46 Eruption of Long Lake and Mud Lake, in Vermont. 
the soft, oozy mud, several rods above the existing water- 
level, on either side of the outlet. This mud remained sta- 
of the workmen was venturing into the mud to secure some 
is process of undermining and fracturing successive por- 
tions of the hard-pan having been continued about twenty 
minutes, a passage was forced through it, down to its lower 
extremity ; 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 barrier being thus removed, the entire mass of wa- 
ters rushed out with inconceivable force and violence ; and, 
the northern end being the deepest, it was but a few moments 
before a v @ 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 disappeared. : 
The liberated mass of water made its way down the de- 
elivity, 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 80 feet in 
With the immense momentum which it had gained, it flowed 
into this valley, forcing forward, with irresistible impetuosity, 
Jake ; excavated the whole bottom of the valley, including 
the shores of the lake, to the depth of perhaps 30 feet ; and, 
with the additional mass of water thus acquired, made _ its 
bi aaa the channel of Barton River. 
ud Lake had originally a narrow outlet, and rising 
grounds of moderate height bounded it at the northern end. 
The accumulated torrent, bearing along the gathered spoils 
of its own desolations, broke away this mound in a moment; 
and following the course of the river, rushed down the long 
and rapid descent of five miles towards the flats in Barton. 
Through all this distance it tore up and carried away the for- 
est trees, and hollowed out to itself a path in the earth, vary- 
ing from 20 to 40 rods in width, and from 20 feet to 60 in 
