Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1862-04-25
rat Flood In Bellows FalIs.--Con-
ncclicut River Overlooked.

he greatest freshet ever known in this
be, or in Connecticut river, occurred on
|urday last. On Friday the river began
Use very rapidly, and in the evening had
n so high as to occasion considerable
kety, and Saturday morning the alarm
rame general, and increased during the
with the constant rise Of the WATER
great food has never been known in
village. All the high water marks were
Emerged in the early part Of Saturday,
d the river must have risen at least six
y higher than ever known before. The
hing and surging mass, as il passed over
Falls, presented a spectacle truly grand
4 sublime, often being thrown twenty feet
owe the main surface, and coming down,
,,ld lash the rocks with all its tremendous
MOI, again throwing high up in the air
ray, beautiful and grand TO behold. 1t
IS Of course visited by admiring hundreds,
VI the scene would bear much more
(sthy description, had we the space to
hre.
Early Friday evening the water had
come so high as to make it necessary for
Messrs- Flint TO clear their peg shop
at night. which was done; but the great
title came of on Saturday, and Saturday
CHIT I'm the morning the water was pour
g with great force over the canal guard
ties, on Bridge street, and lacked but a
~ inches of actually running through the
ALLEY railroad tunnel, which is under the
uare, and main business street of our viii
bge. Supt. Sloat Immediately determined
construct dam across fire tunnel, and
be work began. Here, and at the bride e
yer the guard gates, the contest ragged du-
Eng the entire day. The earth began 10
bill in ON each side Of the bridge, and carts
Ind oxen we're constantly bringing in gravel
3 replace that washed out. But the water
ained, and from ~ O'clock, noon, till y at
light, It was generally conceded that the
yates would give away. Meantime, the
york &. the tunnel was going travely on.--
Above it the water had already risen more
Than two feet over the track. and ''stiil ris-
ing During the afternoon, IN spite of all
efforts, the water sousaankcd" the dam. and
coming in an flfc SIDES, began 10 rush through
ia Tunnel. Here was the crisis of the day.
MEN renewed their efforts with redoubled
|lgor the areserved forces were brought
q 4 sheavy fire. Of gravel poured on
he right Of the tunnel, and at midnight we
|ad the extreme Satisfaction of turning
BACK the flank Of the enemy. The water
subsidized in the tunnel, and very general
relief was felt. At l O'Clock A. NJ, many
began TO feel safe, ard retired for the night,
lIaxSh a large number of course were up
The water was never known 10 have
been so high before, and high water marks
must be made over new. Had the water
gained tile mastery through the tunnel, the
result would have been most disastrous. II
must have swept away the entire business
portion Of the village, and it is not improb-
able that the main channel of the river
would have been turned directly under
Mammoth Block, or about 40 feet under
ot,r ekee Y ~ We haa remarkable
sEs ! ~ This village will
BE- but a few m0ddred dollars.
Some of the damage IS the result of the
removal of goods, from fear The worst might
come. The law offices Of Hon. III. f.
Stonglston and ]. d. Bridgman were clear
I'd. A. 5. Campbell, town clerk, &c, pack
ed Us some Of his goods for removal, if nee
essary. A portion of the materials of th'
I TINES Office were also cleared out, and 9th
|eve backed Some Of the families in Har
rs Block, on Canal street, removed thei
goods. Mrs. Fields, IN the second houst
beyond, was drowned ont, and had to re
move her goods and abandon her hoase en-
tirely; Monday morning, when the vale
had subsidized, the mud was two or three
inches deep in her kitchen. J. Bowtelle
on the Island depot grounds, house formerl,
occupied by joel Hammond. removed hi
goods. The underpining of the house set
nled out next to the canal. Canal bridg,
was raised up from the abutments, but Capt
Walter Taylor procured a boat and stron.
Fable and fastened il to some trees, and thu
prevented it from floating of. The waite
|Hnpd nearly two feet deep on Canal street
Ar E. F. Kimbalrs. Nutting's organ man
Sfactory was flooded few inches above th,
~ bash of the windows next the canal
okns & Phelps livery stable was flooded
and everything removed, except hay ant
brain. Their damage, as they inform US, !
56me $500. 0. b. Arms blacksmith shol
vas badly washed, and it is wonderful tha
was saved. The damage to it is SOM
1900, most Of which will fall upon the Ca
|nalrC Company, who, we believe, own tn
lslding. A. S. Clark, iron ioundery, 5
chapman a. Co., turbine water wheels, A
Derby, sash and blinds, w. & j. G. Flint
peg manufaciory, moved most of their tools