Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1892-08-19
THE VERMONT PHOENIX, b
AN AUGUST FRESHET
Which Wrought Havoc in Underhill,
Jericho and Stowe.

A Cloud Burst over Mount Mansfield
the COuse---BUildIngs and Bridges
Swept Away, Acres of Crops Ruined,
Roads and Railroads ImpRsSNble---
Loss Many Thousands Of Dollars.
Several towns in Chittenden, Franklin
and Lamoille counties were swept by dis
astrous flood on Thursday of last week.
In the towns of Jericho, Underhill and
Stowe the damage was most severe. Sew
eral buildings, many bridges and dams
were washed away, and acres of crops
were ruined. The highways were So bad
ly washed as to be impossible, and the La
noble railroad was cut up into sections.
The rainfall on Wednesday was heavy,
the streams overlooking their banks. Dur
ing the heavy shower on Thursday after
noon two dark looking clouds seemed to
meet, causing regular cloud-burst. Small
streams were changed to roaring torrents,
which swept everything before them, and
what was a well cultivated, prosperous val
ley in the morning was a scene of desola-
ton at night. The streams washed out
the fertile meadoSs for a distance of many
rods and the land is buried with powders,
uproOted trees, piles of lumber, and the
wrecks of buildings swept from their foun-
dations.
The damage to both public and private
property aggregates many thousands of dol
lars. No lives were lost but there were
number of narrow escapes by persons who
were crossing or standing upon the bridges
just before they were swept from the foun-
dations.
In Jericho seven of the nine bridges
which cross Lee river were carried down
stream. Two of the five on Browns river
/ 10,
two more ruined. Aside from the bridges
on the main streams many bridges and
culverts on the smaller ones were carried
away and torn out, while the highways
in many places were impossible. The
grst-mill of Thomas Buxton in Jericho
was washed away, taking with it barn
owned by Whitcomb IL Day on the oppo-
site side of the river. The pump works
of Mr.. Field and the factory of A. s.
Woods were partially ruined. f. w. Cur
tis's saw-mill which was one of the land
marks, went TO pieces under the force of
the water. Along Lee and Browns riv-
ers acres upon acres of corn. potatoes, oats,
wheat, barley and other crops were totally
submerged by the water, and now that it
| has withdrawn, are covered with muck and
sand and strewn with the debris of the
mills and bridges. Full grown trees were
| torn up by the roots and whirled down the
current like straws.
In the town of Stowe the freshet was
the worst in 30 years. Five bridges were
washed out and Fosters tub factory was
destroyed. The crops on the low meadows
were spoiled.
The LamOille and Burlington railroad
was badly cut up by the flood. One break
near Jericho was POO feet long Three
railroad men were caught on trestle
which was carried away. They went down
in the raging waters for half a mile, but
succeeded in swimming to the shore.
Lee river, which curves around Under
hill Centre, overlooked so suddenly that il
changed its course, and went through the
village, taking away two barns filled with
hay and grain. Half mile of railroad
track between Underhill and North Under
hill and two trestles between the latter
place and Cambridge we're washed out a
force of 200 men began work on the rail
roads on Friday. In the main street al
Underhill Centre the earth is washed ou
to a depth of from two to six feet. A
Terrills mill over 100, 900 clapboards ant
many thousand feet of lumber went dowI
the stream. On several good farms thu
course of the streams was entirely changed
new channels being washed through thu
fertile meadows.
On Mount Mansfield a strip of timber
land 80 rods wide and over mile long looseC
its hold upon the rocks and came tearin.
down the mountain side.