THE FLOOD OF 1843. 39 



The work of destruction was now nearly completed, and the 

 people looked on with momentary expectation of seeing the 

 whole factory fall, but in this critical and wrecked condition 

 it remained. The machinery was much injured — some of it 

 swept off, but the building has since been repaired, and is 

 now in operation. When the waters had subsided, the place 

 exhibited an altered appearance. A grove near the dwelling 

 of Mr. Crozer, but on the opposite side of the stream, was 

 entirely stripped of its trees, and as a substitute for the green 

 sward upon which they grew, the whole surface remains cov- 

 ered with rocks, stone and gravel ; while on the opposite side 

 of the stream, and below the house and Crozerville factory, 

 the green flat is enveloped in a deposit of mud several inches 

 in depth. This latter deposit is made just above the junction 

 of the two branches. The waters of the West branch flow- 

 ing down in mad haste, backed up the valley of the East 

 branch. It appeared to form a water bulwark, which caused 

 the latter stream to move at this place, with much less impet- 

 uosity, and hence the deposit of mud. The rise of the waters 

 of the West branch fork was twenty-three feet, and fully ten 

 feet higher than the great ice freshet of 1839. The time of 

 its greatest height at West branch mill, was about half past 

 five o'clock. Soon after this time the flood began to subside, 

 and fell rapidly. The bridge at Crozerville was entirely car- 

 ried off — the abutments being ra;^ed to their foundation. 



Crozerville spinning mill was flooded and the machinery 

 in the lower story a good deal injured — the cotton house, with 

 about thirty bales of cotton, together with property of less 

 value, was swept away. Opposite to this factory the channel 

 of the creek was completely filled with rocks, stones, and 

 gravel, and the stream, after the flood had subsided was 

 obliged to find its way downwards through the tail race of 

 the mill. 



Upon Green's creek, a stream putting into the main West 

 branch from the south, and emptying into it above Mr. 

 Tyson's mills, the flood attained an extraordinary height, and 



