Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-08-17


streams to the North. John Wilson's house and
the house occupied by MIR. Stewart. blind man.
were several rods from the river the fiat and near
each other A few rods below the Wilson's Mills,
which were situated on the lower dam, the stream
turns short to the West and dashes through narrow
passage In rocks called the narrows There was
narrow bridge above the Wilson's Mile. Between
ten and eleven O'Clock at night. the water rising r
pdiy the Wilson's became alarmed for their property
and some OF the neghbors collected to assist in It's
preservation. Miles Far and his son cross I'd the river
for that purpose before the bridges went off, While
they were at work about the Mill for this purpose the
water was rising with fearful rapidity. The upper
bridge went together with the grist mill and clother
works The floating mass paused a moment At the
lower brldge-that gave way and all was thrown on
the lower mills and dam when John Wilson and
hs son and the two Ears gave up attempting to
any thing from the mills and went to John Wilson q
house, they found to their astonishmeut that rapid
ana powerful current of water was sweeping along
between the house and the high ground beyond. They
attempted to ford 1t in vain. The two Ears crossed
TO the Stewart house, when Lemuel B. Eldrldpe
Esq and his son young man about twenty. and a
MI Somers, hired man of Mr. Eldridge, had already
arrived Mr.. Eldrdge rode horse through the cur
rent to the Stewart house but considered that it would
oe very hazardous to attempt to return in the same
way. iheY immediately commenced building raft
at the end OF the wood house with a view to take
on the Stewart family. They had previously left
the house and taken refuge in the barn which stood
on little high ground.
started, and was swept away by the current They
could no longer hold the raft and the man who was
noloing 1t when the wood house began to move was
ooldged to Jump ON the raft and go with the rest
mere was on the raft when it started Lemuel B FL
dridge and SON Miles F'arr and son. Mr.. Somers,
and one of the Stewart boys. They were hurried
along towards the narrows, but all kept on until
they reached that frightful charnel house. IN
ment the raft was scattered, and every one on it
precipltated into the water. Mr. Farr seized plank
from the raft with his right hand, and soon iound
some hoating substace to grasp with his left Hold
ing hrmly by these, the cnrrent carried him down
10 the nat about half mile below the mills, where
ne lodged against a large pine stump. He let 90
his panks, thinking he had found something more
saIe out IN moment a quantity of flood wood came
against the stump, and he was again driven down
the current. lie was nearly exhausted and discour-
aged; he however made one more effort for life which
proved successful. He succeeded In clearing the
Hood wood, when the stump again grounded and he
remained holding on TO it until taken off in the morn
ing, MT. Eldridge was carried nearly through the
narrows, when he seized board which proved of
great assistance to him. He was carried near Mr.
Farr, and on to piece of corn ground. where he
could touch the bottom and where, by holding on
10 the corn, ne could withstand the current. Mr..
Farr's son and one ofthe Stewart boys lodged on a
point little above Mr.. Eldridge. The yong men
caught clapboard and some bits of flood wood and
by cutting up their suspenders and flashing them to
gether, they at length extrcated Mr. Eldridre, and
after 1t grew light, Mr.. Farr
Of MIR. Somers and the son of Mr.. Eldridge moth
ing ID know Il is supposed they were drowned soon
after the breaking up of the raft. The rest of the
stewart family, consisting of Mr. and Mrs. Stewart,
and four Children thus left in the barn without
the least hope of aid succor. The raft their las,
nope with their kind neighbors and their eldest son.
they had seen hurried away what appeared nevta-
BILE destruction The scaold upon the barn in which
they had taken refuge, followed the raft and
was crushed pieces in passing the narrows All
tnat were IN 1t persisted except boy about ID years
DID, VINO was mlracuously preserved by drifting a
gainst the top OF tree, TO which he chung until taken
OFT the next morning He says he had hold of his
mothers hand IN passing the narrows and she spoke
to him. She was confined by some kind of timber
probably some part of the barn which fell on her -
Ihey were soon separated by the torrent or drift wood
In the house of John Wilson was himself and wife
and sister of his wfe-a son Erskine about 90 years
old, daughter Anne, and two young children Mr.
wilson, when first alarmed about the safety of his
FAMILY made With his son several Intellectual attempts
70 escape: Finding it was in vain, he told his son
they would go into the chamber and If they must co.
tney would all 60 together They had been in the
chaInber but short time when they heard the cellar
wall giving way, and almost instantly the chimney
iel and ErskIne was precpitated into the cellar He
with which the cellar filed near the place where
he fell in, he was extricated by bis father Perceiy-
ing the water was fast undermining the house. Mr.
w ison went with his son to the door which looked
towards the road. While standing in the door mo-
rnent they felt the house move from it's foundations
and both eaped into the stream, and both reached the
shore After getting to the shore, Erskne distinctly
saw his sister Anne with the youngest child in her
arms en- what appeared to be the chamber floor and
distinctly heard her call his several times and
beg him to save her and little Sarah He told her to
throw the child towards the Shore far she could
and Jump herself She did hear or saw no chance
OF escape from such course. In the mean time the
Hood was carrying her fast towards the narrows
The brother and father along the shore as fast as
possible, hoping would bring her so near the
shore that they might save her, but they had 10 make
considerable OF crut, and they heard her frantic
cries Tor heip when none but an Almighty could
have saved her. They her enter the rapids, but
did not see her more.
Inc plain unyarnshed tale of this terrible calamity
Is enough to melt heart of adanant. We saw the
remnants Of the little village Tuesday at noon-
fhe stream had fallen more than twelve feet, but
vast column OF turbld water still rushing through
tue very spot where the houses and gardens of these
unfortunate people has stood the night before Words
can convey but faint idea of the frghtf desolaton
mat appeared on every side There were in all four
teen persons hat were lost and tweDty-one buildings
carried away With all their contents All the streams