Not  only  was  a  wide-spread  destruction  from  the  freshet  itself  impending,  but
incalculable  loss  from  fire  should  any  break  out,  and  an  entire  famine  of  water
in  the  waterworks.  Early  in  the  evening  of  Friday  the  fires  at  the  pumping
station  were  extinguished  by  the  spreading  waters  of  the  river,  and  until  the
Monday  ujorniug  following  there  was  no  wa}'  of  obtaining  a  new  supply,  the
pump  being  the  only  dependence  for  filling  the  tank.  The  registrar  issued
printed  notices  and  sent  out  special  messengers  through  the  village,  enjoining
the  people  to  practise  the  utmost  possible    economy  in  their  use  of  water.
7 (Mi  .-1    SKKTi'H    OF    THE

F'ortiiuately  the  su[)ply  previout^ly  stored  was  sullicieut  to  last  until  piunpino-
could  be  agaiu  resumed,  though  in  many  buildings  the  forec  luul  failed  to
carry  to  the  second  stories.  As  early  as  Thursday  the  river  here  had  swollen
from  the  rain  to  uinisual  proportions  and  by  Fiiday  noon  the  water  had  made
its  determined  way  into  the  boiler-room  of  the  pumping  station.  At  six
o'clock  in  the  afternoon  it  was  eighteen  inches  deep  there,  and  an  houi-  later
twenty-three  inches  deep,  and  soon  after  the  engine  fires  went  out.  This  rise
continued  all  night  and  on  Saturday  morning  County  Street  for  some  distance
"  was  fordable  only  in  long  boots,"  while  during  the  night  Mi'.  A^^ales  had
been  obliged  to  move  his  horse  and  various  things  from  Jiis  stable.
