St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1897-07-23
WEST CONCORD.
A Big Washout.


This town suffered more from the high
water OF last week than any other in this
section. The heavy rains of last week
Tuesday and Wednesday swelled the
Moose river to an unusual height and
Wednesday evening the mud dam between
Dudley's mill and the railroad track was
considered by some to be growing weak.
No measures however were taken to
strengthen it. During the night the
work train that had been repairing DAM
ages between this village and East st.
Johnsbury finished their work and was
riding back and forth over the track.
About three o'clock they noticed that the
water opposite the Dudley mill was work
ing its way under the track and backed
the train back just as the track began to
sink. They also noticed that the mud
dam was giving away, quite volume Of
water already running over it into the
main highway. They blew the whistle
to warn the people, who soon commenced
to rush out as if going to fire. The
occupants of several houses in the new
course the river was making tor itself
were in danger oil being drowned if not
aroused at once. The water was already
so high that the women in c. II. Smiths
house had to be carried through it to
place of safety.
{. H. Smith had quite an experience
in escaping. Upon being aroused and
told of the trouble his first thought
seemed to be for pet coon, hitched some.
where on the the premises. He started
the coon on to the road to safety and
then started for the barn to get out his
two horses. One went out all right, but
the other was ugly, and while making
up its mind what to do the barn door
was closed and held in place by logs.
The barn commenced to give and Smith
mad hardly time to run up stairs and
Jump from the second story into three or
Jour feet of water below. before the cur
rent picked the barn off its foundation
and hurled it violently down stream.
The ell part of the house next went. The
main part Of the house was tipped up on
one side but large apple tree prevented
II IRON going down stream. Smith loses
the contents OF the barn and the ell part
OF the house, besides the buildings. The
contents of the main part of the house
were saved, but the house itself is ruined.
Right in the main part OF the current
was the Dudley blacksmith shop, 65x26
leet, tenement in one end, blacksmith
Shop in the middle and Office in the other
end With the exception of some fine
Wagons and sleighs belonging to the
nui Bros, stored in the blacksmith
snop' the building was vacant. A small
eim tree held this building for some little
!!lme, but when the flood finally did get
!, N IN cantrol rapidly tore it to pieces
Next ~ to go were the barn and shed of the
~ u Wyman house on the south side Of
me IN, road Just opposite the Smith house
Inc main house stood there until late ir
s cue afternoon, when it reluctantly let go
vs., TO pieces and rolled down stream
Inns house was occupied by Albert Frye
ana ana his daughter, Mrs. Bowker. Con
tents all saved.
T.. NO damage was done to either the Dud
i ley or Harvey & Higgins mills. They
t tost between them probably about 10, 0O(
Sel OF logs and will be able to do any
a ous'ness until the mud dam is replaced
""u the water turned back into its ole