The Portland daily press., 1895-04-18
Thousands We're Hurled
Over Rumford Falls.
PEOPLE ANCHORED THEIR
HOUSES TO TREES.
How a Gallant Band Saved the New
Toll Bridge.
CATTLE FERRIED in SCOWS
FROM FLOODED DISTRICTS.

CATTLE FERRIED in SCOWS
FROM FLOODED DISTRICTS.
1t Was the Greatest Flood Since the Pump
But 1t Caused Only Comparatively
| Small Money Loss and the New Works
at Rumford Came Through All Right.
| Especial to the PRESS
| Rumford Falls. April 17.-Mr. Charles
Wheeler who lives near this village. and is
| life long resident of this vicinity, says that
Mondays freshet was The biggest that has
occurred in the last fifty years. There is no
doubt that it beats the record made By the
| Pumpkin freshet' IS years ago and that
record has since been referred to as the
high water marx hereabouts.
The 'Pumpkin freshet'' happened at the
time of year when the pumpkins were
ripening. 1t swept bale the fields near the
river and carried SO much of the golden
| fruit out to sea that it earned the name by
| which it is known to the older inhabitants
| here. The Pumpkin freshet'' just covered
| ledge on the bank of the river short dis
tance below the Upper Fall. For some time
Monday, the water was foot deep over this
| ledge.
The heavy rains caused Inc river to rise
Sunday. and Monday morning the water
| pa hioh h0ua tha IIr1rpr Fall ha
Rumford Paper company has 6.000.0C0 feet of
lumber in Dooms. The lumber was cut last
year and had been there. all winter. AS the
| water rose it broke The ice farther up
stream. and pieces as big as wagons were
hurled against the booms. At about u
O'Clock. the logs could hold the fort 10
longer. The Looms broke and the logs
plunged over the falls. The break had been
expected and people stood in the town be-
low looking up the gorge. 1t was dark,
cloudy day with considerable mist. Above
the falls hung clouds of spray and the water
rushed down with low, roaring sound.
Through it plunged the logs and great
cakes of ice. The trunks of great trees
rolled over and over, some stood on end.
others turned somersaults in the mad rush.
1t locked like an army of giants in retreat.
the white cakes of ice resembling the canvas
covered army wagons. Over the dam in the
village they went, under the two iron
bridges and so down stream until they dis
appeared from sight. 1t is estimated that of
the 100000 feet, perhaps 100000 We're
| carried off. That would mean, say 10000
logs. The others were caught in eddies
above the falls and are tbore now, waiting
to be reduce to pulp in the mill below. For
two hours the logs were
POURING OVER THE FALLS.
but at the end of that time the army had
disappeared from sight.
At the upper end of the village of Rum
ford Falls. the large dam of the Power COM
pany has been built II is firmly embedded
in the ledges which form the banks at each
end. At one side is the great granite bulk
head through which the water passes by
gates, giving entrance to the canal on
which the mills are located. This bulkhead
rises number of fees bove the crest of the
dam, and SO its top ordinarily is high above
the level of the water. Monday. the water
was within fifteen inches of the top Of the
bulkhead and the waves splashsd onto the
gravel which forms an embankment at the
end Joining the shore. Fears were ex-
plo6DCo Cucht tuO WALLET LulSuL BcC ofoA 'Ao
bulkhead into the canal and food the mills.
Mr.. Mixer, the resident engineer of the
Power company, says he did not share these
| anprehensions. EHe knew that the works
were all right. but to satisfy the doubters
put men to work erecting boarding on the
bulkhead and bracins it with bags of sand.
just below the dam is tho iron highway
bridge, which is usually fifteen feet above
the water. Monday those who stood on it
watching the flood felt the spray strike
their faces as the wafer flowed foot or two
beneath the flooring. 1t was just below this
bridge that two buildings were carried
away. One was Goodwin's blacksmith shop
and the other stable in process of erection
by Hall & Meader Both buildings projected
over the bank of the river, resting on posts.
The logs knocked out these supports, the
structures tipped over backwards and away
they went. Mr.. Hall and several other men
were in the blacksmith's shop. Ihey
stepped out just in time to turn around and
see ii go.
Down stream short distance farther Is
the lumber yard of the Rumford Falls Lunl-
ber company, of which S. R. Plngree OF
Lewis on, is the principal owner. As .ne
water rose men went to work hauling 'ne
sawed lumber away. but the food causnt
about 10000 feet, worth 9$l5 thousahu.
Opposite the lumber yard there has oesh ''
jam of logs behind a projecting ledge. Ahese
logs caught there eleven years ago. anu
successfully resisted storm and fresnel so"h
after year. They nre not in there no"'
The toll bridge connecting Rum1olo "nu
Mexico at the lower end of Rumford rams
village was threatened with destruo'ion
and gallant struggle was made to save ~
This bridge is IL new iron structure. "A@
rests on stons piers. The logs were nuA -o0
against 1t with terrific force, but
BAND OF BRAVE MEN
| armed with the pick poles used by iun'. ~,
Men. stood O the bridge and shoyeu '-s