Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-04-30
THE GREAT MONTREAL FLOOD.
The Biggest and most Disastrous One on
Record.
[Corrcspondence Windsor Journal.l

Correspondence Windsor Journal
MONTREAL, April 90, 1856.
The most disastrous flood that ever be
fell this city since any record was kept OF
such calamities is now upon us. At the
river in April, 1861, the water rose higher
in these streets than it was known ever &c
have done before to day at ten O'Clock II
stands considerably higher than then and
is still rising. The cars cannot go within
at least mile of Bonaventure station
and Chaboillez square, just off which the
depot stands, and all that vicinity are sew
eral feet under water. With this state OF
affairs at these points, those who have
some knowledge of our city can imagine
how many broad acres and how many
miles of streets must be flooded. And
| this inundated section is the most densely
populated of the whole city, the majority
of the inhabitants consisting of the poorer
classes though the Bonsecours and st.
AIMS markets, the Custom House, and
scores, yes, hundreds, of stately ware
houses stand in the refuent flood All
communication from house to house and
street to street, in this district, is by boat
while in the outlying portions, like Point
st. Charles and st. Gabriel, gangs of boys
aud young men are disporting themselves
on RATS made of floating plank sidewalks.
| nave passed along miles of our street,
looking down through, as we passed them,
those inundated, and driving at least a
mile through water three feet deep. 1t
would be difficult to describe the scenes
that came up before us. Everything that
would float was turned into boat or Il
raft. and every floating thing was loaded
to its utmost capacity, being padded
along with snow shovels, brooms and 9th
er articles designed for very different uses.
The upper stories were filled with anxious
excited persons, one-half of whom, AT
least, had been hastily driven from the
ground tenements and large crowds
were gathered at either extremity of sub
mergence on every inundated street while
on the public squares, like the Victoria,
these crowds were Swelled to multltudes.
In fact nothing but sweeping and gen
eral cOnflagration could have called out 50
many people.
Our drive extended on to the Mountain
Park, whence we could better take in the
eXtent of the calamity. Likely the dwell
lngs of one-fifth part-say of 80 thousand
OF our population are surrounded by
the waters tonight OF these a number,
according to the natural course of events,
will die before the morning light, and
amongst them number will be ushered
into existence. From the Mountain top
the st. Lawrence presented strange,
weird appearance this bright April after
Ilppll' LOW W Il lew ullltS ABOVE Int
Victoria bridge it is clear of ice but he.
low that so far as you can see 1t to the
northeast that winters barrier covers
every inch of its waters How its broad,
white surface glistened and shimmered in
the rays of the westering sun, as it seem
ed to rise up and touch, and be lost in the
sky away off to the mort heasu This, hav-
ing been once seen, will never be forgot
ten. Iaprairie and all the farm houses
standing on the rivers bank and at one
point for miles back into the country. are
IN sea of waters. The first spans of the
Victoria bridge are but few feet-as seen
from the mountain not more than five or
siX-above the Ice on the surface of the
river. 1t goes without saying that no
trains have passed through this struc
ture to-day. No more desoate object was
IN sight than the great stone nunnery on
Nuns Island Il little above the bridge As
1t appeared from the mountain one would
THINK the water must be above its second
flats. These nuns have a farm there and
many cattle and horses ; but they have
provided elevated stables against ordinary
lnuu0HtiOuS