Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1900-02-16
MONTPELIER AFLOAT.
Ice Gorge Turned the WinOOsh River
into the city.

Water Four Feet Deep on state aud
Main streets---Entire business Sec
ton Flooded---TOiRl Damage - EsiI-
mated at Upwards OF s1oO,OOO.
One of the most disastrous losses to
property ever experienced in Montpelier
was caused by an ice gorge which filled the
channel of Winooski river from the Wells
River railroad station to the Green Noun
tain cemetery, and turned swollen streams
into the streets of the city. The heavy
rains of three days had raised the river
and streams to an unusual pitch, but when
people retired Tuesday night the worst was
supposed to be over. About o'clock the
fire alarm aroused the sleepers, who found
the streets filled with flowing water. In
mates in several houses we're driven to the
second stories, where they were rescued
with boats.
The business section of the city, State,
Main and Elm streets, was completely
Hooded. The water rose so suddenly that
merchants had no time to move goods from
cellars and Easements. The total loss is
estimated at $1j0,00O.
T. G. Phinney's house on Spring street
was Hooded so suddenly that the family
and carpets to the upper story before the
first floor was covered. Mr.. Phinney has
been in poor health of late and the expe-
rience was ver7 severe for him. l.. b.
Cross, who is Affected by heart trouble.
was overcome by the excitement and for a
time bis life vas in serious danger. No
doctor could be secured until horse had
been procured u cross the street with and
q q me I'll ~ Ill -,
the needed stimilants for the sufferer.
Perley WilbuI clerk in Brooks d Berly's
store, stood in the cold water in the base
ment without my protection from / until
O'Clock, passing out goods. After getting
out he was found in an unconscious state.
having been overcome by the exposure.
Mrs. Gallison was almost at the point of
death and though the water was rapidly
rising about thehouse il was impossible to
remove her and her son, Harvey Gallison,
was obliged to wait two hours on the op-
posite side of tie house before he could be
ferried across tothe bedside of his dying
mother.
The hotels were all temporarily disabled
Wednesday morning. AT the Pavilion the
basement was lied with several feet of
water and in font the water was several
feet deep. Any guests who wanted to go
to or from the DEPOT were transported in a
boat. At the Montpelier House and Adams
Hotel the water was a foot deep in the Of
fees and dining 'ooms and the guests were
served breakfastin their rooms on the sec
ond floor.
Two trusses went out Tuesday night on
the Montpelier & Wells River railroad near
Barre, thus tyinglp the suburban line. DC
cupants of five dwelling houses on Elm
street, near the rver bank, were taken out
in boats and conveyed to higher land.
The flood wasof such a magnitude as TO
cause all busiIess TO be at a standstill in
Montpelier Wednesday. 1t will be several
days before thu railroad traffic can be re-
sumed in its nirmal state.
The ice Jan in the Winooski river be-
came a solid vail of ice, extending nearly
two miles, ant it allowed torrent of water
TO rush into the centre Of the city. In less
than an hour many of the streets were I'M
der four feet Of water, and the merchants.
who had been caught entirely unawares,
made hurried efforts 10 save portions of
their stock.
There we've many instances during the
early morning where persons were awaken
ed by the rush of water into their rooms,
particularly st the house Of Winifred Pine,
on Elm street, who stepped out of bed in
TO water several inches deep.
At one tine the water was running in
the streets to depth of from four to six
feet. Those having boats did all in their
power TO alleviate damage. Live stock
was released from the stables where they
were nearly submerged, and separated por-
tions of families we're reunited. One could
step from bridges 10 the ice gorges, which
extended from up the North Branch to
Montpelier junction.
Nearly every collar along the business
portion of Main street in Barre contained
from two to six feet of water Wednesday.
The Barre railroad company have gang
Of men blasting ice at the Prospect street
bridge and the bridge is held in place by
heavily loaded cars of granite. Three
bridges between Barre and Montpelier were
carried away.
The water had receded at Montpelier
yesterday, but large cakes of ice, barrels,
boxes and other articles were scattered over
the flooded district. Many men are at
work cleaning the streets. The damage is
placed at $4,000