THE GREAT FRESHET

THEN CAME THE BIG FRESHET OF 1886!

IN JAN. 14, 1886, THE 'CANTON TELEPHONE' REPORTED:  THE RIVERS ARE HIGHER THAN IN 1878.  THE RAIN OF MONDAY NIGHT AND TUESDAY BROUGHT THE RIVERS UP TO A GREAT PITCH.  ABOUT 11A.M. THE ICE WENT OUT ON THE SWIFT RIVER AND THE ANDROSCOGGIN.  ALL EVENING THE THUMPING OF LOGS COMING OVER RUMFORD FALLS COULD BE HEARD.  I HAVE JUST COME FROM THE RIVER AND FOUND ITS BANKS FULL, COVERING THE LOW INTERVALE ON THE OLD GLEASON PLACE.  WHERE ARE THE LOGS FROM THAT HAVE BEEN COMING DOWN THE RIVER?

"WEDNESDAY WE FOUND GOOD WHEELING, WITH EVERYBODY OUT AND OUT ON WHEELS.  THE WATER RAN SMOOTHLY OVER THE RACE AND KNAPP ROCKS AT RUMFORD FALLS.  LOGS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE RIVER SWEPT CLEAR AND MANY OF THOSE LEFT AT THE TIME OF THE "BIG JAM" BELOW THE MAIN PITCH WERE SWEPT OUT.
 
"ICE WAS BACKED UP AND LEFT ALMOST TO THE ROAD ON SETH REED'S INTERVALE.  SWIFT RIVER ROSE RAPIDLY.  LYMAN RUNDLETT LOST ABOUT 25 CORDS OF POPLAR THAT WAS CUT INTO FOUR FOOT CUTS, THE NEWTON BROOK BRIDGE AT DIXFIELD WAS IMPASSABLE.  THE MAIL, DUE TUESDAY NIGHT, REACHED HERE WEDNESDAY AT 11 A.M. GOING BY WAY OF WELL'S MILLS IN DIXFIELD."