Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-03-30
TREsHET ON THE KEyyEBEc.
At Augusta.


account of the ice barrier there, the water rose
rapidly here, coming into the cellars of stores,
covering wharves, and threatening to make its
way into the street. The water continued to rise
rapidly, sending alarm TO all who had Knowledge
of the fact on Water street, up to four O'Clock
yesterday morning. when it suddenly began to
abate. The logs and ice that had remained COM
paratively quiet begun suddenly to move and
shoot downwards on the swift setting current. 1t
was evident that the ice jam had given way below,
as in the space of one hour the water fell between
two and three feet.
At daylight yesterday morning. there were six
away, occas toned by the forced outlet below, the
level places on the shores all along the river
strcwn with hugh cakes of ice, averaging over
foot in thickness, the bergs In many cases blowing
themselves into the ground. Had the barrier
remained, the most disastrous consequences would
have ensued. In that case water would have gone
into the cotton factories, injurng their machinery
to such an extent that Operations in them would
have to be suspended some three months. As it
is, they were shut down yesterday, on account of
back water, as was also Wymans' MILL but 1t is
water on the dam, and the filling in with gravel
above, saved that noble structure from any dam
age whatever. If it can stand an ice reshet like
this, second only to the monstrous one Of 20, it
may fairly be considered permanent structure.
crowd of people was attracted to the dam near
ly all day, viewing the magnificent spectacle pre-
sented by the logs and ice tumbng, pell-mell,
over the dam into the seethng cauldron below,
where they were whirled and thrown about, the
logs appearing like huge sea monsters, instinct
with life and madly throwing themselves into mid.
air or flying about as though in quest of prey.
Cakes Of ice weighing twenty tons were bounced
into the air by the elements like playthngs. The
scene was well worth travelling through the mud
to witness.
A portion of the freight house Of the steam
boat company was carried away, but that was
about all the damage done here. The water come
into the cellar. of some Of the stores, but goods
were removed before any damage could be done
While our citizens have every reason to congrat-
ulate themselves at the happy escape from disas-
ter here. we cannot help rejecting upon "whst
might have been" and how uncomtortably near to
suffering we came. Among the distractions in the
river is the Browns leland boom, that should be
removed at any cost. While that barrier stands,
the property of these three cities is in constant
jeopardy, and we liable to an inundation every
spring. No corporation has right to rut across
the kennebec river a bar like that.
The water fell off several feet Yesterday fore
noon, but IN the afternoon it rose again slightly,
showing vast amount of ra in at head waters.
At Hsllowell.
Yesterday morning at about three o'clock, the
city bells were ringing to alarm the citizens in
consequence of the sudden rise of water in the
49, ,os
above the Kennebec dam, and jamming at the
Brown Island booms. For an hour or more bust
ness appeared pretty lively on Water street, and
submerged cellars were rapidly cleared of mer-
chandlze OF pershable nature. II is seldom we
witness formidable body of river ice, and at
one time the pressure was so great that fears
were entertained for the safety of build
ings along the line of the surgng
waves. Fortunately the jam below
broke before the water rose TO dangerous
height, thus preventing disastrous results. The
lower part of the city was overhowed, and the in
habtants of that locality fled precipitatey with
their goods to safer quarters. The freight house
on steamboat wharf was badly crushed, but
tensive damage occurred to wharyes or buildings.
During the forenoon the water subsidized several
feet, though it is still very high. This has proved
the most formidable freshet on the Kennebec,
since the great ice jam of February, 1870. An
other of the old bridge piers yielded to the press
ure yesterday morning, leaving ouly the draw pier
vestige of the monuments Of disaster plucked up
by the roots.
At Gardiner.
The quantities of water in the Cobbosse contee
and the kennebec made "Wednesday and yesterday
uneasy days for property holders. There were
apprehensions Of the safety of the upper dam at
the new mills, which had sustained an immense
strain of water If that should burst Water street
would be entirely swept away, and all the manu-.
factories and mills. All the mills running by
water power were obliged to shut down, as their
wheels were drowned in water" as you might
say. Water did not get into the store cellars on
Water street, until about 10 z. NJ. Only few of
the occupants had moved their goods some were
watching the tide, but many were not on hand in
season TO save considerable damage. About
three o clock A. NJ the water in the mill pond
was forced into cellars to the depth of three or
four feet, and the church bells were rung, which
brought out large number of people.
About this time the hulk Of an old schooner,
on beam ends, was carried by the
current down between the piers of the bridge,
and shortly after a scow hoated down. The wa
ter then began TO fall off a very little-about
eighteen inches, and yesterday forenoon common
ced to rise, probably on account Of jam at Rich.
mond. There was not mach business done yes
terday all were watching the course of the freshet.
The Cobbossee had risen so high that it covered
the causewsy, and the safety Of that structure
was somewhat questioned.
The loss Of logs by lumber dealers, on account
of the breakage Of booms is very large.
some 5000 logs having gone down. Beny's
loss is 81 800, and others lose heavily. Cause
way street is two feet under water. The road is
covered with water down to the rolling dam, and
the travelled road from Gardiner to South Gardi-
ner is impossible. The amount Of damage done
by the flood to property on Water street. is esti-
mated to be not less than $1,000. There are four
feet of water in the cellars on Water street, and
il was rising at last accounts.
other Disasters
The ice carried away the piers, shipping rigging,
&C.. at Cheeseman's, ice house at Dresden; loss,
$500. The elevator of Consumers of New York,
was taken away and the slips for shipping raised;
loss 81 900. The Oakland Ice Company's houses
are also injured. The Knickerbocker's at Farm
ingdale are damaged TO the extent of about $4,000.
1t is reported that two toll bridges at Dresden
carried away.
At last accounts a jam of ice and logs some four
miles long, begins mile below Richmond and ex.
tends three miles above Swans Island. This can
not move down until the ice leaves Merrymeeting
Bay, where it is reported as remaining intact.
Supreme Judicial Court--Libbey, J. pre-
siding.
THURSDAY, March p.
No. 36i, David Fletcher vs. Eyerard Crowell.