The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1832-03-27


lumber ,Vagons, with four horses Fr;dey
night last, the 10Th, Mr.. Weld, with one
other passenger and two stage drivers. at
tempted TO cross Alum croek,a few miles
east OF Columbus: The horses plunged 10,
and were instantly swimming. The wagon
tifted and threw the other passenger and dri-
YER, upon one side, and they were washed on
TO the shore. Mr.. Weld was thrown near
the axle,ree, and caught bold Of the upright
The driver jerked his horses SD as TO bring
The leaders up the streanl-as there r'as but
one, place where they could'swiln OUT, and
they were rapidly floating with the swift
current. This movement throw every thing
into confusion. Mr. Weld found himselEnear
the head ofth leaders, and they (being
martingaled SO that their heads were drawn
into the water,) were plunging and strug.
Cling. To. prevent himself from being
struck by them, he attempted to seize them
by the headstall, but was struck down and
came up between tho wheel horses and the
leaders. He was again struck down, and
ogoin rose in the midst Of the mass OF horses
and wagon, and found himself en,angled.
Having struggled for some time, he was
sensible that the lines or whatever else was
that held him, were giving way, he caught
hold Of the head stall Of one OF the horses,
and, placing one foot upon the breast OF the
horse, cleared himself and began 10 swim
down tho stream. 1t was about midnight,
and the moon had snnk, but there was suite
lent light to see that the bank was steep, and
afforded no place to ascend. He continued
to swim down the stream about quarter OF
q mile, when he saw place that seemed to
promise a slopng bank. He made Dr il,
and reached It, found place where The tor
4 4 4. q sb,.<,
no means of obtaining rest. except by seizlng
upon the roots which projected from under
the bank. He seized upon root, but was
then went down tor considerable distance,
and perceivng on the other side plsce at
which he might escape, he made almost a
death struggle to reach IT, He vas now al
most exhausted, having gone down about
mile, and having been thrown into small
whirlpool where one Of his legs was struck
| by a log or rock. which rendered it useless
IN swimming, and being encsmbcred with his
cloak, surtouts, ovefhaus, and ovcrshoes.
He took off his cloak ard Swimming on his
back,) endeavoured to lake off his upper sur.
tout, This he found he could not do. lie
| then tore ofFihe front of il, and finding he
could not tare il off he took the skirts, one in
each hand, and tore II up the back. but final
ly gave it up. He pushed off his overshocs,
and endeavoured 10 get off his boots. fle
got ono psrtly of, but they were too much
soaked q nd his feet too much swollen to ena.
bic him to rid himself Of them.
He continued to go down the stream
without any effort, except keeping himself
above water, until he saw tree which had
fallen from the bank into the water. He put
forth oil his strength to reach it, and was
barely able 70 reach branch. II was GOV.
cred with ice; his hand slipped; he caught
another branch, but his hands having lost all
their power, he could hold on but moment.
AT this instant he saw some bushes at short
distance, which he Immediately swan 10, and
there for the first time, put his feet upon the
bottom Of the stream. The water was up to
his waist, and looking about, he discovered
that the bank was about the height Of five
feet perpendicular, and that the only foot
hold and place of safety was where he was
then standing in the water. He could see
no light--nothing but an untouched and soil
tary wilderness about him. He thought it
useless to cry for help in that dead hour of
the night; he was upwards ofa mile from
4 the place where be FIRST went into the stream,
chilled through and exhausted. He cid
endeavour, however, to cry for help; he
could at first hardly raise the sound Of his
voice, but was ut length able to cry out. He
cried for help and listened; and cried ind lis
tened until he was entirely exhausted; no
sound was heard to answer him. He had
lost all feeling in his limbs; was in no pain;
his eye sight began to fail, and he could no
longer hear tho voice Of the waters He
knew, ,(seemingly, ),hat he was dying, but had
presence of mind enough to lean over upon
the bushes, so that his body should not be
swept away. The last ray Of reason finally
left him. and he bad passed the last con.
scious struggle of'lfe with death. The last
recollection was an indistinct vision Of light
and faces, and when he again opened his eyes
he was laying upon bed, and the plying
compassionate face of woman was before
him.
! Nearly quarter Of mile from where his
cry for help was raised, this woman hud
heard and been awakened by it, She a..
woke her husband, it was then half past two
o'clock in the morning, and he getting TO-.
gether other neighbors, they s,srtod in
search of him. He had ceased 10 cry, and
the men having got a canoe, crossed the
creek, and being unable on account of the
current to 60 up it, left their canoe and
searching the bank, found him leaning over
the bushes sens eless. They were barely
able 10 reach over the bank and get hold of
the collar Of his coat, so % to raise him up.
i They took him to cabin, and in about an
hour, by friction. &c, brought him to life.
He stayed with the woman mentioned, and
her husband, five days, and no tells me he
could not have been treated more kindly by
his dearest relatives. He says he shall ever
after this love log cabin; and the compas.
ionate and anxious look of Mrs. Patch, when
he first opened his eyes will never be forgot.
ten. He had, when here yesterday, entire
ly recovered, except that the extremities Of