Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1869-10-14
The Freshet mt Bennington.


Tbe'most destructive freshet, or az IL
might perhaps be more properly styled,
the most destructive deluge ever known
In Bennington followed the unprecedeni-
ed rains OF Sunday and Monday. The
water rose to a greater hight than ii had
ever done within the memory Of the old
est inbabitant and flooded le-ge propor-
ton of the village. We cC ldense from
the Banner extra some PARTICULAR
From the railroad the -ight--ser could
look off and zee the water pouring over
all the adjacent territory, on both sides
the track. the waves rolling madiy along,
tearing the corn aud other crop entirely
away, and in many instances causing al
most total ruin % the land The road
through the 'Albro fats j. com pletely
carried off, the current chan zing from the
main channel, a. was the case ia-t -pring,
and sweeping with a mighty current the
entire length Of the fst-. This piece Of
road was entirely ruined last spring. aud
had Just been repaired IN splendid shape,
last week. ~ q heavy ezpeI-e 30 the
town, only to be put hack - its d.
lapitAted condition Nearly al the
dated, the water pouring through gar
dens, throwing down fences, etc.
A number Of houses in the Morgan dis
trict were entirely surrounded ty water,
heming in the sceupauts. Inc sight IN
this vicinity was appalling Huge
boulders, tons in weight. were torn from
their native beds snd cent crashing do~n
stream, Offering no more Resistance - the
watery giant than 20 many mere pebbles.
Huge trees, which hsd remained inn
movably rooted lar p If q century, were
lifted from their places III "a twinkling,
to Join ip the general chaos, while the
waves went cour-Iug by, - ii rejoicing
in the knowledge II their H.errile-s
power. 4 terrible catastrophe occurred
IN Woodford Hollow, on Monday night,
though the details Of the sal afi ,ir are
not yet received. The house u Nlllsrd
Knapp. short distance above the point
~ r1rk-. w. eg-..rt entirely away. OF
the occupants, il j. known that Charles
Potter, a young man, Tor some iine IA the
employ Of J. II. LnriDg, J. drowned, IS
bis body can be plainly seen On sn H.
land near by, whittier IL was wa-hsd.
The drowning Of hi, wife j. alec regarded
a. certain, and parties are nov searching
Ii j. not known whether Or no Dir. Knapp,
hi. wife and child, were ia the house al
the time; but II they were, their c-cape
from Hatery grave was impossible.
There j. some slight probability that the
family were at the residence Of Dir.
Knapp's brother, and that they have thus
escaped unharmed. Tie factories gener-
ally ceased work during the day. and the
Near the railroad depot the street was
torn out for quite distance, the depot
itself being entirely surrounded. The side
tracks were all more or le-s washed out,
about half of the old .pi'e work being
torn up and washed away. On this track
were a number Of freight c4r-, empty and
loaded, most Of which were removed rs
the food commenced rushing in, but
some platform ears remained. The i'm
mense deluge 81 water RAINING into the
Bennington Manufacturing Comp fnys
pond soon began - do is work
Two platform cars, II the. edge Of the
pond. loaded with pouaer5us blocks Of
marble, were sucked IL, AID rhe marble
ont Of sight in short metre. Two or three
empty ears were also drawn in. The coal
ward Of G. 4. Packer, containing cgn-
siderable quan'lfy 81 COAL " near HiAS
point, but to what extent Mr j. J. dam
aged we have not learned, although the
platform scales were badly wash-d oat.
Nearly every dwelling III the vicinity OF
the depot was inundated, while every
cellar was brin full, IN one instance
current of water poured IA a one cellar
window and out the other Many poor
families lost all their sfea- Of provisions.
The body Of Sir. Potter was suhse-
quently found il the pasture OF J. il.
Burt, partially embedded il tie sand. II
Is reported that q man hy the name Of
Louis Rivers is lost. The last seen Of
him he was attempting 10 20 to tie aid Of
Potter and wife. on hgfsabscls. when lis
horse stumbled, aud lie WAS RI away.
His death Is looked upon as certain.