The Portland daily press., 1895-04-15
HAMMOND's FREsHET ON TIME.
And Now They Wish Among the Noun
tains That There Was Trifie
Less of 1t.

The Nulhegan River Free of Ice and the
Big "Drive" Going Down the Connect
cut, But the Water is Still Rising-No
| Grand Trunk Trains Started Between
| Portland and Islam d Pond. But the
Road is Being Patroled for Washouts.
| When Mr.. A. W. Hammond of the Glen
Manufacturing company of Berlin Falls,
N. H.. was here a few days ago, just before
the first rain storm, "a nd a a time When hie
company was waiting for news of the arri-
val of tho Bessie from Port Midway. with
a cargo of wood pulp, he was interviewed
regarding the drouth in his section.
He said that tie water had not been so
low before for many years, but expressed
| the belief that spring freshet WIS sure TO
make it all right, and WAS made by one re-
porter TO say that he expected fIeshet.
This was seen by one of his associates in
business. and he sent tosMr. Hamomnd at
Portland collect telegram to this effect: {
"a. W. Hammond, Portland. Maine:
when do you expect your freshet2 Much
depends upon it. Answer"
MIR. Hammond did answer. but it was by
letter. The joke passed from one o anotL-
er, until it became common property. Yes
terday a gentleman who is interested up
The line of the Grand irunk, said: s'They
are willing to admit that Mr. Hammond's S
freshnt has arrived. but if the rain keeps
on much longer they will conc lade that
there is too much of it,
Yesterday the Nulhegan river suddenly
broke UP and great mass of ice, and a still
greater drive" Of logs passed North Stat
ford, y. H., and went into the Connecticut
river. This jam had been watched with
great interest, AS it was at that point that
he bridge gave way last year resulting in
less CT life and property.
| Last evening despite the fact that there
i. still much east bound freight on the way.
, it was deemed best not to start train over
tile Grand Trunk between Portland and
Island Pond. Washouts were dreaded, nd
to certain extent looked for. The section
men were ordered to patrol he road all
night. and to make the most thorough in
81 &c tion. Tie rivers are still rising. and
it was deemed best to mako certain of the
actual condition Of every bit of the road
Trains will be started this morning if all is
ported clear.
All the brooks have disappeared, and
rivers are now running where they were be-
Ivfe. he rain III pOuriuB uONu III tDS
mountains, and from the condition of the
AndI oscoggin river, it Is believed that
the lakes of the Kangeley system will sooa
| be at high water mark. The ice has not
given way .and the greater part of the snow
| in the woods is unmelted, but is almost as
hard as ice.
| THE STORM
| 1t is, perhaps. needless to say that a
| heavy rain made the city an unpleasant
place to live in yesterday. retired the Eas-
Ter honnets, and cut down TIE attendance
| at the churches. AT the present writing it
seems probable that there will be more or
| less washouts, and if. the rain continues
the rivers will overflow. causing damage at
many points. 1t will probably be found
that of this coast was a very had place for
vessels of all descriptions yesterday. One
good thing will be that the streets wils be
cleansed. and bad thing will be that cell
lars will be filed, and that much damage
will be done in that respect. Nobody was
on the street. but patrolmen and reporters,
last evening.