Eruptio7i of Lang Lake and Mud Lake, in Vermont. 153 



speed to save their lives. Having all at length got out of dan- 

 ger, they stood on firm ground near the lake, and on both sides 

 of the widening chasm, and observed the progress of the deso- 

 lation. 



As the water rushed from the southern towards the northern 

 extremity, it forced up upon the shore a large mass of soft, oozy 

 mud, several rods above the existing water-level, on either side 

 of the outlet. This mud remained stationary for some time, and 

 on its surface a large number of the fish of the lake lay snapping 

 and flouncing. Just as one of the workmen was venturing into 

 the mud to secure some of the fish, the water having chiefly run 

 out ; the two masses of mud, being no longer pressed upward 

 by the force of water, slid down at once into the gulf, and were 

 immediately swept away. 



This process of undermining and fracturing successive por- 

 tions of the hard-pan having been continued about twenty mi- 

 nutes, a passage was forced through it, down to its lower extre- 

 mity ; and the superincumbent water of the lake, being thus left 

 wholly without support, flowed with such impetuosity towards 

 the northern shore, that it all gave way to the width of more than 

 a quarter of a mile, and the depth of 150 feet. The whole bar- 

 rier being thus removed, the entire mass of waters rushed out 

 with inconceivable force and violence ; and, the northern end be- 

 ing the deepest, it was but a few moments before a volume of 

 water, a mile and a half in length, about three-fourths of a mile 

 in width, and from 100 to 150 feet in depth, had wholly disap- 

 peared. 



The liberated mass of water made its way down the declivity, 

 to the valley of Mud Lake, tearing up and bearing before it, 

 trees, earth and rocks, and excavating a channel of a quarter of 

 a mile in width, and from 50 to SOJeet in depth. With the 

 immense momentum which it had gained, it flowed into this val- 

 ley, forcing forward, with irresistible impetuosity, the spoils 

 which it had already accumulated ; tore away masses of earth 

 from the high grounds on each side of the lake ; excavated the 

 whole bottom of the valley, including the shores of the lake, to the 

 depth of perhaps SO feet ; and, with the additional mass of water 

 thus acquired, made its way down the channel of Barton River. 



