The General Hospital in the 19^th Century

Transcription: “The backflow of the same ice, by almost completely blocking the flow of water, caused a terrible flooding exceeding that of 1789, by water height, which was 35 or 36 feet higher than its ordinary riverbed. During the night of the 20-21^st, water began covering the riverside part of our land. Our men, who were the first to notice, came at 3:00 am to warn Sister Coutlée, who was then the 3^rd bookkeeper, to send the girls to milk the cows, saying there was no time to spare. The girls departed immediately and despite the diligence they brought to their task, it was impossible to finish in the stables, with the water rising so rapidly, that in an instant, water was covering their feet; it was necessary to evacuate all the animals, and seek the highest parts of the courtyard (…). They found themselves on mounds like little islands, unable to move without getting into the water. Our men, who at the time were also in the water up to their waist trying to retrieve the remaining animals from the stable, came to their rescue; they put a horse on a line and pulled them into the house.”