Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-05-02

The FREsHET.- The late freshet IN the
Connecticut river valley surpasses anything
ever witnessed by "the oldest inhabitant."
The water rose from two to four feet higher
than ever before, and the destruction Of prop
erty is unprecedented. Had there been the
usual amount Of rain, and had not the ice
been mostly cleared from the river previous
to the water reaching its greatest height, the
destruction Of property must have been far
more terrible, The railroad embankments
were broken in several places, bridges car
ried away, and the running Of the trains al
most entirely suspended for several days.
The damage at Bellows Falls by the food
was several thousand dollars, mostly falling
upon the canal company. At ono time it was
feared that the little Of that village which had
escaped the flames would be ruined by the
frcshet The falls and rapids presented a
majestic sight, the water being six feet higher
than was ever before known. The Bellows
Falls argus says:
a more beautiful sight than the Falls and rapids here
never looked upon by mortal eyes, On came the
iehpng from rock 10 rock with rrsilcss force
boiling and seething with their fury the spray form
ing innumerahle rainbows and When contemplating II
there wa, danger Of forgetting the impotence aud
i1sigudcance Of beside the Creator Of all things.
who alone controctT the winds and me foods Ihrungs
OF admng tanrs looked upon TINS sect OF suTpass-
ing slicndor'
On the meadows in Westminster and Put
ney the freshet was so sudden that cattle and
sheep had to be removed from their yards in
boats Fences were Frustrated barns and
even houses undermined, and dwellings and
shanties hoated down the river.
At Brattleboro' the food was equally dis
astrous. The Bellows Times says
On the Island farm lat Bratleb,ro) we're some four
dwellings and about twenty inhabitants. all Of whom
obliged remove about O'Clock Saturday morn
ing. All but Of the dwellings were swept OIL ncud-
my the dollhouse. There vas one barn LETT, and the
cattle we're saved by being got upon platform John
swept away thigh and dry OF wet more likely. lie
saved most Of his goods, but lost year stock Of wood
worth some SO Nj. Bingham lost most Of his goods
Aher his house had hoated away, was pulled ashore,
and OF his goods taken from It in damaged cOndi
ton Nj Cabot owned the Island farm aud his loss Is
heavy His buildings we're all carried OF excerpt barn
he had go bushels Of corn and 40 bushels of oats dan-
aged West River bridge, above Bratleboro, near the
Valley railroad hoated down against the railroad bridge
aud We believe has Decn hauled ashore. The new toll
bridge Brateboro did go off, but the bridge at the
other side Of the Island was carried SO that all bridge
The Bratteboro' Pheair says:
Thus is the Of this beautiful Island Of twenty
reduced to less than eight and nearly all that
remains is covered with layer Of sand varying in thick
from few inches to several feet In this
has been TetrevAby ruined one of the most charming
spots in adjacent to this village II is safe TO predict
that this Island will never again become habitabls
abode for human beings. This loss bears with
cuiar hardship upon MIR. Cabot, whose property wa:
mostly In Alabama at the commencement Of the rebel
lion and which is probably nearly quite all sacrificed
Still farther down the damage was immense
Springfield. Mass, was overAowed, and al
Hartford, Ct, the water was % feet and s
inches above high water mark. The Hart.
ford Press says;
Hundreds Of families were drowned out, and case
OF individual suffering must be numerous. Mayor Ham
mersy had the City Hall thrown open and warmed an,
il is house of refuge TO mlny poor women and children
All day Saturday all available boats busy--most q
them saving families and their good. funeral VAS at
tended Sunday, where the coffin was brought out IN
boat"
Dir. LIGHrHILL.--Our readers will remem
Der that next Monday May 9th, DR. Lighthil
will be in Montpelier, at the Pavilion House
remaining to May l7th. The following il
from the Lamolle (Hydepark) Ne'osdedler
} April 18th, 1862:
Mrs. " II H. Bingham Of Stowe, and Mr. lhadeu
White Of Wolcott have been restored to their hcArnl
hy DR. Iiphihil since his stay here Mrs Bingham Ia
, been deaf ten years. Mr. White had been for qtitf
while but how long exactly we cannot say, Both no'
enjoy good hearing as ever uty ana. nose snNi'
afflicted should not lose tn opportunity OF obtaining re
Il