The Republican journal., 1870-02-24
Great Freshet on the Kennebec !!
Heavy Damages -Bridges Destroyed Build
inqs FIoated Off---Towns Submerged &c.

tlt l. tllODStOl legion, illiuC Il ID my diu
destructive torrent of the Kennebec river, re-
sulting in immense damage. We copy the
following account from the Daily kennebec
journal of Monday:
When it cleared off cold on Saturday evening, it
was thought that the sudden change in the weather
would save the ice and prevent disastrous freshet
But the storm was so widespread and violent that
the ice had become weakened, and early Sunday
morning it broke up from below the kennebec
bridge and cleared the river opposite this city.
About ten O'Clock, the ice broke up above the dam
and came crushing in monstrous piles over the
dam, stopping in its course only when reaching
the Jam which had already formed at HalloWell.
The sight was ssublime but awful one, as 1t was
apparent that the railroad bridge was now grow
ing shaky on its foundations and would nave 10 YIELD
to the great pressure. The water now rose rapid
lv-at time in less than half an hour rising five
feet. Water street from the stone bridge to the
foot of Cushnoc heights was flooded. The water
came into the second story of Wyman's mill.
Worknen were engaged Friday in removing manu-
featured lumber from the mill.
Great damage was done to the works of the
Messrs. Sprague. The stone work supporting the
wooden arches caved in, leaving the arches, spoil
ing at least two months hard work. The new
carding machinery which has but recently been
put into the old mill was damaged to the extent of
$4,000. The jam at Hallowell caused the water
10 rise rapidly that it became apparent that the
railroad bridge could not hold out much longer.
Large masses of ice struck the wood work as it
passed under. In few minutes more the boards
began to rip off each side the bridge giving that
comb. Occasionally large junk of ice would
strike it, rocking it the whole length. At five min
utes past eleven the second span on the east side
swayed and settled gently into the water With
out being shattered, that part started on its way
down river towards the Kennebec bridge. 1t was
then that the immense crowd of people that had
blackened Cushnoc heights, the tops of buildings
and both banks of the river held their breaths, for
all seemed settled in the idea that the Kennebec
bridge must go. The floating section of the rail-
road bridge struck the lower bridge about the CEN
tire Of the eastern span, high up on its sides with
loud crash that told that the bridge was stoutly
sisting the force. The floating span was smashed
into kindling wood, and passed under without ma
teria damage to the kcnnebec bridge. Then a
loud cheer went up from the crowd and confidence
in the old kennebec bridge in measure restored.
About five minutes after this another span west of
the one just carried away also gave way, striking
in its descent the central pier of the lower bridge,
and was crushed into atoms, one half going on the
east side of the pier and the other half on the west
side The bridge had stood larger Jams than the
one which took it away, all having the effect to
weaken it more and more. Logs were forced thro'
the bridge, and as the ice would strike them on the
end they would act as levers and snap like pipe
stem. The sections of the bridge lodged about
opposite the hospital grounds. Just before the
railroad bridge broke, three men came across, ac-
complishing the toolhardy and hazardous feat Just
as the bridge went down.
To return to the overlooked street. The scene
little time to get out their goods, and their loss
cannot at this hour be estimated. The water was
at least six feet deep. innndating of the most
valuable goods in the stores 1t came into the
Sprague counting room, so that 1T stood to the
depth OF three feet on the floor. The lower floor
OF Lancey's store rose by the action of the water
10 the second floor. 1t Is feared that small por-
ton Of the dam has given away; ii is certain that
portion of the curtain on the east end is gone
TO the beholder tie dam is entirely obterated. the
fisef appearing smooth and unbrOkcn except for
The foating masses of ice. No fall can be seen
where We usually look for the dam. No one can
remember such a sight before. All the lumber be-
longing to the mills is aoat, and the loss to those
who lease the mills must be very great. Big Jams
came down md took off the sand and gravel that
had been put upon the dam last fall. The Sprague
company had machinery stored in the carpenter |
shops which overfowed, damaging the machinery
materially. Some of the families in the vicinity of
the dam found the underpinning of their houses |
passing from under them. and were obliged to leave
in the greatest haste leaving all their goods behind
them, Messrs. Woods. j. j. Fnller & Son. Hodg- |
knS Fuller, lost large portion of their goods. |
Amid the destruction of property there was occa- |
'ionaly an amusing scene. As the street was
nayigated by boats. the most Of the live stock was
saved from drowning. Pigs set up a terrible squeal-
ing a. they saved their bacon from Watrev grave
swimming about in every direction, appalled, and
terrified by the catastrophe. No human life was
lost. We saw several ladies sitting quietly at the
second story windows after the water had nearly
covered the windows in the first story, AT one
O'Clock the water had nearly covered the lamp
posts III the place of which we are now speaking.
At this time the water ceased to rise, and seemed
10 remain stationary all the afternoon.
All the traders on the east side Of Water street
were sufferers. The water came flowing into their
cellar, fast that it was almost impossible to clear
them Of heavy articles such as flour and corn. The
sidewalks and streets were lined during the after
noon with articles of merchandise that had been
luckily saved, although in badly damaged condi-
lion No one can tell at the present writing the
n
at Lambard's foundry is not less than $1,000. The
water backed up the drain into G. r. Partridge's
cellar, damaging his goods. At four O'Clock, large
cake of ice struck the coal store house of E. ID.
Norcross, raising it from its foundation and swing
ing il half way round. The building had previous
~ been secured by strong cable or it would have
ioated OFF IA company with the ice. 1t is still held
by tho rope, and perhaps it may be saved together
with it, contents. All the coal of the dealers in this
city and liallowell is now under water. At half
past four O'Clock cake of ice of not Very large
dimensions struck against the eastern span of the
railroad bridge, carrying ii away As it came down.
il struck the lower bridge at the east end of the
middle pier 1t struck with Il loud crash, and after
entering about twelve feet swung around and sink
ing several feet, glided through. tearing off boards,
and Earring the bridge perceptiblv. There was at
this time brcathless anxiety among the people
and Il of relief was felt when the danger had
passed and the heroic old bridge maintained its
position, although it must have been weakened.
The ice-lam reached Hallowe at 10 o'clock, when
the water rose with fearful Notwithstanding some
six feet in fifteen minutes time Previously the wa
ter had attaineda great height submerging portion
of Water ST. contiguous to Bodwell & Wilson's
granite-yard and Leigh & Wngatc's coal-yard
several merchants, anticipating still higher flood,
had taken the precaution to set about removing
property, and had crews busily engaged at the
moment the Jam began to approach the city from
point opposite the cemetary. But so sud
denly did the immense and irresistible body of ice
approach. that most Of the stores on the riverside
of the street were filed midway to the top of the
CON W n tn fro,
shock treated by the catastrophe Huge masses of
Ice were dashed with prodigious force against the
walls of the buildings that line the shore of the
river the brick structures trembling as if by an
earthquake, and many wooden ones giving way,
either by being pushed from their foundations to the
street, or by being overturned or torn in pieces
The building occupied by Bodwell e. Wilson, was
thrust into the middle of Water street. and there
remains; one or two buildings used as store-houses
by Leigh n Wingate were torn into fragments; not
far from twenty different buildings, including a few
dwellings, were pushed from their foundations,
some into the street and some swept partially into
the river The remaining spans of the Hallowell
and Chelsea bridge were swept from their piers and
carried nearly down to to the small island opposite
Leigh's wharf.
The great field of ice tore its way to point op-
poste the mandatory of the Messrs. Fuller, at
Steam Mill point, where its progress became check
ed, the ice below fully withstanding the immense
pressure of the mass moved against it, As we write
this, the river between Augusta and Steam-m
Point in Hallowel, is completely choked with ice.
extending from shore to shore, and in some places
the depth of the mass must be to the bottom of the
river.
The loss to citizens in Hallowe must be con-