National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1866-01-05
Tk&E HI KS rlNG OF a lLOlD
SF 4 IL jones' BROOK, IN
OKET1Wx.

notion, and not because il is either
philosophical or correct. 1t has
long been a prevalent belief, that in
cases OF extraordinary falls OF wa
ter over particular localities, clouds,
like old leather bottles. suddenly
burst and let the water they con-
tain fall to the earth almost in a
body, like rivers falling over preci-
pices III cataracts whereas nothing
could be less scientific or farther
from the truth. No collected body
OF water, not even to the amount Of
a quart, could remain suspended in
cloud a single second. but would
instantly fall to the earth from the
force of the universal law of gravi-
tatlon. The great deluging tor
rents OF rain that occasionally occur
simply proceed from unusual thick
ness, or upward extent of the cloud.
This Will be more readily under
stood, perhaps, when we consider.
that if a cloud half mile thick dis
charges from its gathering mists Il
heavy rain, one Of mile thick would
produce rain doubly heavy. and so
on, In the same proportion, with eve.
~ additional thickness of cloud. till
that thickness, as has been known
sometimes to be the case, extend up
wards to the distance of five or six
niles, when from the whole mass the
water reaches the earth less in the
form of rain, indeed, than the pour.
lhg OF Il cataract.
The most remarkable instance of
these great falls Of water. which
was ever known in this region, oc.
cured about thirty years ago, round
the sources Of Jones' Brook. a small
mill stream that rises in Moretown
mountains and empties into the
WinOOski river three miles below
Montpelier. The mountains round
tho sources of this stream rise to
the hight of about two thousand
feet with unusual abruptness, and,
1T the same time, so curve round as
to leave the intermediate space in
the form of deep, half basin, down
the precipitous sides otwhich sud.
den shower descends almost as "a
pidly as water strolling down the
steepeSt roof Of house, and col
Letting at the bottom pOurs, in a
raging river, down the valley to the
outlet of the stream. 1t was over
this mountain trimmed basin that
burst the extraordinary thunder
storm which | have undertaken to
describe, and which passed among
the inhabitants under the name of
the bursting Of cloud.
On the day and hour this storm
occurred, | CHANGED to be on high
hill, east Of Montpelier village,
which afforded a plain view of the
whole range. of the Moretown noun.
tains. 1t was a still, sultry. mid.
summer day, when my attention be.
ing attracted by the sudden obscu.
ration Of the sun, | looked toward
the west, and saw the unusual spec
tacle Of two heavy clouds rapidly
rolling toward each other, in the
line OF the range just named, from
Numerically opposite directions
the point where the collision must
occur being evidently at the natura
basin already particularized, or OF
the high mountain above it. Thes,
strangely moving clouds | watched
with intense Interest. On, on the,
rolled toward each other, with thei
long, streaming columns and mena
cling fronts, like two opposing, hos
tile lines of cavalry rushing togeth
err for deadly conflict. AS anticipa
ted, the collision occurred direct,
over the basin and on the sides 0
the adjoining mountains. and there
the opposingcurcnts being of cqua
strength, the intermingling cloud
came to dead stand. Presently
however, the cOlliding masses began
to rise upward and double over til
they had swelled into a huge, dome
like figure, shooting up miles int,
the darkened heavens, and herr
commenced a startling display o
the electric phenomenon. With tn,
short, sharp and quickly repeatln.
peals Of thunder, the fierce streams
of lightning were seen bursting II
rapid succession from every part O
the surcharged cloud, like some lot
ly worked battery of artillery iron
II smoke enveloped field of battle
But soon the expanding cloud shu
out the basin and valley from th
sight; and being unable to see more
l returned home, and, with mucl
interest, waited to hear the result O
the fearful elemental exhibition
had been witnessing.
The news of the remarkable, an,
IN one instance, fatal effects of tina
storm, in the disastrous flooding O
Jones's Brook, at length reached Us
The inhabitants of the basin, whc,
the storm burst upon them so sud
denly ard unexpectedly, were strucl
with astOnishment and alarm al tn
unwOntcd quantities OF water tina
descended upon them from the seem
ingly Hooded heavens. \ settle
who lived nearest the foot of Tn
mountain described the rain a
coming down in bucketslul.
Why" said he, seemed to com
bodily like water from a full, over
turned washtub. was in q field
short distance from my house whel
It struck, and was so astonished n
first that | knew nnt what to Il,
But the rain, if it could bo callc,
rain, coming thicker and faster,
ran with all my might for the house