The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-05-25

Skinneryille, and part of Williamsburg,
taking its course upon the very bank of
the famous Mill river and overlooking the
work of the flood as it swept its way
through the villages mentioned. The track
was inundated for short distance by the
flood, but was at once built up again
The view from the passing train Is one of
intense interest," and discloses to the out
stretched eyes of the passengers n scene of
fearful devastation and ruin, better mag
ined than described. Mill river at this
point was, and is ut present, a lazy little
stream, broken at intervals by mill dams
and enclosed, agreater portion of its course,
by jagged rocks. which fret its waters into
foam and heighten the romance of the scene.
Where thus enclosed the flood was cir
cumscribed in its effects and could only
rush on in its terrific rapidty to the
meadows where death and destruction
awaited its approach These meadows Law
ouistrctchcd before oui gaze, covered with
the wrecks and ruins Of what was but
week before happy and prosperous villages
The train moves slowly in true funeral
style, ireighted as it is with wondering and
ottimes mourning people and EXPLANATIONS
burst forth from every lip.
First we see the Florence meadows, beat
tiful once, hut now robed in sand and de
bris of every description. The remains of
peace and plenty have lloated down from
above and here find a rcstmg-placc and lie
shattered like the hopes and anticipatlons
Of their former possessors. Portions of
dwellings, up-rooted trees. clothing. furni-
ture and other ruins st rev the banks of the
stream and lie clustered together by the
side of ell emnencc which the waves could
not override. Passing along we occasion
! ally see Il portion Of the highway which
ran beside the stream but which is now nj
most ohliterated. We see, too. evidences
! of the river Having been brdged at numer-
ous points. hut now hardly timber re-
mains To point out the spot. At
Leeds the devastation and horrible
work Of the flood is seen to have
| been more complete Here arc numerous
! dwellings turned upside down. carried Il
long distance from their foundation and
left perfect wreck Men are busy among
| the ruins and women and children stand
| by hardly seeming rs yet to realize the aw.
| full calamity which has come upon them
Three wellings are alone LETT standing
side by side. miracles from the fact OF their
escape. while surrounding them on every
side are other houses turned over and par
TALLY demolished, and large giant trees up
rooted and lying promiscuously about. IT
this Village are several families left in sucl
circumstances as will nccessitatc their
being cared for for years to come. while
many of the houscless are removing to Flo
renee where tencmcnts are being prepared
for them. At Ilaylenvillc we found work
men busy clearing away the remaining
debris OF the flood. while Messrs. Hayden
Gere & Co. have a large gang preparing
for the foundation of their new mill to bt
erected at once. Fouy-onc families W.
learned were homeless at this village anC
twenty-siX more at Skinncrville A large
number of houses are overturned at thest
villages and the ruin is very complete anC
general, The cotton mill at lIaydenyillt
is to be started up to-day (Monday) which
will give employment to many hands now
lying idle. Several tents have been erected
here, supplied with the comforts of life.
Passing through the villages named ant
noting the scenes and facts above cnume
rated we arrive at Williamsburg depot
where carriage or foot-path can be takeI
across the flooded country half mile {,
Williamsburg village. This is path o
striking interest, as it is strewn with inter
csting relics of the flood. We here exam
ined several of the dwellings which wcr
torn from their foundation and now lii
wrecked upon the sand, and find them de
cded curiositics. Their owners eyidentl
left them in the hurry and excitement 0
are still left within them. One we foun
which had been carried some distance un
til stopped by the contact with two larg
trees. The house is considerably damage
outside. but m inspection within show
the walls and ceiling to be unmOvcd by tn
rack 1t must have had, although the floor
are torn up considerably. At another G
these dwellings we found its owner dis
playing the photograph of the once hant
, some dwelling, now completely ruined. Il
a striking contrast of the situation. Her
was undoubtedly beautiful valley Q
meadows. the stream lined with plcasan
residences, the abode Of n happy and pros
porous people. Now it presents wors
than desert to the eye of the observer, VIII
cannot but stop and contemplate the col
trast.
Williamsburgh proper, is handsom
little village which was comparatively bu
: little touched by the flood A little belo,
the village and across Mill river the girls
mill of Hon. Prosper Merrill of Woo
, stock Vt, who is well known throughou
this state, was swept away. We foun
Mr. Merrill at the scene busily endeayorin
: TO gather the remains of his property int
some shape. His loss, he informed us.
, $4,000. His mill was the frs, large builo
ing destroyed by the flood. Mr.. Merri
, was that morning in Northampton an
hearing of the breaking away of the rcsel
( voir, went down to the river where h
waited to see the rise of the water for full
, two hours before it came. The report i
the city then was that the break had ot
CURED in the Goshen reservoir and accort
ingly Mr.. Merrill had no fears conccrnin
! his own property. He afterwards rode Il
{ to the scene when he found it was til
= Williamsburg reservoir which had broke
away, that his mill was carried away, an
( on going to the church near by saw til
G dead body Of his bookkecper brought il
heard that his miller was drowned an
G was obliged to convey the sad tidings {
the wives of the drowned men. His tai
of the mourning and woe which he saw an
! passed through on that terrible day give
! some idea of the horrors of the calamit,
:, Forty-onc dead bodies were one by on
: brought into the church while he was Their,
: While VIC were in Williamsburgh he We
engaged in the attempt TO rescue from I'll
: ruins some two hundred barrels of flou
C and several tons of tobacco which i,
: NAMED of his large and valuable prof.
erty not destroyed.
The hotels at Williamsburg were real
c ing a golden harvest from the constai
; stream of visitors, most of whom wei
q obliged to stop at that village during the
sightseeing, and all are well provided fo
! Immediately after dinner our Vernon
party chartered Il carriage with capacit
for all seven, for ride to the starting
point of the llood-the location of the fati
reservoir. This is reached by ride
some three miles over the hills, from III
4 village, the road which was by the side {
the river having been completely ruined b
the flood. The road was thronged wit
= carriages filed with visitors to and frol
= the same view at this point give
u one the best idea of the disaster and il
+ true cause than any other point.