Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1895-04-19
OTTER CREEK RAMPANT.


THE GREATEST FLOOD FOR MORE THAN
30 EARS-RAILROAD TRAFFIC sUS-
PENDED-THE WATER BEGINNING TO
LOWER.
Not since the memorable flood of 1852
has there been so large volume of
water coming down Otter creek AS has
been seen the last four days. 1t rained
here and in all the country round about
from Friday night till Monday morning.
The rain and the melting snow together
caused IA sudden and very unusual rise
in the streams throughout the State.
Otter creek came up steadily till Wednes-
day night. 1t Is now falling. though
slowly.
The first trouble was experienced by
the railroad Sunday night. The night
express down found the track soft and
unsafe between PittsfOrd and Proctor.
1t managed 10 reach Proctor, but could
90 no farther because of the condition
of the track between there and Center
Rutland. The passengers were taken to
Rutland Monday morning with teams by
Il roundabout route through Pittsford.
as the highways above Proctor were i'm
passable Monday there was practically
nothing doing on the road. The mail
came down from Burlington in the fore
noon and went to Pittsford. 1t returned
in the afternoon, but brought only local
passengers and IA little mail from points
between here and PIttsford and on the
Addison road. Tuesday forenoon the
breaks near Proctor were repaired and
trains came through. bringing the first
New ork mail since Sunday morning.
The af ernoOn mail from Boston did not
get IN ill about O'Clock that night
The delay was caused by big washout
between Chester and Bellows Falls.
Wednesday mornings early express
from New York got along less than an
hour late. though the water was then
too deep for safety, the trainmen
thought, on the track both sides of the
OX-bow bridge, three miles south of here.
lot of railroad officials came down
from st. y lbans on the morning mail to
inspect the OX-bow bridge. the mail
train remaining here meanwhile. They
thought it safe, and the mail went along
about noon. The train from Rutland ar
rived an hour or so later. 1t brought the
first Rutland papers of the week. Yes
terday the water was still over the track
for long distance south of the Ox-bow.
but trains were running regularly.
Freights which had been held here
since Wednesday morning were ordered
to proceed during the forenoon. The
side-tracks were filled to their full ca
pacity from Wednesday till these trains
left. The outlook now is that there will
be no further difficulty with trains. The
water was six or eight inches deep on the
track north of the Ox-bow Yesterday
forenoon. The bridge itself is higher
than the track on either side and is in no
danger. The Addison road did no bust
ness Tuesday or Wednesday. trains
being unable co reach Leicester Junction
from the west. Traffic was resumed on
that road yesterday.
Right here and in the region immed-
ately above the abundance of the water
has been something remarkable The
"three-mile" highway bridge. three miles
south Of the village, is surrounded. there
being no highway in sight for half a mile
east or west of il. Mr.. News house in
the Seeley district is also encompassed by
the flood. The big Seeley swamp is all
afloat. the water going back to the foot
of the ridge on which are the homes of n.
). Dewey and j. w. Halliday. From their
houses the river looks like a vast lake.
The water is up To the railroad embank-
ment east of II. Il. IIolden's house and
from there in an easterly direction it is
three miles at least to dry land The
creek road from here to Salisbury must
be over two feet under water for two
miles from the three-mile bridge north
The water is within few rods of the Ca
leb Smith house and at 4. ii. Fishers it
is not much better. On the Bruce Wright
farm, just above the village. the water
has almost reached the barn by the rail
road track. Thousands of acres are un-
der water all along the stream. At the
iron railroad bridge in the village the
granite blocks on which rest the iron era
dies bearing the structure are Just above
water and that is all. The boat houses
are in the midst of the stream. Wednes-
day an auxiliary river had begun to flow
through Prof. Seely's garden down across
Mr.. Chapman's premises. the Phelps and
Os borne places and the bakery lot. 1t
found its way under the barn at the ba-
kerry and Joined the main stream at the
village pump hOcse. That structure and
the hydrant near it were surrounded.
The new stream continues to flOw
At the stone bridge the piers were almost
out of sight. Few have seen the falls
so high or so large volume of water I'm
the eddy.
The damage to roads on the lOwlands
must be considerable, but of course the
extent of ii is not now ascertainable.
One highway bridge, loaded with stone,
came down Monday, but where from is
not known.