Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-03-02
RISING WATERS
Cause Uneasiness All Along
Banks of the Kennebec.
Feared That Ice Above the Dam May
Break Up and Come Down.
Merchants and Manufacturers Move Their
Goods 10 Places Of Safely.

all observers, Sunday; net merely observed,
but watched with the closest OF interest
and anxiety.
The rain OF Saturday, although lasting
all through the day, was not very heavy,
and the flowing streams which made theii
way down streets and sidewalks, ard
eliminated in many ponds and puddlcs,
inconvericat though they were. occasioned
little moro thon passing thought.
When Sunday dawned and the rain fel
in torrents, with u gale of wind, people
awakened to the condition of affairs, and
the fear of freshet was uppcrmost in the
minds Of all.
The river was turbulent, early Sunday
morning, to put it mildly. The hard,
frozen ground had given every drop OF
water which fell along its water shed
good chance to sneak its way down into
the river or its tributaries.
1t was an impressive scene just above
the bridge about 10 o'clock, sunday morn
ing, when great cakes OF ice from the
Bond brock came floating down in the
irresistible current, and were forced slam
bang against the ice formation, which be
gan few rods above the bridge.
The floating masses sought the sides of
the river, and two channels in the ice
were soon cut under the bridge by the
grinding and llotsam.
The channel ON the west side was soon
blocked up; whether because the wharf
situated close by offered strong hold for
the mass Or because of some chained logs,
part Of a small boom from a short distance
above, is an open question.
On the west channel the work kept on
There was a smashing and Il tcarDg there
worth going miles to see While the sup
ply of ice from Bond brook held out, the
channel extended, great masses hammer
ing away at the edges, driven by the surg
ing waters, and throwing out cakes on all
sides. People from all parts of the city,
which afforded view of the river, stopped,
and despite the rain, Were drawn into
watching the fascinating scene.
But the all-mportant question was as
to the ice above the dam During the day
it held solid and no ice passed over.
According TO the record kept at the Ed
wards Manufacturing Cos. mill, the
water at 7 o'clock A. NJ, was about 4
eet above the level of the dam At noon
it was feet, and rising at the rate OF
inches an hour. During the afternoon,
the rate of rising increased, it reaching
over inches an hour, during the last of
it,
The reports were circulated that the
flush boards Of the dam, which are about
2 : feet in height, had given way, but
these reports were unfounded, as nothing
short of flow of ice or other heavy mat
ter could carry them away,
Bye o'clock P NJ the river had reached
a height Of over feet above the dam
level. At o'clock it was feet and
inches.
Early in the morning, gent Cole OF the
Edwards Manufacturing Co, was at the
mill, and had 40 men d work transport
ing from the threatened lower stories CT
the No. 3 mill much cloth which was
stored there, and some machinery
Mr.. Cole pronounced the situation one
Of the greatest danger that has visited
this city tor years. The fact that the
brunt Of the effect Of the rainfall is not to
be expected until 81 hours after its discon-
.inuance, made the gravest suspicious ten
able.
About the city there was much alarm
felt over the situation. 1t was high tide
at clock, and at that time the water
nearly covered the steamboat wharf Capt
Partridge, the agent of the line, was busy
at work in the afternoon getting ali the
available boats in readiness for use.
Many of the merchants of Water street
whose places of business are on the water
side of the street. were hard at work re
moving their goods to the street floors and
higher places of safety.
Fowler & Hamlen, who, Saturday, had
taken advantage of the rainy day, to
''take stock, - were among the first, Sun
day. to remove the threatened goods to
places of safety.
The bridge was thronged with spec
tators during the afternoon. Everyone
who passed there had to stop and watch
the surly waters as they rushed along.
An accident occurred, the extent of
which has not been determined. caused by
the ice to the iron bridge which conveys
the main of the Augusta Water Co. across
Bond brook, near Weber & Cages sash
and blind factory. The bridge was over
turned and the water main injured, so
that it became necessary to use the old
pipe, which connects the pumping station
with the reservoir.
About the city, the overlooked base
ments and leaks are positively too numer-
Gus to mention. The streets in many