Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-02-12
DOWN THE VALLEY.
Fifteen Minutes Work of a CIoudburst Be- tween Mountain Ranges.


 the parallel ranges of mountains, is a valley half a mile wide and ten miles long. its upper end beginning far up in the grim hills. It winds about like a river, and here and there it is crossed by creek which seems a thread of Gilver trailing along the green grass.
 A carpet of gsass and flowers-here and there a grova-birds flying up and down-a warm End gentle sun pouring down from out of a clear June sky. As we look down upon this valley we are reminded of paradise. Never scene on earth more peaceful. One swinging in hammock under one of those green trees beside the brook would find him. self as near to the peace and quietness of Heaven as any spot on earth affords.
 There is herd of buffaloes grazing afar up the valley. There are deer in the groves. Three or four wild horses are standing in the brook, while others are lying on the grass a few yards away. flares scamper to and fro in playful mood, and there is nothing to frighten the most timid. The peaceful influence is so powerful that we hush our voices as we look down.
 In some awful convulsion of nature
 
 from the bowels of the earth-grim, sterile, desolate-landmarl1s of mighty conflict of elements. At the same time nature created this valley as an offset. On the mountain is desolation and de- spair; here is beauty and contentment
 Look therev'
 Away up among the dark hills we see a black cloud rising up into the clear skies. But for its blackness one might believe it a signal smoke made by the Indians. It is q cloud trying to lift itself over the mountain from the east side. It began forming fifty miles away, and it has travelled slowly and followed the windings of rivers and creeks and cXacted tribute from ponds and lakes-drops, gills, quarts, barrels, tons of water have been absorbed and lifted up as the cloud travelled and the { desolatc mountains were magnets which attracted it from its first formation. The cloud lifts itself up and up, and 1 in its struggles it sways like a balloon. As it hears the mountains the vapors are condensed and become heavier, and as the weight increases the struggle be- ! comes fiercer. There is no by-play of thunder and lightning; only a black, clOuu lIScl1.
 Up! Up! Up!
 An! Heaven help them! There is nothing but animal life in the valley so far as we can sec. but every on-looller utters groan of despair as he sees the cloud suddenly fall out of sight behind the peaks. What does that signify? It means that the cloud could not lift itself high enough tn clear the mountain, and that when its lower edge hit i that tall peak on a line with us ' there came a cloudburst The tons o1 | water held in that big cloud fell to i earth with q force you can scarcely con. ceive. Trees were made into match. | wood. Rocks weighing q thousand tons i were whirlcd about. Boulders which a hundred horses could not pull from their beds were sent flying down the mountain side like marbles. Every l handful of earth, every tree, shrub vine, flower, every stone, rock and boulder which could have been moved | by the blast of hundred pounds ot ! powder, is swept in one awful ava lanche into the mouth of the valley!
 We hear the crash We feel the mountain quiver under us. We arc warned of what is coming, Every liv ing thing below us has heard the crasf and felt the quivcr. Instinct tells then what has happened and warns them tc flee. In ten seconds every living thing 1 in sight in the valley is rushing dow1 its length. Here and there a deer turn to the right or left and finds a plac, where he can ascend, and a big vol scrambles up the almost perpendicular bank at our feet, and there lies, crouch and whining in terror.
 Look up the valley. No man vii ever see such a sight twice in his life time. There is wall across the valle, "a wall of roaring, tumbling, scething fOaming waters. Its height is eight O ten feet and its speed is that of rail road train. The buffaloes were tn furthcst up the valley. Watch then coming. The herd numbers about fifty and every animal runs for his life Now buffalo, deer, wolf, horse an hare are coming in a wild mob, an close behind them that foam-creste wave of death. As it reaches the tree they melt away. As it tears along tn sides of the valley great rocks ar loosened and carried along.
 The rush is led by a sorrel horse-hi new coat shining like velvet-his eye ;ull of eXcitement-his ears laid fla
 pack. He is two hundred feet ahead c
 every thing, and we wave our hats an cheer him as he passes us.
 Roll! Tumble! Foam! Crash! Tn waters are filtered with trunk an branch and bush. The noise is deafe1 ing. The power is so great that tn mountain is shaken. We clutch tn
 bushes at our side and hold our breat
 as the wave strikes.
 It is over Looking up the valley w see-what! Never a blade of grass ( flower or bush or tree! Simply trac
 of desolation which nature can nc , restore in dozen years.
 Down the valley-the same sigh F Nothing left behind but rock and mu, A paradise has been turned int