"Twenty women and children, as the water flowed over the plain at Brewer, fled to a school-house, but could not return, and were obliged to go back upon the hills and remain until the water subsided.
"General Miller, at the post-office, with his clerks, had a cool time of it. They were all at work, when the flood suddenly came upon them, and filled the office to the depth of four feet. The general started, and held the door for the clerks to dodge out and escape up stairs; but Calvin lingered behind for some minutes, when the general called loudly to know what detained him.
"'Oh,' said he, wading along with the water up to his armpits, 'I stopped for the purpose of stamping these paid letters,' at the same time holding up a bundle.
"We are happy to add that Calvin remains perfectly cool, and that in three hours after getting into the old office yesterday morning, every thing was cleaned up and business going on as usual.
"The actual amount of property lost in the city by this flood is estimated by pretty good judges at between two and three hundred thousand dollars. This falls severely upon some of our citizens, but the heaviest losses come upon those able to ride out the storm."
But, notwithstanding the severity of this visitation, few traces are left to denote it, at least to impress the stranger's mind. Bridges have been re-erected, damages repaired, and the business community have risen from under it with the elasticity of a sapling oak after the tempest has overpast.
Between fifty and sixty saws were swept away, which have not yet (1848) been replaced.
The following table, showing the condition of the lumber manufacture and trade on the Penobscot, has been obtained from the most reliable sources of information, and is presented for the inspection of those interested in such matters.
| Number of saw-mills on the Penobscot and tributaries, | 240. |
| Number of clap-board machines, | 20. |
| Number of lath machines, | 200. |
Amount of long lumber sawed annually,[ [17] 200,000,000 feet, at $10.00 per M.