USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Wentworth > History of the town of Wentworth, New Hampshire > Part 18
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At 4 A.M. the water was pouring down the state road past Evans' Garage and carrying away the
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fill and abutment at the south end of the village bridge.
Only the fact that the water pouring past the depot and through the cut below soon made a deep channel between the passenger station and the railroad water tank, diverting a large volume of the flood water from the main river channel, saved the bridge from ruin.
At Eugene Downing's house the water level receded two feet in half an hour, as soon as the new channel was fairly opened.
Day broke on a scene of ruin and desolation; the flood waters of the river covered all the intervales and low-lying sections adjoining. South of the village the valley appeared like a great lake; on its surface floated all manner of driftwood, parts of buildings, bridge timbers, planks, fence material and all kinds of drift- ing débris. Communication was cut off; all wires were down, and bridges on every road in town had been either swept away or undermined.
The first care of the townspeople was to save those in imminent peril.
Eugene Brown and wife, living on the old Milo Aiken place at the point below the village where the railroad crosses the state road, were cut off by the water which was all around them.
Charles Brown, with his horses and a heavy
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dump cart, reached the house and carried them to a place of safety.
Zach Rolfe and wife were in still greater peril, the water being four feet deep in their house. Rolfe him- self had been nearly drowned during the night in his own woodshed.
A rescue party, consisting of August King, Daniel Lary and one of the Clough boys from the Buffalo Road, attempted to reach the Rolfe's on a hastily constructed raft, but were themselves swept down the river for nearly a mile. Lary was washed off the raft, but saved his life by clinging for some hours to the bushes.
The others finally reached a pine tree which stands on the river bank near Harry Turner's upper sugar camp; they tied themselves into the top of this tree and were later rescued by parties from the west bank of the river. The Dufour family, occupying the Smart place, had their full share of peril, and their flock of about thirty sheep on the intervale was swept away.
As the waters receded, it became certain that the village bridge was undermined at the south end and unsafe for passage. The Sanders Hill bridge was gone, with most of the western abutment. The Thayer and Smart bridges across the south branch were both entirely destroyed, and many smaller bridges through-
BRIDGE STREET
Photo by Mrs. Effie Robinson
VIEW OF RAILROAD YARD AFTER FLOOD OF NOVEMBER, 1927
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out the town. The bridge on the east side across Martin's Brook was wiped out and hurriedly replaced, in order to reopen a road to the north. The iron bridge in Warren across Baker's River, on the state road just above the town line, was carried away, cut- ting off travel north on that route; also the old covered wooden bridge at West Rumney was floated off more than a quarter of a mile and left standing square and plumb in a grove of trees; not a board was knocked off this bridge or even a shingle from its roof during the trip. The whole area around the depot was a scene of destruction, the freight station being de- stroyed, all tracks ruined and in some places entirely gone, together with the roadbed; gaping holes and piles of rock and gravel alone remained south of the station, the turntable was destroyed, telegraph lines also.
Harry Turner's lower sugar camp and contents were carried away in the night and several small buildings were shuffled around at different places.
The Boston and Maine railroad sustained the greatest property loss.
The State Highway Department appraised the damage to highways and bridges in town at $28,000. Much of the cost of replacing the bridges has been borne by the state, but the damage done to the fields and intervales caused by the washing away of the soil
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and the deposit of sand and gravel is very heavy and without remedy to the owners.
Rumney, Warren, Haverhill, Bath, Lisbon and other towns further north suffered greatly, Bath sustaining the largest loss probably of any single town.
The ruin wrought in the state of Vermont by the flood of November 3, and 4, has become a matter of history, and it suffices here to say that a survey shows the property loss in Vermont alone exceeds $25,000,- 000, while nearly one hundred people lost their lives as a result of the flood.
The property loss in New Hampshire was more than $5,000,000, about half of which occurred within the limits of Grafton County. It was about a month after the flood before train service was resumed be- tween Plymouth and Woodsville. Mails and supplies were transported on motor trucks over the state road and via the East Side route to Warren and beyond.
Official records show that over seven inches of water fell during Thursday and Thursday night. In some places the rainfall was nearly nine inches during this time.
GREAT FLOOD AND WASHOUT OF 1856
On the 6th of August of this year occurred one of the most calamitous freshets which has ever visited
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this region. For some weeks previous there had been little rain. A sharp drought prevailed. Streams and springs were very low. On Monday evening, August 4, it commenced raining and continued with but little intermission to Wednesday evening following. Part of the time, the water fell in torrents, the earth was utterly deluged. The unparalleled amount of nine and one-twelfth inches of rain fell in forty-eight hours. To the evening of the Saturday following, a period of five days, eleven and two-twelfths inches of rain fell. A larger amount of water, in the same space of time, I venture to say, had not occurred in the memory of the oldest inhabitant.
The greatest fall of water was to the westward, consequently the streams leading from that direction were very much more swollen than those from the east. As early as Wednesday noon, so much water was never seen in Mill Brook, while Baker's River was not so high as on many occasions before. A breach, at this time, had been made in the abutment of the bridge of this stream near the village. The water had also over- flowed the dam of a large sawmill, erected above the village by Dustin F. Mellen, and formed a channel back of the mill, washing out the foundation of the building on the back side, leaving the mill. so nearly balanced as to excite the expectations that it would every moment be carried away; but after all, it stood
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out the freshet, but was so much damaged as hardly to warrant the expense of repairing.
But the greatest damage was still to come. During the whole afternoon the waters were threatening to run over the gristmill dam near the village, and were only restrained by the constant exertions of some eight or ten men by raising embankments of earth on the top of the dam. At about five o'clock it broke over all obstructions, commenced undermining towards the highway, threatening the immediate destruction of a barn and machine shop belonging to Henry Johnson, and the gristmill, clapboard and shingle mill owned by David Harris. It was then suspected by most that the little dam at the outlet of Baker's Ponds, about three miles above, had broken away and that the immense body of water, spread over these ponds to the depth of some eight feet, was being poured down the valley. This proved to be the fact. The rush of water was, indeed, frightful. In the course of half an hour a channel was formed by the highway, and Mr. Johnson's barn and gristmill and shop were entirely swept away. The machine shop of John- son's remained, although much damaged.
On the opposite side of the highway, nearest the mill dam, stood a one-story dwelling house, newly painted and ornamented, with front yard, etc. A little beyond stood another one-story house, also painted.
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The former was owned by Henry Johnson and the latter by David Harris. Attached to the Harris house by an ell was their barn. Near to these buildings and a little beyond towards the village was another house and barn owned by Jonathan Judkins. Towards these buildings the current was rapidly undermining, the channel was at least ten feet deep and filled with foaming water. As fast as possible, the furniture was removed, some in carriages, to a place of safety, but a large quantity to the field back of the houses. Mr. Johnson's house was cleared before it fell bodily over into the abyss of waters, being entirely broken to pieces in the fall. Soon after, the Harris house shared the same fate, and in less than two hours from the time that the water broke over the mill dam Mr. Judkins' house was also carried away. The channel of the stream had nearly broken straight, and it was hoped that the work of destruction was at an end and that the barns belonging to Harris and Judkins, in which some furniture and lumber had been carried, would be saved. But it shortly became evident that they were destined to be swept away, and before they could be half cleared they were hurled into the current. Mr. Harris lost a hog in the barn. By that time it was getting dark and the state of things indeed frightful. On the one side the roaring, sullen and angry waters were rapidly wearing away and undermining an em-
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bankment of some twelve to twenty feet in width; the earth constantlycaving off, and so dark as to make the waters invisible; not knowing with certainty how soon it would do to venture. The roaring, intermingled with that of huge rocks which were constantly being moved over the ledge below, resembled the roar of distant thunder.
A drizzling rain, while on the other hand there was a large amount of furniture which had been carried back from the houses in imminent danger of being washed away and which must be constantly watched and moved back as the treacherous bank neared it; and still other dwellings towards which the resistless gulf was fast moving, eager, as it were, to swallow them up. Altogether it seemed a dismal period; such a night of horror may it never fall to the lot of the people to witness.
A short distance below Mr. Johnson's house, stood a small machine shop and a two-story dwelling house and barn belonging to Enoch Clark. The shop was carried away in the forepart of the evening, the dwell- ing house was thoroughly cleared, and by midnight it had been undermined to about one-third of the length of the house. By that time the water had commenced receding and consequently the wearing away of the bank was not so rapid. Mr. Clark's house stood until the next morning and fell over the bank a complete
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ruin, choking and glutting as it were, the fearful streams which had dwindled greatly from the amazing proportions of yesterday. Mr. Clark's barn was taken down and removed to a place of safety. It would not have been damaged had it remained. The loss of furniture was not very great, although, in the hurry of removal, it was somewhat damaged.
More than an acre from the depth of twelve to twenty feet with the bridge was carried away, leaving a vast chasm bare to the rocks and ledges and pre- senting a spectacle of desolation unparalleled in the history of this part of the state. The ruins have been visited by a vast quantity of people. For many miles around the intervale was covered with wreckage of buildings, and buried in many places to the depth of many feet with sand and rocks. Hardly a rod, from the falls to the river, of the original channel is now occupied by the stream. Above the mill dam the stream formed a new channel opposite the house of Ruth Stevens, threatening also to carry this away if not checked. No damage was done to the mills at the outlet of Baker's Ponds owned by Steven Aldrich, except the loss of the dam and the carrying out of the ponds some four or five hundred thousand feet of lumber in logs into the stream below, that can be reclaimed only by considerable expense. Large quanti- ties of lumber were also carried off at Mellen Mill, as
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also at the clapboard and shingle mill at the village. All the bridges on the south branch in the south part of the town were washed away. The individual loss of property in buildings, furniture, machinery and real estate cannot fall much, if any, below $10,000, while the loss to the town in highways and bridges is very great.
In connection with the effects of the freshet is one thing worthy of particular note, namely: the certain fact that the ledges laid bare by the water at a depth of nearly, if not quite, twenty feet had at some previ- ous time been washed by water in the same form and direction as now, the rocks being smooth and worn in grooves and hollows.
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SPOTTED FEVER EPIDEMIC
In 1815 this town, as well as most of New England, was visited with a very serious and fatal epidemic, called "spotted fever." It was not so fatal here as elsewhere in many places. It attacked all ages and conditions; its cause has ever remained a mystery, as is that of most other diseases of this class. It was generally thought to be contagious then, but this has
NOTE. - The above account of the disaster of 1856 was written by Dr. Hoyt, who was an eyewitness to the scene which he has described. His account is no doubt more realistic than any that could be written by anyone at this time. - G. F. P.
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been denied by some physicians; it was undoubtedly contagious to the same degree as is typhoid fever. It was a fever of high congestion and in many instances fatal in a very short time from its commencement. Its attacks were sudden, with great coldness and prostration of the entire system. The face, neck and chest soon became discolored with dark purple spots, which speedily covered the whole body, being less, however, on the extremities. If reaction could be in- duced and warmth restored, generally a high fever followed, and the patient's chance of recovery was improved. The fever usually ran from ten to fourteen days and the convalescence was generally tardy and protracted. When death came, putrification speedily followed, and the dead consequently had to be hurried to the grave. The epidemic was most severe and fatal during the winter and early spring, but mitigated as warm weather advanced.
It was a time of great mourning throughout this region; intense excitement prevailed throughout the community in regard to it and great fear to the minds of the time. It was obvious then, as it often has been since, that those who manifested the most fear were more often attacked, compared with those who fear- lessly rendered the assistance to the sick and afflicted, which duty and humanity demands. While I would recommend to all not to withhold attention to the
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sick, let the disease be what it may, I would also caution against needless exposure by too long and. protracted attendance, especially avoiding loss of sleep and irregularity of meals. A few scattering cases of this fever occurred throughout the year and the early part of 1816 following. (Dr. Hoyt.)
COLD SEASON OF 1816
After a year of great sickness, followed one of famine, almost. The seasons of some three or four years previous were colder and dryer than the aver- age. The maximum of cold was reached in 1816. Snow fell during every month of the year in the village, ex- cept August, and then it was visible on the mountain tops, so it can truly be said that snow fell every month.
After delaying the sowing of grain to a late period in the spring the farmers proceeded, with coats buttoned up and mittens on, to their spring work; frequently they plowed and harrowed in the seeds when it snowed and the ground was frozen. I have heard my father relate that on the 6th of June, Election Day, he was planting corn; squalls of snow fell during the whole day; before night the ground was white and he was compelled to stop work. On the hills at this time snow fell to sufficient depth for the use of sleds and sleighs.
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Corn came up, but it looked yellow and shaky. A killing frost in July nearly destroyed it. But very little was harvested except for fodder, and that of the very poorest quality. The crops of English grain were better, especially rye; wheat and oats suffered much, but were not an entire failure like corn. Potatoes were damaged, but not entirely cut off; fewer potatoes were planted than now; consequently it was not a crop so much to be depended upon.
As a consequence prices for all kinds of provisions were high, and the winter following was one of suffer- ing to the poor. Bean porridge, barley and rye bread were the staples in most families, and lucky were those who could procure enough even of them. The spring following, 1817, the sun again imparted his usual warmth, after a vacation, as it were, waking up from a year's nap, and an abundant harvest rewarded the labors of the husbandman. Some crops fell short, however, from the scarcity of seeds in the spring. (Hoyt's History.)
ARSON TROUBLE IN 1860-1861
In the year 1860, on the Buffalo Road, among others, the following families were living: Jabez Hall on the Plummer farm; William H. Moore on the Downing farm, now owned by Auguste King, while
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Page Kimball lived in a set of buildings then standing on the corner south of the schoolhouse.
These families did not get on well at all with each other, being very unfriendly. The Halls believed and stated Kimball's people had frequently bewitched them, to their great damage and discomfort. Moore had suffered the loss of garden truck, crops from his field, and corn from his crib. He believed the Kimballs responsible for at least part of his trouble, and took no pains to conceal his opinion of the Kimballs. Moore's barn, filled with crops, was burned in the fall of 1860. It was commonly believed the fire was the act of an incendiary, and the neighbors became still further estranged while the bitterness increased.
An outbreak of arson and attempts at intimidation now followed. Notices printed with a charred stick on brown paper, later with pencil on white paper, were left at different places in the neighborhood. These notices threatened several parties with "Fire, Poison and Death," and were the cause of much alarm. Small fires were started frequently in the woods, and on the premises of the different parties where the threatening notices had been left.
By the time of what may perhaps be called the Reign of Terror, which lasted for about a year, had been brought to a close, the following buildings had been burned:
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ARSON TROUBLE IN 1860-1861
William Moore - one barn at the first fire, also a second barn nearly completed.
Jabez Hall - barn and sheds. The loss of this property fell upon Mr. George Plummer, who had just bought the place, but had not moved onto the farm. Mr. Plummer seems to have been the innocent bystander in this case, as he was then living in Hebron and had no part in the quarrel.
The schoolhouse in district No. 10.
A set of buildings owned by Judge Sargent, occu- pied by Page Kimball and his family. These buildings stood near the present Buffalo Road schoolhouse.
A full set of buildings on the Mountain Road, un- occupied and owned by Robert Eames.
The sugar camps of David M. Currier and William H. Moore, together with their contents.
A set of buildings in the village owned by Thomas J. Smith, Esq. Lawyer Smith was at the time of this fire counsel for some of the parties whose property had been burned.
The members of the Kimball family were arrested and put in jail, but it does not appear their case ever came to trial. While the Kimballs were in jail there was at least one set of buildings burned, together with several smaller fires. It was thus apparent the guilt was not confined to any one person, or even to any one family. The consensus of opinion for many years
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has been that the Kimballs were responsible for a portion of these crimes, and that their guilt was shared by at least one other individual in the neigh- borhood known to be unfriendly to some of the parties whose property was destroyed.
The Kimball family, after their release from jail, did not return to town, but settled elsewhere. Jabez Hall had already sold his farm and soon moved away, which was probably a benefit to the community, and peace was at last restored.
The district in 1864 built a new schoolhouse on a different location, which is the present Buffalo School.
In this way the Red Terror came finally to an end, as has been related.
MURDERERS' ROW
The people of Wentworth have always been, on the whole, a peaceable and law-abiding population. Crimes of violence, as well as offences against person or property, have happily been of rare occurrence. In spite of this, it is the unpleasant duty of the historian to record the fact that there has been in town three cases of murder, a brief account of which seems to be essential. These crimes will be mentioned in the order of their occurrence.
In the year of 1842 there was living on the northern
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part of Ellsworth Hill, where the land slopes to meet the lower end of Baker's Pond, an elderly man named Asa Putney, a descendant of our Putney race. He appears to have been a thrifty, hard-working man who had acquired quite a lot of property. He had at this time a small place near the lower end of the pond, as well as the larger place further up the slope of the hill on which he lived. On the small place there was living at this time Samuel Hanscom and his wife, who were newcomers, having been in town less than two years. The land occupied by Hanscom is now owned by the proprietors of Camp Pemigewasset.
Troubles over business matters had arisen between Putney and his tenant. One morning Putney left home for the purpose of cutting some grass on the place occupied by Hanscom. As night fell he failed to return. His wife, the next day, caused a search to be made for her husband. His hat and scythe were found near the end of the bridge. Hanscom assisted in the search and was one of the little party who finally found Putney's body in the pond in rather shallow water, below and not very far from the bridge.
An examination of the body revealed the shocking fact that Putney's skull was fractured and his neck broken, and that he had died before the body was put into the water. It was clear that murder had been committed. As Mr. Putney was a partial cripple, it
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seemed very unlikely that he could have been the attacking party. Suspicion pointed to Hanscom as being the murderer. After some delay he was arrested and finally placed on trial, but acquitted for lack of sufficient evidence. The Hanscom family soon after the trial left town, going to New York state.
ALLEGED CONFESSION OF SAMUEL HANSCOM AND WIFE
It has been commonly reported and by many believed that Hanscom, who did not live many years after Asa Putney's death, made a confession which purported to be a full and true account of the death of Asa Putney, and runs as follows:
On the morning of the murder, Putney went to the house occupied by the Hanscoms, and was soon in- volved in an angry argument with them, over the grass and other matters. He was finally beaten over the head with a heavy rolling pin wielded by Mrs. Hanscom, which fractured his skull and felled him to the ground, where he laid unconscious.
The Hanscoms then dragged him into a back room and left him there. Hanscom, now alarmed for his own safety, sought advice of one of the neighbors. This man, whose name will not be mentioned here, proved to be an evil counsellor. After coming to the house and looking Putney over, he advised them to
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act upon the motto that "dead men tell no tales." After this conference, Hanscom, assisted by his benevolent neighbor, laid hold of Putney and by main strength with their bare hands twisted his head upon his shoulders until his neck was broken. They then waited until after dark and put the body in the pond. They left his scythe and hat near the bridge. This was done, of course, to give the impression he had fallen from the bridge and so came to his death. This was done as outlined, and what remains has been told.
Whether the above is true or not, the fact remains that the murder of Asa Putney was a sordid and brutal crime, whose perpetrators went unpunished.
MURDER OF JOSEPH M. EMERY
In the spring of 1890, the Concord and Montreal Railroad made extensive additions and improvements in town, one of which was to provide a better water supply for their engines. A crew of men from out of town was doing the work. A few of these men, in- cluding one Walter H. Shaw of Franklin, or that vicinity, were boarding at the house of James M. Emery in the outskirts of the village on the road to Ellsworth Hill.
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