Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1866-03-02
THE FRFsHET.

Probably the severest freshet ever witnessed
Once OF twice. within the recollection of some
of our citizens, there has been as mnch or more
water in the river, but the banks were never
so much overfowed.
The warm weather of the 2lst, 22d, and 23d,
with the rain on the night of the 23d, started
the ice in the Sandusky river on Saturday
morning, Oath. 1t was very thick and strong,
having broken up twice before, and coming
down to the island and bend of the river just
below town, where it had lodged and again froz-
en- fast, making complete dam. The packing
process had gone on until the river bed was full
of ice from three to ten feet thick all frozen to
solid mass. The ice for few rods above the
Western Reserve Road Bridge broke and passed
down and stopped at the ice dam. When this
mass moved considerable damage was done on
the river, to Downs & Cos steam Touring mill,
June d Curtis foundry and machine shop, and
several frame buildings, VIM. Kesslers hotel
barn, and several small buildings below him.
As soon as the ice stopped, immovably gorged,
the water began to backset from every street
running to the river. A large body came down
Front street under the railroad bridge, which
crosses this street. and before night many FAM
lilies in the upper end of town were obliged to
move their things out, or from the first to the
second floor. Some were obliged to make their
escape so quickly that scarcely anything could
be taken. The houses near the river, and in
deed most of those on @the fat," were submerg-
ed from few inches to four or five feet.
The railroad bridge which crosses the river
was in great danger of being carried of, but by
careful watching and assisting the ice to pass
through, cutting off the siding and keeping
loaded train on the bridge, the structure was
saved. The train from the West Saturday ev-
ening at o'clock, was kept here until Sunday
morning, when the cars were showed across the
passengers walked, and locomotive on the
east side took them East. The two trains from
the East due Saturday night were passed West
on Sunday in the same manner.
Too much praise cannot be awarded Supt.
Rucker for his great care in the management of
the trains in the late emergency.
Considerable damage has been done, but it is
not easy to estimate its amount. No doubt
Downs d Co. and June d Curtis are the great
est losers. The inconvenience has also been
considerable, though few days such weather
as the present will put all right again in this
respect. The river is now rapidly falling, and
we have no occasion to fear another such a
freshet for half century.
The combination of causes which produced
the flooding of the lower portion of the city, was
quite remarkable. First, the peculiar weather
by which three crops of ice had accumulated
Just below town, the heavy rains on the Plains
up the river, the narrow channel at the railroad
bridge, the great amount, depth and solidity of
the ice, all contributed to the rise of the river.
But probably the most influential cause of the
overflow of our streets was the great amount of
aslush" or "pomice" ice, aud the cold on Satur-
day, which made this stick and freeze solid
wherever it touched. Thus whenever this
slush ice met an obstacle, partial dam was
formed. This SO opened as finally to make a
channel towards town. Thus when the water
was at its height, it was several feet higher
on Front street than in the river current
Such combination Of causes for high water
may never again occur with us. Ofcourse this
is to be hoped, for though it may be sport for
the boys and girls, yet it it is not very funny
for those whose parlors are submerged.
We have seen statements in two or three pa
pers to the effect that most of our city was un-
der water. Of course this statement is obsurd-
ly untrue. In few days we shall hardly know
there has been freshet.