street being
under water It's entire length, and houses on
the bank have suffered severely. Hbernian
pigs were deluged out OF their styes. and had
to be transferred 10 the front yards and upper
stories OF their owners domicils Harris &
ColtonS saw and planning mill was inundated
The cellar floor destroyed, machinery wet, and
operations suspended. South MAIN street was
flooded from the ferry nearly up to Central
street and miiEnlpn Az
obliged to come by way of Long Hill. An On
terprsing boatman has done a good business
IN terrylng people along and across Main
street.
The trains from this city south took the
east track ON Saturday, the west one being
deemed unsafe. In that part of Yves; Spring
field near the "dry BRIDGE" known us "Shad
lane, the lower stories OF all the houses are
flooded and in one or two instances one side
of the house has settled several inches. Near
~ all the outbuldings and fences are af1oat, or
partially so, and are thrown into various fan
tastiC attitudes.
Thousands OF spectators were out on Sum
day, viewing the extraordinary scene. The
railroad track was thronged as far as Mitteb-
eaque, and numerous boats filled with peonle
were rowing about, recovering goods from the
upper floor of the houses The road between
tile two bridges was several feet deep with wa
ter, and passage over tie toll bridge was en-.
tlreiy stopped. Several cattle were drowned
Saturday night, and barns aud hog pens were
cIeansed after the style adopted by Hercules in
the Augean stables.
Up the river the flood is prodigious. Chico
pee street at Chicopee is nearly 6 feet under
water. The Hadley meadows are again swept
across by rapid current, causing the lower
stories OF many houses to be suddenly eyacu-
ated. a similar calamity has belallen North
ampton. The dyke which was built some
years ago, for the protection of Maple and
other streets, has "caved in" before the force
OF the torrent, and scores of families are
drowned out
a special train on the Connecticut river
road was run from this city Sunday afternoon.
| with party OF invited guests ~ far as
Holyoke, ana tile spectacle was one of unri
| vailed subllmly. A sheet of water. - feet
inches in depth, pours over the dam. heinz q
inches deeper than in 1854 Clouds OF snTnv
are raised and the thunder of the mighty for.
rent Is heard to great distance. Five trains
are 10 De run today from this city and Chico
pee 10 hoy oke and return, at reduced fares
giving all an opportunity TO see this wonder
OF a lifetime. Travel on the road above HoI-
yoke ls suspended, the track being some 10
inches under water at the bend nf the river
a temporary dam has been built across the
tracK TO prevent flooding he village A brick
pulIdlhg on the South Hadley side was under.
mined and overturned Sunday afternoon and
an empty building. formerly carriage shon
was carried bodily down stream.
The absence OF ice in this great flood is -
most providentia circumstance, and to il must
be attributed the comparatively slight dam.
aye to bridges and dams No railroad BRIDGE
IS known to have gone, aud only one small
Travelled bridge, from the Island nearly opno.
site BrattIehoro to the west bank. A house
standing on this island has also been swept off.
An immense body OF snow and ice existed in
the northern part of this state and throuphout
Vermont and New Hampshire, and in many
places slelghine over the tops OF fences, was
the style of travelling most in vogue.
rams on the southern road, between This
city and Hartford, are much impcded by the
noodlng OF the track. The night EXPRESS
from New York. due here at O'Clock Sunday
morning ana not arrive till 4 The regular
sunday nlgit mail train from Boston wns
unable to proceed beyond this CITY, and mn
ram came through from the south. At
Hartford, on Sunday at l0A. NJ The rivar
hau risen 70 feet above low water ma,k ant
WA, was rising at the rate of one inch per lonr
ne whole lower part OF the city is flooded
causing great damage and much suffering
Inc trains to this city will probably be de-.
laytd Two or three days