Sketches of the Restigouche


The Restigouche Freshet and Ice-Jam part 4

Damage up the Restigouche

Although news comes in meagrely from up the Restigouche, it is evident that much property has been destroyed and the ro?ed to such extent as to render them unfit for travel for months. The people will, therefore, have to depend almost wholly upon the river for getting from place to place. The loss of the Upsalquitch bridge involves the cutting off, or serious interruption of communication with the lumber driving operations which centre at Kedgwick, and it will also have the effect of delaying work in connection with the completion of the new Vanderbilt lodge at Haile's Brook, a mile below Kedgwick.

At Dougald Ferguson's, Chain of Rocks, the water rose until it was five feet deep in the house, and all his fences were destroyed. Richard Mann's farm was inundated and considerably damaged, the porch washed from his house and his fencing swept away. Alex McDonald, whose place is on the New Brunswick shore, Deeside, lost seven horses, about twenty cattle and a number of sheep. He is also reported to have lost a large quantity of logs which he did not drive last season, and also the larger part of the past winter's operation.

R.D. Blair and Hugh McLeod lost about 2000 logs on the Restigouche.

J. P. Mowat's mill at Moore settlement on the Quebec side of the Restigouche was considerably damaged. It as reported as having moved upon its foundation and turned partially around, the cookhouse being turned upside down.

A. Elis Falle's (Goelet's) Farm, Runnymede, opposite Dawsonville, the water submerged the whole flat, although the ice was kept off by the trees which form a protection between the cultivated land and the river. His barns were almost afloat, the cattle however being saved by huddling together on the high ground surrounding the house, which became an island. The ice, however, found its way to the public road west of Falle's, which was scoured out and is now impassable.

Mr. John Dawson's barn at Dawsonville was submerged and the Episcopal Church at that place, to which Rev. Dean Hoffman of New York gave a fine bell, was full of water up to the windowsills.

The crib work build to protect the highway at Dawsonville is also destroyed and the road impassable.

How the Restigouche "horse-yachts" fared

A finely appointed fishing scow one of the craft called "horse-yachts" owned by Mr. J. S. Kennedy of New York, president of the Restigouche Salmon Club and housed at Dawsonville is reported to be damaged. The house containing it was floated from its place and shoved by the force of the ice against it up the riverbank.

Colonel Payne's scow-house was demolished, but the scow is reported to be all right.

Mr Robert Goelet's scow house was broken and turned around, but the scow is said to be uninjured.

Mr. Van Allen's scow house is said to be completely demolished and the scow wrenched and twisted.

Other Damage

It was reported that the Restigouche Salmon Club's fishing lodge and icehouse at Pine Island were swept away, but the news lacks confirmation.

The damage done to the properties of the Restigouche Salmon Club and other angling proprietors and lessees along the Restigouche and Metapedia is not relatively so great as to whose of others interested, for the reason that as a rule they have, wherever possible, built their structures and made their improvements sufficiently high above the freshet danger level. In nearly all cases, however, they have lost more of less of the steps leading up to their lodges at different points, although the precaution of removing the lower portions of these, which were within the reach of ordinary freshets, was taken.

        To be continued......................

        Thanks to Tim Jaques at the Tribune for this very interesting article

Links of Interest