Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-12-18
The !SUiTf Rirer F'reshef.

Hundreds of times since the great
freshct of Oct. 18th. has the question been
asked, How could Swift river rise To such
agreat height and fall so rapidly as ii did,
Perhaps it is not known that it rose and
fell at different points along the stream n
number Of times before il reached It's
greatest height. Persons who are ac-
quaintcd with the clay of the land' NJ its
sources, will understand better why it
usually rise, quickly and falls in so short
\ time. Mountain after mountain. (no
regular range seems 10 have been placed
without regard to uniformity or regularity
Of position. Between these mountains
there is but little level land they almost
touch each other n, their bases. Between
these arc brooks. which, uniting finally,
make three distinct branches which form
the main stream at point thirteen miles
from the Aadroscoggin. These are
named the last branch. the Main river or
!loughton mill stream. and the West
branch. or Bradcen stream. More level
land lying on the West branch than on
either of the others. On this stream is
the upper dam OF the Lewiston Steam
Mill Co, and on this they did, last
winter, and are this winter doing an
extensive logging business. 1t was on The
other streams that the most damage was
done before uniting,-thc lloughton Mill
stream swelling To the greatest force on
the day of the freshet, and bearing out
10 the main stream the greatest volume oil
water and debris. This stream carries
water from land. every day, into the
main stream, four rods from which other
streams take their rise, which flow into
the lakes, and which travel hundreds of
miles. the whole lake country through,
down the Androscoggin to Swift river
there to meet that which has only come
a distance OF twenty three miles, from
nearly the point OF standing. Since the
lreshet, hunters have been up this stream
TO its source They say that there have
beenslide from the sides OF the mountains
along the stream. numbering seven, of
considerable proportion--acres in spots
having come down the stream. In one
place. they Judged that twelve acres slid
down and across the stream, of such depth
that it must have completely filled the
channel, and formed complete bay.
These mountain sides were covered
with heavy growth of soft TIMBER
spruce, hemlock. and pine. which accounts
for the great number of whole trees along
the banks of the river now. My inform
ant said, that in one place there was now
standing rs upright, rs when standing
where they grew, one portion ola slide of
nearly one acre. which come, he thought,
one hundred rods from the mountain side
before stopping, in its present position,
all above, below and around it, being
swept away, and leaving il an island of
old growth, surrounded by a stony river
bed in appearance.
These slides were the cause of the vary
ing height of Swift river Mt times, and no
doubt the giving away of the large one,
mentioned. produced that rapid and most
wonderful rise, which entrapped Mr.. Dur
gin, who was surrounded by water in his
corn-feld, and there lost his life-and
which cost many others such loss of prop
erty, and endangered their lives.
Time Z, Il Al, L rnnl.