Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1862-05-02
" "Quocumque me Fortuna ferat, ibo hospesn

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the scaffold, and all retired anxious con-
corning an unknown result, which, how
ever disasterous it might be, they had no
power to avert. .dl5 9a. sy.tr si4r
The morning of Saturday dawned
pleasantly in the heavens but the genial
rays of the sun revealed scene of des-
olation that could not then be limited.
The two bridges were yet safe, the crash
heard the preceding evening having been
occasioned by the landing on the Island
Of bridge from Westmoreland, that
spanned stream between that village and
the Connecticut. But how long the bridges
here would remain was matter that clio
tied much discussion, but almost all
agreed that they would be swept away.
The water in the river was rising with its
accustomed regularity. 1t was overflow
ing parts of the Island and working in
to 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 allow
ed to pass over it, and but few individu-
ais had the temerity to cross it, tremb-
ling as it was with the shock of the surg
ing food u
At 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 abut-
ments, of course rendering it impossible.
Below the village the water had commenc-
ed in the morning to undermine the rail
road track, and it was with difficulty that
the Boston train was able to pass about
nine o'clock. After that the breach rapidly
enlarged and soon the pent up waters be-
gan to cover that large tract of valuable
land on the Dummer Farm" owned by
David Goodell. Mr.. Goodell was able to
get his cattle out of his barn upon the
high land in the rear of his house, his
colts upon the scaffold and the top of the
hay in the bay, and to secure few bar
rels in the cellar and articles on the low
er floor of his house, when the water
rushed in upon him, filled his cellar and
his house on the first floor as high as the
windows. His family escaped through
| the windows in a boat, in which they
were rowed across the meadows to the dry
land. The dwelling house was left un-
tenanted save by the sheep and pigs yard
ed 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 fresh,
cts on the river for the last fifty years,
who persistently refused to leave the house,
although it was surrounded by and par
TALLY filled with water, but delared her
intention to remain and share the fate OF
her favorite abode. The result shows
!, that her confidence in the stability of the
building and in the ultimate subsistence
of the flood was not misplaced. The day
at length wore away, but there was no in
dications that the food was abating. On
the contrary the waters, already more
than four feet above the utmost height
heretofore definitely determined, and wash
ing the bottom of the main bridge through
out its entire length, were yet rising, and
all were powerless to avert the disasterous
consequences that most inevitably follow.
! Early Sunday morning the food, which
had increased slowly until about twelve
o'clock, eliminated. The scene presented
was one of desolate grandeur. From the
railroad bank to the foot Of the mountain
on the opposite shore, was one vast ex-
panse Of moving, seething water, bearing
down on its angry volume, logs, trees,
and debris collected during its long and
troublesome course. The Island was en-.