Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-01-17
SPRING TBEsHET.



An extensive freshet has swollen the waters OF
the Kennebec until they have reached greater
height than before attained during spring
freshet since the spring of 1885, The eat frcshet
in October 1869, beat even that, sweeping away
in its devastating track buildings, storehouses,
wharvcs, booms lumber, logs and other property,
doing considerable damage. After the waters
subsidized wr ecks and ruins produced by the storm
were found strewn along the banks of the Kcnne-
bee in the utmost confusion.
The rain for several days past has caused the
large body of snow to melt that still lingering
at the head waters. On Wednesday, during the
night, there was q rise of some five feet; and the
water kept continually rising all the forenoon.
From eight to ten o'clock the water had risen five
inches; from ten to twelve three inches, and at
that time had reached about its greatest height
During the freshet the water rose about ten feet.
The water as it run over the dam, was nine feet
in depth, and presented magnificent and moving
sight as it tumbled and foamcd over the
structure. As the water poured an immense vol
umc the dam, logs from up-river boom,
which had broken, tumbled headlong over. They
would then lose themselves in the muddy water
below, then rise to the surface for moment,
then again would they be sucked in by the under
tow, and carried back into the eddy next to the
dam, where they would be thrown about promis-
cousy in the boiling caudron, and shoot out into
the air like some monster. A large number
of people visited the place to witness the magnif-
cent spectacle. The water SO high it passed
over the apron of the lock, and the mills at the
dam had to shut down temporarily on account of
back water.
At every eddy Or inlet, or place where logs or
drift wood would be likely to enter, there
found an industrious crew catching drift wood.
The current was so swift that the undertaking was
emnenily hazardous to life and limb, but it is
wonderful how far into the jaws of death river
dog will venture for the sake of drift stick worth
ten cents.
"Sumbuddy1l get drownded aforc night" SAID
an old fresh water sailor, he shifted his quid CT
tobacco from one side of his capac ious mouth to
the other. 81 know all about working on the wa
ter; that's been my biz for years. but these boys
is darned careless, and some Of emil founder in
afore dark"
That "Aoundering in arrangement is what
really happened to Mr.. Frank D. Tobey, who is
employed in Farnham's sash, blind and door fac
tory. He was engaged in happening drift sticks,
and was standing on platform built at the north.
east corner of the machine shop, where a little
eddy formed. He all at lost his balance, and
fell into the river. He grasped for the frame
work Of the platform, but couldn't hold on, as the
logs were running down pell-mell against him.
The rapid current was carrying him down stream,
VIXEN Mr.. Frank Farnham held out to him q
H. b,, Al
port of this he was drawn ashore, and thus saved
from his perilous condition. He kept right
pulling out drift however.
Some twenty cords or more Of wood were taken
out at different places along the river in this city.
No damage Of any consequence was done in
this vicinity, though the water into the cell
lars on the river side of Water street. The whsrves
were of course submerged, and the water came up
to the caves of the freight house ofthe steamboat
company.
The temporary boom above the dam has been
carried away. The logs that were running quite
freely in the river nearly all day yesterday. came
from Fairfield and Skowhegan, where the booms
gave way, letting out large quantity of logs be-
longing to the Coburns, Miliken, Sturgis and
others. Undoubtedly the most of the runaways
brought up in the boom at Browns island.
Dispatches from Bingham state that no damage
is done there, and that the waters began to SUBJ
side shortly after noon, having got to the highest
pitch
We notice that on the Carrabassett stream and
Dead river, the Franklin Land q Lumber
Company have not had water enough to float their
last years logs, which they intend to saw at their
leased mill 10 his city. We have doubt this
flood will enable the company to slide down their
logs on the current.
At Haowell, our correspondent writes that all
the wharvcs are submerged several feet, and some
Of the cellars on Water street troubled with
extra amount of moisture. Pages ice house be-
low the old steamboat wharf is nearly surrounded
BY water. The other houses are out OF danger.
On the Chelsea side of the river the booms gave
way TO the pressure Of logs and drift wood, and
lumber has had downward tendency. The dam
age will be triting Boats have been circulating
about the river, the occupants being busily en-
gagged in securing drift wood