Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1883-07-09
GREAT STORM.


The year 1883 will be remembered
in Vermont as one of terrific winds,
heavy rain storms and violent show
ers. With a single intermission of
one week, it has rained almost every
day since spring opened, and while
grass has been benefited generally,
other crops, especially on low or
clayey lands, have suffered from the
great amount of rain. The most ter
rife and damaging storm occurred
last Wednesday, Independence Day,
and many will have cause to remem-
Der it for long time. 1t began to
rain in the morning, the day being
sultry and the signs indicating a day
of showers. About II o'clock hard
showers from the west crossed over
this county. About four o'clock a
heavy cloud, brilliant with lightning
flashes, but black with vapors came
across from the north west part of
the county deluging everything in its
course. This shower, or rather sue
cession of showers, appeared to be
about ten miles in width, and it is
not an exaggerated statement to say
that few men ever saw as much rain
fall in one hour as fell that day. The
water ran off buildings in sheets, and
roads, streets and ravines were bear
ing torrents of water to the larger
valleys. Small culverts and bridges,
heretofore large enough for their pur-
pose were inadequate and were wash
ed out or washed over, while large
bridges in some sections were swept
away, The highways in all direc-
tions are washed and quilted, and in
some places destroyed for present
purposes. The wind in many sections
was the hardest experienced for
years. Buildings were blown down,
fences destroyed, trees uprooted,
probably from fifty to one hundred
naples in single sugar places shade
trees exposed to the full fury of the
torrents were broken down in great
numbers. To add to the terror of
wind and rain, the lightning was ex-
tremely fierce and frequent, the bolts
being heavy and intentionally near.
Those who saw this storm as it pass
ed noticed the frequency of the light
ming and the fact that the bolts all
ran down from the clouds to the
earth. Every bolt appeared to strike,
and in the track of this shower hun
dreds of places were struck by the
fiery fluid. In this town, the large
barn on the J. G. Chapman place
was struck, set on fire and burned.
This was once the largest barn in
town, and was still a good building.
It was built on the site of a barn de-
stroyed by lightning twenty-five years
ago. The building was insured fol
$3.50, and the loss is considerably
more. About five o'clock, while the
rain was falling in torrents, heavy
bolt struck the cupola of W. H
Martins barn on the west side of the
village and the upper portion was
very soon filled with flames. AS soor
as the fire was discovered the bells
were rung and the village peoples
large number being absent to attend
the various Fourth of July gather
ings-rallied, taking the village fire
engine. The large building was en-
tirely filled with flames, and no at
tempt was made to save it. The en-
CINE was set near by and played OIL
the fire more than an hour, and 81
well was it handled that a portion O
the north end of the barn was lief
standing, and another barn, six fee
| distant, was saved. Had it not beer
for the engine the two small barn
would have been destroyed, ant
probably, the house also. This wa
one of the largest, and was really tn
best finished large barn in town cost
ing with the foundation to excee,
$4,000. 1t was insured for 81 900
The foundation was not seriously in
jured. About this village, whic
seemed to be in the track of the mos
violent current of wind, many shad
trees were blown down, chimney
were torn to pieces wagons at Uf
ford's paint shop were blown off til
high platform, and clear across th
street; the vane spire on the Cong
church was twisted and badly bent
the lumber in Baldwin & Drew's mi
yard was scattered, burying B. B
Norris premises in boards and spin
tiers, while minor damage was don
everywhere. The roads were badl
washed; on the Niles hill, south G
the wholesale store, hundreds c
loads of dirt were washed out of th
road, making it impossible; on TIL
Twombly hill the water got into th
middle of the road making guile
five feet deep, and destroying th
road for the time beng. On Porte
street the water did great damag
washing out lots of dirt and almos
undermining some of the buildings
The worst damage of water, howeve
was caused by the Salisbury brool
1t came down in a torrent bringin
lots of fence material and debris
which lodged at the mouth of I'll
culvert at the high railroad dun
near the Mrs. Flanders building
! The wafer Spt hack in q larUe none