The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1890-01-09
AN INCIDENT IN GREEN MOUNTAIN
LIFE.

In the northern part Of the old Green
Mountain state about twenty-five mllpt
from the Canadian border, in the county
of Orleans, lies the town of Glover, o.
the south 1t is Joined by the town of
Greensboro and on the north by Barton.
With its eastern and western boundaries
this sketch has nothing to do.
The highest land in the town lies
along the boundary between Glover ana
Greensboro and forms the water shed OF
the country. In the southwestern par,
of the town lies a small body of water
nearly circular in form and about
mile in extent called Stone Pond. The
stream flowing from it, and known a.
Barton river, flows northerly through
Glover, Barton, Coventry and Newport
into Memphremagog Lake, a beautiful
sheet of water thirty miles in exten
lying partly in Vermont, partly IN
Canada. This stream of water is the
only one within the town large enough
to afford any water power, and this is a.
times 30 low as to seriously inconven-
ience the numerous mills and shop
situated along its course.
In the year 1910 the town was bul
thinly settled. A few hardy men from
I've" I1dlupoHIlt ptuCli Nut
forest and built for themselves homes
Along Barton river several farms had
Oeen cleared up and a saw mill had
been erected. The miller, Wilson by
name, was at times sorely tried by the
scarcity of water His was the only
mill for many miles aud in dry times it
vexed him much to be obliged 10 shut
down and wait for water when he had
so much to do. But every Yankee is an
inventor, and Mr.. Wilson was no ex-
ception. An idea had suggested itself
10 him aud he had discussed it freely
with the farmers along the river and al
agreed that the plan was practicable,
Lying within the town, but discharg-
ng its waters southwark through
Greensboro, was another pond-Greens-
moro pond by name, whose outlet
formed the head waters of the Lamoillt
river. This pond measured about q
mile in length, perhaps half mile in
width, and from eighty to one hundred
feet in depth. The northern shore Wa,
low and sandy and sloped toward the
Barton river valley. Why not dig b
channel northward and unite the waters
from the two ponds? The farmers were
enthusiastic at the prospect, accordingly
the 9Th day of June, 1910, was appoint
ed as the day in which they would make
the attempt 1t was election day il
New Hampshire, and as they could not
participate in the elections they pro-
posed to celebrate the day as loyal New
Hampshire men. Armed with picks and
.pades, about twenty men started early
IN the day for Greensboro pond. Reach
ing the northern shore they selected q
place that looked favorable to their pro
jet, and, throwing off their coats, they
ell resolutely to work with much jok
ing and telling of stories.
The spot they had selected was but
hinly wooded and the timber war
small. To dig through the mossy turf
and slender tree roots was not long
job, and in two hours they had dug ii
channel deep enough and long enough
20 carry the water northward as they
desired. Jubilant with their success
they crowded together on the bank t.
wipe their heated brows and congratu'
late each other, But as the looked and
alked the water ceased to flow in the
newly cut channel, a strange, gurglng,
rushing sound was heard, the earth be
nesth their feet began to quake and
Gemble.
With blanching faces they took in the
sitution. They had dug into bed OF
quicksand and the whole northern bank
was undermining and showing out
Spencer Chamberlain seized his spade
and sprang into the channel with wild
idea of stopping the food, but the
treacherous quicksand gave way be-
meath his feet. He was sinking into the
food, His frightened comrades them
selves meanwhile, standing on a very
insecure foundation, seized him by the
hair and dragged him to higher ground.
From place of safety they looked
with dismay on the destruction they had
wrought. The whole end OF The pond
mad broken out and the vast body OF
water, freed from its barriers was push.
ing its way northward bearing with II
,rees, rocks, fences, anything that OBJ
structed its way. Three miles and d
nalf below lay the mill, and the miller's
wife was grinding while he was absent
on this excursion. All along the course
Of the angry waters lay the peaceful
homes of the men now looking down
from the hilltops upon the flooded val.
ley. The folks at home must be warn
ed. Spencer Chamberlain, a tall. wiry
man, fleet as deer and capable of great
endurance volunteered to make the at
tempt. Stripping off his coat he struck
into lively trot and was soon out ol
sight. Keeping to the highlands along
side the rushing waters which were i'm
peded by uprooted trees, bush, bowders
ETC., he reached the head of the current
after running about two miles, A mile
and half lower down the valley lay ths
mill, the first building in the path of the
waters.
Would he reach it in time On! Or
like the wind The roar of the water
almost deafened him. The flood wal
almost upon him. At last the mill wat
in sight. At post near the door stood
hitched an old white horse but no hu
man beng was vIsable. Dashing int
the mill he seized Mrs. Wilson by thu
shoulder and shouted to her to run fol
her life. pointing to her the way o.
safety. He himself sped along on hi
errand of mercy. All were warned IL
season to escape, and 80 far at knowr
? not life was lost on all the course o.
the runaway pond from its bed to thu
Memphremsgog.
| OF the old white horse, the mill anC
its machinery, not trace could ever b'
found, although diligent search has beer
often made. Whether they lie buried
somewhere upon the route, or beneath
the blue waves of Magog, is still an un
answered question.
40 old man, whose name i have for
gotten, was boiling salt beside Mem
phremagog on the day Of the disaster
using lake water to wet down his leach
! es. During the day he noticed that tn,
lake had risen about a foot, and was a
, loss to account for 1t. as there haC
been no rain for some days.
In it's upper course The water cam
, through narrow valleys. where every
thing was swept away; but IN the wide
, courses less damage done, although tht
timber was swept down and either car
RED away or piled in huge jambs, SOM
of which are not cleared away 70 thi
day. Some idea of the amount Of mat
ter borne along by the current may b.
, had from the fact that on the broad val
lev OF Barton a deposit of sand anC
earth with timber, etc, was left from
two to six feet deep. While dana :,
was done all along the route, in somI
instances the land was benefited
Swaups were filed, sand-hIlls levelled
and mari and other matter deposited
that made the land in after years very
productive.
Pretty villages dot the valley here ant
; tuere, mills, shops and factor es ar,
= turned by the waters OF Barton river
the bed of Greensboro pond are covered
with glossy green turf, and good car
; riage load runs through il. the bank
! or terraces from the lake bed upwarC
to what was the margin of the lake ol
pond are covered with a growth o.
, spruce, pine. tamarack and white birch
, and carpeted with delioa'e Prerr arC