Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-10-02
THE MORAY FLOi DIS IN 1929.

TSir 7. Dick Lauder has recently published
a very interesting account of the great inunda-
ton in Moray, Scotland. last year. The follow
inc is an appalling story from this work wrough
up with all the interest Of meio-drama but uu.
fortunately, of a fatal termination. - 1Ni0n.
The flood. both in the Spey and its tributary
burn, was terrible at the village Of Charlestown,
of Aberlour. On the Sd of August, Charles
Cruikshanks. the inn-keeper, had party of
friends in his house, There was 10 inebrcty--
but there was fiddle; and wha, Scotsman is he
who does not know tina the well ierked strains of
a lively strathspey have potent spell in them
that goes bevoRd even the Witchery of the
bowl? On one who daily iuhaes the breczes
from the musical stream that gives name to the
measure, the influence is powerful: and it was
that day felt By Cruikshanks with a more than
ordinary degree of excitement. He was Joyous
to IA pitch that made his wife grave. have al
ready noticed the predestinarian principles pre-
vaient IN these parts. Mrs. Cruikshanks was
deeply affected By her husbands unusual ioIlity.
I" Surely my good mn is daft the dav.'' said
she Yravely; ne'er saw him dance at sic rate
Lord grant he binna isy' When the River be-
gan to rise rapidly in the evening. Cruikshanks.
who had quantity of wood lying near the mouth
of the burn; asked two of his neishbors, James
draggin. il out of the water. They readily COM
piled: and Cruikshanks getting on the loose raft
OF wood they followed him, and did what they
could in pushing and hauling the pieces of timber
ashore, till the stream increased SD much, that
with one voice, they declared they would stay no
Ionger.a and making dcspesate effort. they plum
ged over head and reached the land with the
greatest difficulty. They had tried all their
elnouence to persuade Cruikshanks to come away
but he was bold and experienced foater. and
laughed at their fears; nay. so utterly re, &less
was he. that having now diminished the crazy
i'll put-tosether raft he stood on, till il consisted
Of few spars only, he employed himselfm trying
to catch at ana save some hay cocks belonging
tn the clergyman which were floating past him.
But while his attention was engaged the
flood was rapidly increasing. till. AT last. even
his dauntless heart became appalled, at its mag
niude aud fury. A horse. 4 horse!'' he
loudly and an >iouslv cried Ran for one of
the ministers horses, aad ride i'll with rope. else
must 20 with the stream" He was quickly
obeyed: but ere horse arrived, the food had
rendered it impossible to approach him. Seeing
that he must abandon all nope Of. help in that
way, Cruikshanks was now seen as if summon
inc up all his resolution and presence OF mind.
to make the periIous attempt of dashing through
the ragn. curren, with his frai and imperfect
raft. Graspin. more firmly the iron-shod pole
he held III his hand. called in foater's language
sting. he pushed resoutely into it: but he had
hardly done SO. when the violence of the water
wrenched from his hold that which was all he
had to depend on. 4 shrek burst from hi,
friends as they beheld the wretched raft dart off
with him down the stream like an arrow freed
FROM the bow string. But the mind of Cruik-
shanks was no common one to quail before the
first approach of danger. He poised himself
and stood balanced. with determination and
self command IN his eve, and no sound of fear
or complaint was heard to come frop him. At
the point where the burn met the river in the or
binary state of both. there grew some trees, now
surrounded by deep and strong currents. and lar
from the land. The raft took a direction to-
wards one of these; and seeing the vide and tu-
multuous waters Of the Spey before him. in which
there was no hope that his loosely connected
logs coud stick one moment together. he c0olIy
TT pared himself. and. collecting all hi, force
intu one well timed aud we'll directed effort he
sprarg, caught Tree, and cluDg among its
boughs, whilst the frail raft hurried away iycm
under his foot, was dashed into fragments. and
scattered on the bosom Of the waves. 4 shout
of iov burst from his anxious friends for they row
deemed him safe: bit he uttered no shout in re-
turn. Every nerve was strained to procure help.
boat was the General CRY. and some ran
this way and some that. to endeavor to procure
one. 1t was nov between seven and eight o.
clock in the evening, A boat was speedily OBJ
,ained from Mr.. Gordon OF Aberour; and though
no one there was very expert IN its use, it was
quickly manned BY people eager to save Cruik /
shank, from his perllous situation. The current
was too terrible about the tree to admit Of their
nearing ii so as to take him directly into the
boat. But their object was to row through the
smooth water to such distance as might ena-
bic them to throw a rope to him. BY which means
they hoped to drag him to the boat. Frequently
did they attempt this, and as frequently we're they
foied. even by that which was considered as
tine genter part of the stream. for ii hurried them
past the po:nt whence they wished to make the
cast Of their rope, and compelled them to row up a.
gain BY The side, to start on each fresh adventure.
Often were they carried 50 much in the direction
of the tree as to be compelled to exert all their !
strength to pull themselves away from him they |
h,yo hat h,,- oy,iI tho