Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1900-02-17
WINTERS CLIMAX
Rivers Changed From Dry Beds
TO Flushing Torrents.
Not One Old Fashioned Snow
StOrni-Merrimac and CODnecti.
cut River Valleys Especially
Strickcn-Wa>huu and Drown
ing Accidents-Big Dam in Clin-
ton in Danger-Towns With Low
Reservoirs Feel Cause for RctOic-
ing.

Boston, Feb. 14.-An excessively heavy
rainfall, after wiping out what few evil
dences there were of snow and ice, has
brought to a climax the most unseason-
able winter New England has known for
a great many years.
Tributary bodies of water, which few
weeks ago were so low that the al
most unheard of condition of drought
n midwinter was threatened, have been
changed into torrents of more threaten
ng volume than in the usual spring
freshets. From drought to flood, with
Ill of the damage done at both extremes
to the manufacturing. logging and ice
harvesting interests. is now added tie
COS II replacing bridges swept away.
md of replacing railway and highway
beds torn up. More serious still, there
has been loss of life at several points.
The most extensive damage reported
$ along the Merrimac and Connecticut
rivers. The blow was fierce along the
coast, but shipping, usually less in vol
ume at this section of the year, had
ample warning of the storm. A big
feet of coasters, chiefly the coal fleet.
was anchored off the Cape Cod shore,
hut it was safe, as contrary winds for
many days had made the ship masters
keep their anchors down and hold on
tight for Il shift to more favoring winds.
AT Manchester, N. H.. Almer Fl. Jack
son, a second hand in a mill. attempted
to jump over a riverlet, but fell into
the water and was washed away and
drowned. He leaves a widow and -four
children.
Washouts stopped traffic on the Bos-
ton and Maine main line with Nashua,
and on the Manchester and North Weare
branch.
Siona Martin. II years old, was
drowned in the Nashua river at South
Fitchburg. Mass. during her attempt
to leave her home, which rising water
had surrounded. The current was $,
swift that she was carried off her feet.
Dispatches from various sections In
Vermont and Maine place the rainfall
at over three inches. The Connecticut
river at Bellows Falls rose nearly five
feet during the day, and as most of the
smaller streams are running wild a fur,
ther rise of six to eight feet is looked for
At North Adams. the HOcsac riveI
runs stronger and higher than Mt any
time for 30 years. several mills having
their lower floors flooded, with damage
exceeding $4,000. The great pressure
of water at the temporary dam of the
metropolitan water board at Clinton
which reservoir in the Nashua river sup
81, t,,f, = 4
the workmen are preparing for cmer-
gencies.
Along the kennebec river in Maine the
ice is so weak that it is likely to break
up today and with the ice goes al
prospects for a harvest this season.
The rain storm has done an meal
culable amount of damage Throughout!
New Hampshire. the railroads suffering
extensively. Trains are delayed in al
parts By washouts or mud piled on the
tracks. The Suncook valley branch
suffered three big washouts. one being
10 feet long and Is feet deep. At Peter
boro, the three trestle bridges Were
jammed out of shape by packed ice, and
the Contoocook river Is higher than ever
before.
The heaviest rain storm for year,
according to official reports. threatened
to create much damage throughout Con-
necticut, and though reports come from
all sections of the state of rivers and
tributaries Overflowing their banks, no
casualties are reported and but little
serious damage. The deluge has been
effective in increasing the water sup
ply in reservoirs that have for long
time been almost exhausted, and towns
that have been inconvenienced fol
months from an inadequate water sup
ply are again rejoicing that all danger
of a water famine has been removed.