Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1872-08-22
"A Fearful Flood in Goshen and
3randon--.A Boy Drowned i'm
E3randon----Grca Damage to
Property.

Property.
One of the most disastrous floods that
ever visited this vicinity accompanied
with heavy damage and loss of life oc-
CURED this morning, the 21st Of August.
The cause of the immense amount of
water we are unable to explain. As one
man in Goshen said, it did not seem to
rain. but all at once, without warning,
the clouds broke and immense volumes
of water fell at once, and this body
starting near the church, in Goshen,
rolled on in irresistible fury, carrying
everything before it-bridges, dams,
trees and immense rocks, estimated to
weigh 10000 pounds, were hurled along
and carried miles down stream, spread
ing destruction and rum in its course.
Houses and barns were washed away,
and so quick that the inmates fled for
their lives and one poor boy was over
taken in the food and before help could
be got was drowned. The greatest de
struction and ruin, was in Goshen and
Forestdale.
An eye witnesa says that the entire
property of Goshen along the road will
not pay for the damage done. This OF
course was an exaggerated statement,
but shows how great must have been the
damage. Not bridge is left on the
streams and the road is quilted fearfully.
| have just visited Forestdale and the
damage is great, how great | cannot say.
1t ovcrflOwed the banks on both Sides
and ran through the street leading past
the grist mill, one hundred feet in Widtd.
Immense rocks and piles of stones now
lay where, before the flood came, were
fruitful gardens, pleasant yards, high
ways and buildings. The whole length
of the long street and the gardens are
utterly ruined, and the houses look as
though they were built on top of the
rocks of river bed. The street is as
completely obliterated, with heaps of rock
stones, sand. driftwOOd and all the accom-
paniments of a great flood. Geo Child
says he heard the roar of rocks and
water, and his mother requested him to
look and see 3f the water was running
into the cellar. He went down and
found it was, and Immediately went
back up stairs and found il was running
so fast that it began to pour into the
dining room. The underpinnms was
soon washed away, and portion Of the
house fell. The underpinning of Col.
John Capens house was washed out,
and the cellar filled full Of sand. Mr..
Newtons barn was carried from its
foundation and turned around, and but
for the heavy stone which filled it at
once. would have been carried off. The
barn of Fred Strong was nearly torn to
pieces and his slaughter house carried
off The barn of Frank Wheeler was
turned around and damaged as to be al
most worthless, But tie greatest loss
was to Mr.. NJ +. Allen, :Jotll in e 2ecQn-
iary point of view and stiH more III tie
loss Of his son, a bright young lad OF
about II years Of age. The house of
Mr.. Allen was struck, and the i part
and shed carried off and completely
ruined, and the garden obliterated en-
| tircly. the river running where his gar
den was.
The particulars, as related by Mr.
Allen of the loss of his boy, Scott Allen,
were as follows: lie arrived home
from Rutland on the special train which
had been to the Grant and Wilson rati-
fcation meeting at 90 minutes to 2
o'clock. His wife, not in good health,
heard the roar of the river and was I'M
easy about it, but he said that so little
rain had fallen that no danger could
come of it, and he noticed the stream
was not up to its banks when he came
in, but soon he heard the roar coming on
and the crashing of the rocks, and ho
got up and looked out and saw the
water was nearly up to his house. So
he told his wife she had better get
IN. not that he then feared any
danger, but preferred to be prepared
She did so, and he observed the stream
was rapidly rising and roaring louder
! than eyer He ran at once to the bed Of
his little girl, about six years of age, and
throwing a quilt around her, carried her
to high ground to a house close by, and
called for assistance. At this time the
water was about foot deep, and
when he got back it vas at least two
feet deep. With the assistance of Mr..
Wing, he then got his wife out, by
means Of the shed, to where it was safe,
and got his boy on to the she'd While
away with his wife, tle boy said, ''Pa-
pa, the shed is going" and before they
got back, the shed fell, and the boy with
it. Mr.. Wing was carried down with the
shed. Mr.. Allen ran round where the
boy was, and heard him scream and cry,
Papa, come and get NEEDN'T let me
dgown," He ran to him, and the water
was then about three feet deep. He
grabbed hold of the hoy, and supposed
he could carry him off, but the boy said,
My leg IS broke, ana / am caught
He tried to hold on and extricate the
boy, but could not remove the Obstruc-
tions. He then let go of him, and took
both hands hold of the obstruction, but
could not stir it, and at this time the
boy was carried under and down the
stream by the h"w pouring water
5 or feet deep. Search wsa made for
the body for several hours, and it was
found near where Mr.. Allen left him,
fastened bY the floodwood.
Newton & Thompson sustained heavy
damage by the washing away g. parts of
their works.
At Brandon village the persons living
in the houses near the river were aroused