Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1862-04-24
LOCAL INTELLIGENT E.
THE GREAT FLOOD OF 1862.
UNPARALLELED RISE OF THE CON-
NECTICUT RIVER.
GREAT DESTRUCTION or PROPERTY

valley OF the Connecticut river have witnessed,
and many of them painfully experienced.
greater and more disastrous food than any
that has preceded it within the memory of the
"oldest inhabitants" Biologists write of the
time in by gone cycles when all the alluvial
plains and terraces that we now see on either
bank of the river, were submerged and were
receiving their present outlines. Tradition,
also, has case in point, when the island OPP
posite this village was wholly covered with wa
ter; and there is some evidence that in in 1885
such was the fact. But the flood of the past
week was greater than any one now living re-
members to have seen on any other occasion,
and the rise of the water was full fire feet
above the highest marks of former freshets.
An unusual amount of snow, both in depth
and in the quantity of water therein held con-
gealed, had fallen during the past winter
throughout Vermont and New Hampshire and
this compact snow remained on the ground, at
the beginning of last week, all through the
valley of the Connecticut and its tributaries, to
the depth Of from two to four feet. 1t had
there been melting slowly for several days, but
as no rains had fallen within the preceding FIVE
months the ground absoi bed the water, and no
rise in the streams was perceptible The
ground becoming at length saturated and the
weather constantly growing warmer, until Fri
day, when the thermometer rose to about "A
degrees in the shade the snow commenced
melting very rapidly both day and night, and
oil tbo al, a.
streams. The consequences were such as were
apprehended by those who had carefully watch
ed the current of events, and such as we had
several weeks since predicted as very likely 10
happen.
As early as Tuesday of last week the Con-
necticut was observed to be on the rise, which
increased with greater and constantly acceler-
ated rapidity until Friday evening, at which
time the river had reached the highest point
before attained during the last fifty years, or
within the memory of our oldest citizens The
exceedingly warm weather of that day, and the
INN ediate prospect of rain, combined with the
fact that the water was rising more rapidly not
withstanding its greater extent of surface, than
at any preceding time, very naturally excited
the alarm of these living on the Island and
induced them to move with their household eff
fects across to this side of the river. During
the day the water had partially undermined
the embankment at each end of the small
bridge connecting the Island with the main land
in Hinsdale, and force of men and teams had
been employed for their preservation. In the
evening the force and volume of the water in
creased greatly and the stiffness of the hour
added 10 its apparent intensity. The bridge
propretors and the owners of property on the
Island were naturally becoming anxious. They
could plainly see that whatever might be the
change il the weather the waters would con-
tnue on the increase for at least twenty four
hours, and without any such change there was
no limit to be affixed to their rise. About ten
O'Clock in the evening crash was heard and
all supposed that the Little Bridge"-the one
furthest from this village-was gone. During
the night the remaining inhabitants were re-
moved, the cattle in the barn were driven up
on the scaffold, and all retired anxious con-
corning an unknown result, which, however
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avert.
The morning of Saturday dawned pleasantly
in the heavens but the genial rays OF the sun
revealed a scene of desolation that could not
then be limited The two bridges were yet
safe, the crash heard the preceding evening hav-
ing been occasiOned by the landing on the Island
of a bridge from Westmoreland, that spanned a
stream between that village and the Connect
cut. But how long the bridges here would re-
main was matter that elected much discus
sion, but almost all agreed that they would be
swept away. The water in the river was rising
with its accustomed regularity. 1t was over
flowing parts of the Island and working into
its banks. Channels had been worn through the
abutments of the Little Bridge, and those of
the main bridge required constant care and
unremitting efforts for their protection. No
teams were allowed to pass over it, and but few
individuals had the temerity to cross it, tremb-
ling as it was with the shock of the surgnp
food
Al the mouth of West River the water had
risen to such an extent as to cover the floor of
the bridge across the highway and to swing it
partially from its abu' ments, of course render
ing it impossible. Below the village the water
had commenced in. the morning to undermine
the railroad track, and it was with difficulty
that the Boston train was able to pass about
nine o'clock. After that the breach rapidly en-
larged and soon the pent up waters began to
cover that large tract of valuable land on the
drummer Farm" owned by David Goodel.
Mr.. Goodell was able to get his cattle out of
his barn upon the high land in TIE rear of his
house, his colts upon the scaffold and the top
of the hay in the bay, and to secure a few bar
rels in his cellar and articles on the lower floor
of his house, when the waters rushed in upon
him, filled his cellar and his house on the first
floor as high as the windows. His family es-
capped through the windows in a boat, in which
they were rowed across the meadows to the dry
land. The dwelling house was left untenanted
save by the sheep and pigs yarded in the attic
for safe keeping. The Brooks house on the
same meadow but nearer the river, was also
depopulated with the exception of widow
Brooks, an old lady who has lived to see all the
freshets on the river for the last fifty years,