Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1866-07-27

sin. No place afforded them any protec-
ton; rivers were in all their houses with
in, and rivers, rising into seas, were all
around them without; and they looked
or with mute CONSERVATION at this tre-
mendous out-pouring of the clouds. But
they were the first to be relieved. The
rain, after a brief duration of less than |
half an hour, ceased as suddenly as it
came and the inhabitants ran out of
their drenched houses just in time to be-
hold the numerous uniting streams. that
had come pouding down from the encirc-
ling mountain, gathering into a mighty
river that swept away shanties, fences,
old trees, logs, lumber and everything in
its path, and, bearing them in wild confu-
sion on its surface, went foaming, tum-
bling, and roaring, like cataract, with
amazing force, down the valley towards
the outlet, three or four miles below.
But the principal scene Arising from
the destructive and fatal progress occurred
at a saw-mill, owned by Mr.. Oren Clark,
and situated about mile from the mouth
of the stream. When the storm was
spending its force on the sides of the
mountain and the basin beneath, Mr.
Clark was at work in field near the mill
with his hired man, Ebenezer Eastman.
And being apprised by the great volume
and blackness of the clouds hanging over
the mountain at the west, that an unusual
shower was falling around the sources OF
the stream, they proceeded at once to the
mill and commenced such temporary re-
pairs 10 the dam and hume as would, they
believed, secure them against the rush OF
water, which, in greater or less quantities,
they knew would soon be down upon
them. While deeply engrossed in hurry
ing forward the contemplated repairs they
were aroused by a deafening roar that
burst suddenly upon their ears from the
stream but short distance above the
mill when looking up, they beheld tt
their astonishment and alarm, wild, tn
multuous sea of commingling fioodwoo(
and turbid waters, with a wall-like from
ten feet high, tumbling and rolling dow
upon them with furious uproar, and wit
the speed of the wind. Knowing tina
the mill could not stand against such a
avalanche of water, and beginning to b
especially alarmed for their personal safe
ty, they attempted 10 secure a reirea
over the log-way which extended iron
the mill TO the high grounds five or 81
rods distant. Over this they made thei
way with all possible speed. But sucl
was the velocity of the on-rushing torren
that they had not proceeded half way be
fore the mill building came down with {
crash behind them, the log-way was swep
from beneath their feet, and the next mo
ment they were struggling for their live
in flood a dozen feet deep, foaming, boil
ing, and so filled with trees, timbers, ans
all sorts of ruins, that it did not seem pos
sible for human being to be borne alon
in the frightfully whirlng mass.
81 saw Eastman once" said Mr.. Clar
in describing to me this, the most terribl
scene of his life. cit was when | ros
to the surface after the first plunge. II
, was struggling desperately to get hi
;, head above the floodwood. But i sa
him no more; for, the. next moment,
E was borne down beneath the surface by
raft of logs that swept over me. Frol
that time / was whirled onward with m
head sometimes below, and. sometime
! above the water, till found myself nea
i ing the wooded bank on the opposite sic
! of the stream, when soon came With
reach of small tree, which / graspe
4 and held on 10, till began to count m.
! self saved. But the tree quickly can
up by the roots and was again plunge
:, into the flood. But, though now near
= in despair, still struggled on, and sol
~ was fortunate enough TO grasp anoth
; sapling by means of which | at leng
- drew myself ashore and fell down hi
:. drowned and half dead from bruises al
exhaustion. 1t was now nearly dark
But alter rallying my strength little,
commenced crawling and stumblir
i through the tangled thickets along up Il
stream till, after a struggle Of seemil
! hours, / at last reached point opposi
: my house, where, by loud hallooing, II
lied my family, who believed me lost, a
informed them l would proceed on to /
= next house, on that side, stay all mig
and cross the next morning. This | d
!. and the next morning reached homo, e,whe
oc was received as one risen from t
- dead"
VI The remains Of Eastman were fou
/, the next day washed up near the mou
of the stream on the meadow OF Saml
Jones, who was injured in the loss
~ crops, the covering of his lands by foc