Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1880-01-05
THE UPPER MIssIsCo VALLEY.


An event occurred In 1879 which cast
a great gloom over the minds of every
settler of the valley. On June 10. a
remarkable freshet occurred which caus-
ed the river to overflow its banks and
completely covered the low lands with
water. The settlers had constructed,
for their convenience in going up and
down the river, canoes or dug-outs
these were made from the large pine
trees then growing in the valley, and
were large enough to carry several per-
sons. Col. Ruyter had established
grocery. at his place some four miles
down the river, and the settlers in the
vicinity decided to take advantage of
the high water and make him visit.
Some Is or 20 men with FIVE canoes
proceeded down the river to visit the
Colonel and test the character of his
groceries, which, at that time, consisted
largely of liquids. The day was pleas
antly and hllariously spent. and it was
near night when the party embarked to
return. The voyage up stream was
rather slow and perilous, but everything
went we'll until the canoe in which were
three sons of Esquire Skinner of Potion,
and two other men tipped over in the
rapid stream, and the two eldest Skinner
boys were drowned. They were young
men aged Is and 20 years, of great
promise. 1t is said that the boys who
were drowned were perfectly sober. The
others present when the accident hap
pened did all they could to save the
young men, but they were carried away
in the swollen current. The terrible
news was carried to the parents, and the
father fell into paroxysm of despair
and insanity. 1t was several days be-
fore he came to his reason. The bodies
were not recovered for some days, but
we're found at last, and conveyed to their
stricken parents. One of the settlers,
who was professor of religion oficiated
at the funeral. and the remains were
consigned to the dust. Some weeks af-
forwards, Judge Odds of Westfeld
preached funeral sermon from the APP
propriate text, "Be still, and know that
| am God" 1t is related that Esquire
Skinner was so affected by his great
grief, that his hair became white within
a few days after the death of his sons.
There was scarce a gray hair in his head
at the time of the accident. The moth
er at the same time was suffering from
an attack of fever and ague, but was SO
overcome by the sad event that she had
no more chills that season.
The winter following the event mar
rated above, witnessed a scene in the
valley that created considerable excite
ment, which may be worthy of mention.
One of the settlers had become fore
handed enough to be able to purchase a
barrel of whisky and half barrel each
of gin and brandy. The arrival of a
barrel of whisky at this time was hailed
with great demonstrations of joy, and
the men from several towns around met
to have jollifcation. In three days this
liquor was all drank or carried away !;
but on the last night party who had
become boisterous got into fight, and
in scrimmage between one Perkins, a
transient rowdy, and man by the name
of Norris, the latter was knocked into
the great fire place at the end of the
house, having his hair and whiskers
burned off his head, and one hand so
badly burned that the flesh came off the
inside of the hand to the bones and
cords. The injury was so severe that it
was feared he would lose his hand.
There was neither physician or medicine
in the settlement. At this time Molly
Orcutt, and Indian doctoress lived in the
vicinity of Magog lake; she was sent
for, and came and put up her tent near
where the injured man lived, and under
took the case. She succeeded in healing
up the hand, and her fame as doctress
was secured. Later in the winter dyson
terry broke out with violence among the
children in the valley and Molly was
sent for to take charge of them. She
built her tent, prepared her medicine
with great secrecy and administered il
to the sick, all of whom recovered. Nc
one then knew the nature of her pre.