Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-03-03

change in the weather would save the ice
and prevent a dangerous freshet. But
the storm was SD widespread and violent
that the ice had become weakened, and
early Sunday morning, it broke up from
below the kennobec bridge and cleared
the river opposite this city. About 10
O'Clock the ice broke up above the dam
ami came crushing in monstrous piles
over the dam, stopping in Its course only
when reaching the jam which had already
formed ut Halioweil. The sight was a
sublime but awful one, as it was apparent
that the railroad bridge. which was new
growing shaky on its foundations would
have to yield To the great pressure. The
water nav rose rapidly, ut one time in
less than half an hour rising five feet,
Water street fIom the stone bridge to the
foot of Cushnoc Heights was flooded. The
water came into the second story Of Wy
mans mill. Workmen Were engaged,
Friday, in removing manufactured lum-
bee from the mill.
. Great damage was done to the works
of the Messrs. Sprague. The stone work
supporting the wooden arches caved In,
leaving the arches, spelling at least two
months work The new carding ma
chinery which has recently been put into
the old mill was damaged to the extent
Of So 600. The jam nc Hallowell caused
the river to rise SO rapidly that it became
apparent that the railroad bridge could
not hold out much longer. In a few min
utes more the boards began to rip off on
each side OF the bridge, giving that stuc-
ture the appearance OF an enormous hair
comb Occasionally a large junk of Ice
would strike it. rocking it the whole
length At .01 the second span on the
east side swayed and settled gently into
the water. Without being shattered, that
part started on its way down river toward
the kennebec bridge. 1t was then that
the immense crowd of people that had
blackened Cushnoc Heights, the tops of
buildings aud both banks of the river,
held their breaths, for all seemed settled
in the opinion that Kennebec bridge must
go. The floating section of the railroad
bridge struck the lower bridge about
the center of the eastern span, high
up on its sides, with loud crash
that told that the bridge was
stoutly resisting the force. The floating
span was smashed into kindling wood,
and passed under without material dam
age to the kennebec bridge Then loud
cheer went up from the crowd and conf
dence in the old Kepnebec bridge was in
measure restored. About five minutes
after this another span west of the one
just carried away also gave way, striking
in its descent the central pier of the lower
bridge and was crushed to atoms one half
going on the east side of the pier and the
other half on the west side.
The bridge had stood larger jams than
the one which took it away, all having
the effect to weaken it more and more.
Logs were forced through the bridge aud
as the ice would strike them on the end
they would act like levers and would snap
like pipe stem. The sections Of the
bridge lodged about opposite the hospital
grounds. just before the railroad bridge
broke, three men came across, accom-
plishipg the ioolhardy and hazardous
feat just as the bridge went down
The account goes on to relate the stirring
scenes upon Water street. 1t seems that
the traders had little time in which to get
out their goods and there was good deal
of damage. The water stood three feet
deep in the Sprague counting room. 10
the bcholder the dam was invisible, no
fall could be seen anywhere. No one
remembered such a sight before. All
lumber near the river was ahoat
some Of the families living in houses near
the dam were obliged to leave everything
behind in their haste to get out with their
lives Cats were seen swimming about in
the street, and piss houndered about
squealing in their efforts to save their
bacon" In one place the water was
almost over the lamp posts and from that
e+,t TDr
AL the traders on the east side of Water
street were sufferers The water came
flowing into their cellars so fast that it
was almost impossible to clear them Of
heavy articles, such as flour and corn
The sidewalks and streets were lined
during the afternoon with articles of
merchandise that had been luckily saved.
although in Il badly damaged condition
Whitehouse 81 Gould, +. Il II. Hamlen,
PARROT & Bradbury, b. Libby &; Co,
Hamilton & Turner, Clapp s. North,
Frank Mullikcn, Fri Wills, Fowler,
Hamlen & Smith, j. d. Pierce & Son,
f. d. Norcross. G. f. Collier, M. Withheld,
Mrs Hodges, Phinney & Barber, Titcomb
& Dorr, 5. S. Brooks. Mark c. Brooks.
Sawtelle & Ward, Ballard & Chase,
Stafford & Son and other traders on the
street had goods damaged. The loss at
Lambard's foundry is not less than $1,000
The water backed up the drain into C. X.
Partridge's cellar damaging his goods"
At 4 o'clock large cake of ice
struck the coal store house of f. d. Nor
cross raising it from its foundations and
swinging it half way around. The build
ing had previously been secured by a
strong cable, or it would have floated off
In company with the ice. 1t still held by
the rope and possibly IL may be saved to-
gather with it's contents A II the coal Of
the dealers in this city and Hallowell il
now under water.
At half past four o'clock cake of ice Of