Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1862-04-24

bearing down on its angry volume, logs, trees,
and debris collected during its long and trouble
some course. The Island was entirely covered
with the single exception of the point of the
abutment at the east end of the main bridge.
The little bridge had been swept away. The
Oldest house on the Island had toppled over,
and two or three others were undermined and
broken. The bridge from Westmoreland that
had lain on the Island more than twenty-four
hours had disappeared. The water was five feet
deep in the foundry owned by Geo. Newman e.
Son near the bridge, and the current was pass
ing through the broken windows. From the
situation of the tops Of the trees that skirted
the Island it was evident that the land was
giving away at the banks; and the new chan
nels that had been cut across by the current
were bearing volumes of water that must wash
away acres of fertile soil. The main bridge
yet stood firm on its abutments and interven-
ing pier but the force of the current against its
upper sides had bent each span more than
foot down the stream. About noon the toll
house, a two-story building near the east end
of the bridge swung from its moorings and
sailed off down the river. This was soon fol-
lowed by the dwelling house occupied by Mr..
Bingham, which was undermined the day be-
fore. AT this point the waters commenced to
subsde but so slowly that for some time the
dminution was scarcely discernible. The change
in the weather from Friday night to Sunday
morning doubtless was the occasion of this sub
sidence, for the hills are yet nearly covered with
the material for another flood.
During Saturday night West River bridge
was carried wholly from its foundations, and
although but few feet above the Valley Rail-
road bridge at that place, it struck the latter
with sufficient force to defect it several inches.
Fortunately the water was so high that the old
bridge was retained in the position where it had
| lodged until morning, when it was drawn up into
cove near by and secured. lis value as
bridge, never great, is wholly destroyed, and in
losing it the town may congratulate itself that
it has escaped all further vexatious law suits
on its account.
The damage caused by this unprecedented
flood is large, although small compared with
in the river The Hinsdale Bridge Company
have lest one bridge and their TOLL house, which,
with the damage done to the abutments of the
bridges will amount TO full $4,000. But this is
but a small part of the real damage sustained
by that corpol alton. The Island has been so
washed away and the road destroyed by new
channel cut through it that it will be impossible
to establish a safe and permanent crossing
without building an entirely new bridge and
abutments, besides the one in place of that car
ried away. 1t will require ut least $4,000 to
restore the facilities for travel TO as good a con-
diton as before this fresh,t. If this outlay is
not made the present bridge, erected five years
since at an expense of $4,000, will be of little
public use.
The Island in the river which was connected
with the main Ian | on either side by bridge
contained about % acres of excellent land I'M
der high state of cultivation. This land with
the buildings hen standing thereon, with the
exception of the dollhouse, was purchased a
few years since by Mr.. N. +. Cabot of this vii
lage, for about $4,000 The new, large and ex-
cellent barn erected just before the property
passed into Mr.. Cabot's hands alone remains,
the house ard other out buildings having been
washed away. The Island itself is well nigh
ruined. The Judgment Of bridge on the up
per end Friday evening diverted the water into
such courses that channel was soon COM
menced, which continued until it was opened
the whole length of the Island. This channel
is from eight to t,celre rods aide and from ten
to ttcelre feet deep, and through it flowed for
forty eight hours Of food large portion of the
water. 1t is safe to assume that after the flood
had receded five or six feet more water ran
through this channel, which includes nearly
what was the eastern half of the Island, than
ordinarily flows in the Connecticut. All that
part Of the Island with the exception of few
rods covered with trees and bushes is washed
away from two to six and even in some places
to eight and ten feet in depth. In addition to
this damage to the eastern ha.f a strip has been
taken from the west side next to the main chan
mel of the river from five to ten rods in width,
and the entire length of the Island, Thus is
the area of this once beautiful Island of twenty
acres reduced TO less than eight acres, and
nearly all that remains is covered with layer
of sand varying in thickness from few inches
TO several feet. In this manner has been ire
trevably ruined one of the most charming spots
in CT adjacent to this village. 1t is safe to pre-
dict that this Island will never again become a
habtable abode for human beings. This severe
loss bears with peculiar hardship upon Mr..
Cabot, whose property was mostly in Alabama
at the commencement Of the rebellion and
W hich is probably n arly or quite all sacrificed.
The house occupied by Mr.. Bingham, in the
employ of Mr.. Cabot, contained when it was
washed away nearly all the furniture, wearing
apparel, &c., belonging to the family 1t
was stranded in Vernon and some of the goods
will be recovered in a damaged condition.
Frederick Yaw's house is total wreck but
most of his furniture was saved His loss
must reach nearly $1,000. Asmal house owned
by Mr., Cabot and occupied by Mrs. Ellis is the
only one that remains in habitable condition.
This is much injured by the silt that washed in
to it, and the furniture was greatly damaged.
The Toll house was occupied by ]. L. Putnam,
hut he had rpmoypd most of his furniture he