Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1879-01-14
Sidewalk Letter.
On THE SIDEWALK
Jan. IA, 1879,

| OF last Week qulle HuHlpcT VI iaulcS
and gentlemen were out on EIglish's
pond enjoying the sport by moonlight,
and a right merry time they had. The
unfortunate ones were those who stayed
away. The scene was almost enchant-
ing, the swift skaters, darting hither and
thither over the smooth surface, cutting
graceful curves at every turn, were OBJ
jccts of interest to the locker on. The
fun-loving were sliding on the ice with
chairs and sleds, while the beginners"
created much amusement by the deter
mined manner in which they endeavor-
ed TO preserve an upright position and
at the same time glide with ease over
slippery places. These would have
put to blnsh the most renowned gym
mast Of the age. Skating was brought
to u sudden stop by the softening rain
which poured in torrents on Wednes-
day night, overlooking the ponds and
filling Beaver Creek to her utmost ca
pacity. Wednesday gave us regular
London morning-the fog being so
dense as TO render light necessary in
doors, until near nine o'clock. AT noon
the fog had been lifted by stiff breeze
with a genuine polar edge on it, and by
morning everything was froze up, the
ice on the small ponds being thick
enough for skating; and the opportuni-
ty was improved by all the boys within
the corporate limits, and kept up until
late on Saturday. A young gentleman
asked of We sidewalk man whether he
thought there was any har IN
in skating on Sunday? My reply was,
that If there was any difference between
buggy riding, for amusement, and skat-
ing on Sunday, 1t was rather in favor of
skating. If had an opinion on the
subject it would be against both.
doubt whether any one of our citi-
zens who retired before ten O'Clock Sat
urday night, had the slightest idea that
one-third of Bristol would be under
water by molning-but such was the
case. The rain began falling slightly
about nine. Between ten and three in
the morning Il fearful storm of wind and
rain ragged with undated fury. BY
o'clock the creek was out of its banks,
and by the flats from the railroad cul-
vert to English's pond was sheet Of
water. The water rose rapidly until
about 8, when it began falling and by
yesterday morning ii was again within
its banks. Ye sidewalk man has been
a resident Of Bristol over ten years and
has never seen Beaver Creek as much
out of its banks us on Sunday morning.
A difference of opinion exists, however,
between We oldest citizens, as to whcth-
er the water was ever higher before
Some say that years ago 1t was higher
by several inches. One says 1t has been
"twicc rs high" while others say, who
have lived here as long rs any one, that
they have never known the water so
high ms this before. However this may
be, leaving the reader to determine for
himself, from the above statement,
pass on to note the damage us near MS
can ascertain. have seen more rain fall
without raising the creek near so much.
Had there been rs great rain fall rs on
some former occasions, there would, in
all probability, been very great damage
done to our town; us II was the damage
has not been so great ms might he eX-
pcctcd. The frozen state of the ground
prevented the water soaking into the
earth; 1t therefore ran of MS II from the
roof Of n house, and this fact accounts
for 80 few fences being washed away
the frozen ground acting us u brace to
the posts.
Esq. Campbcll's dam Is injured to the
amount of between 3 and hundred
dollars. Mr., Kirby, tanner, loses, 5000
In bark and leather. Mr.. John Crow
ellis loss Is about 800. Mr.. Ro. Pile,
tanner, lost 1000 feet OF lumber and n
quantity of tan bark. The Goodson
corporations loss IL comparatively light
aud will not exceed 5000. The long
foot bridge on Main st. was carried
away, but the most of II has been re-
covered. The Front street bridge WINS
considerably damaged, and the bridge
on Lee Street sustained slight damage.
The damage TO fences will not amount
TO over $50. Eleven or twelve hum
dred dollars will cover all the losses sus-
tanned In town. The dam ut Esq. kcar-
ms mill, few miles below town, was
swept entirely away.
The Ilunllcy Dramatic troupe will
exhibit three nights at Conway Hall,
this week, beginning on Thursday night
! hear Il said that the company Is very
fine one,
heard good joke on two Of our
heightened. we'll Informed citizens the
other day. Ono Of them was asked who
the Governor Of Tenn. was. lie did
not know, aud therefore returned Hn
cvaslyc answer. Ashamed Of his igno-
rance, aud afraid Of being exposed TO
rldlcuc, he sought ont u friend whom
he thought would certainly know and
on whose confidence he could rely
But when he preached The delicate sub
iccl, his friend was found TO be- IN the
same prcdlcament Ny informant did
not state whether either of the gcntlc-
men have yet learned the name Of the
aforesaid Governor, he II known that