Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-03-26
FLOOD AND TEMPEST.
TIE SPRING FREsHETs IN THE DELAWARE
AND susoUEHANNA vALLEYs--TERRt-
ME TORNADO IN THE SOUTH.

THE SPRING FREsHETs IN THE DELAWARE
AND susoUEHANNA VALLEYS --TERRt-
ME- TORNADO IN THE SOUTH.
As has been feared for some weeks past,
the breaking up of the ice in the Delaware
and Susquehauna rivers has this year been
attended with more than usually serious
consequences. The valleys of these rivers
have not been strangers to such visitatons
as those reported during the past week.
by reason of their peculiar situation, and
because of the mountainous region which
surrounds them, they are every spring
subjected to more or less serious over1ows.
At different points along the line of the two
| rivers the inhabitants have, 10 q certain eN-
tent, become accustomed TO this, but this
year these annual visitations have assumed
most alarming aspect. \ greater extent
Of country has been flooded than ever be-
fore, aud the losses resulting from the in
undations have been the largest recorded
within the memory of old inhabitants.
These losses have been occasioned not on
ly by the destruction of houses, bridges,
lumber, and other property, but indirectly
by the detention Of passenger and freight
trains.
The first serious trouble occurred at Port
Jervis, n. Y. An ico-gorge of unusual
magnitude formed just above that place
some three weeks ago. Competent engin-
GERS, seeing the damage which would re-
suit to the village should a sudden thaw
occur, suggested that channel should he
blown through the ice by the use of giant
powder. Deep holes were bored in the
mass, aud charges of powder varying from
one to three pounds placed in them. The
discharge, which would have blown huge
rocks into fragments, only had the effect of
forcing out three or four square feet of ice.
Subsequent experiments with nitro glyc-
crime were more successful. and on Tues
day, the 10Th inst, huge ridge of ice
which formed dam in the river was blown
partially away, making passage which in
the opinion of engineers saved the town
from ruin, for on the next day, Wednesday,
the 18th inst, the ice broke in the river
above and the pent-up waters came flowing
down upon the lower country.
THE FLOOD oN THE DELAWARE.
The ice in the upper Delaware broke on
the evening of Tuesday, the l6lh The
town of Deposit, Seventy-tive miles west of
Port Jervis, was the first place injured.
Below tho town in the bend of the river
five huge RATS of lumber were lying. They
were frozen in last fall. When the flood
came these RATS were forced out of the
bend by the rushing ice, and becoming
damned across the stream formed a COM
ple;e dam. In few moments the accum-
ulated water rose above the banks of the
river and flowed back into the streets of
Deposit. Many houses and stores were
flooded to the depth oi Several feet. \
number of frame buildings were moved
from their foundations, and the lower part
Of the place was abandoned by the inhdb-
itant~. The water rose rapidly. hut the
town was saved by a sudden change in the
course of the river. The loss to property
at and near Deposit is estimated at S50.OO0.
At Hancock, some thirty miles below De-
post, the water rose ten feet in fifteen min
utes, and 100000 leet of manufactured
hemlock lumber were carried away. The
track of the Erie railway was inundated,
tics washed away, and not one telegraph
pole left standing between Hancock and
Stockport. At the latter place million
feet Of lumber were swept away, and at
Equineck fifteen lumber RATS, which were
lying in n bend, were crushed to atoms,
and carried oil. Each raft contained co.
600 feet of timber. Reaching Port Jervis
on Wednesday morning the flood over
flowed the Germantown fats, driving hun
dredS OF families from their homes. Nj
merous buildings were badly damaged,
and the Erie railway bridge, and the Bar
rett bridge completely destroyed. Al Port
JerviS the flood seems to have spent its
force. Below that point no serious damage
was done. Numerous small losses, how
ever, will foot up the total Of at least &c.,
600. In addition to this the losses along
the Delaware are estimated ut more than
S2O0. 900.