Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1843-03-09

ed. The letter further states, that some
few negroes escaped from Junesborough
on raft; aud when passing the resid-
ence of Col. James IL. johnson. they saw
him. with his family ON the house top,
but could render them no assistance; and
soon after passing, they heard crash.
and one wild scream. and all was silent
again except theraar Of the rushing tor
rent.
Amid the general distress, Captain
Crooks. Of the steamboat Hunter, pro-
ceeded to Mill Creek, and rendered the
sufferers every possible succor in his pow
er-going from place to place, picking
up the survivors from the tops of the
houses and trees thus rescuing from a
watefy grave some seventy-five or hum
dred persons. Some were necessarily
tle!t'to perish in the cane and timber. as
there was no possible way of reaching
them; their cries often being heard above
the noise Of the element. Six families of
Indians, 1 miles IRON this side of Jones'
borough, are reported as lost; and Col
Milan of Kentucky, with lady, his
niece, and a Mr.. Mckinney, persisted.
1t is thought thai over hundred live
have been lost between Fulton and Jones'
borough many we as yet cannot
with certainty predicate, as our sources
Of information will not always justify an
implicit belief. Owing to the great num-
Der of settlers on the bottoms Of Red Riv-
er, the loss of property and human life
must be immense; yet. we would iain be.
lelieve not so great as is generally report
ed, for we hope that the accounts given
US have been exaggerated.
The river. is still raising, but very
slowly.
HOW TO BECOME PROSPEROUS.
We never knew a young couple to set
out in the world (if poor) extravagautIy,
attempting to live as if in aifluence. but
what they were looked upon with con-
tempt. not only by their superiors in
wealth, but by every class of society. II
is altogether the best way to live within
your means. If you are a Iaborer and
earn but five dollaes "a week, lay by a
portion OF it for sickness or for holidays.
We know an amiable womau, the wife of
d cooper, who was attended through n
long and severe illness by an aftectionate
nurse, who received, beside her due COM
pensatlon. many handsome presents from
this grateful family. To this good wo-
man. it was consolation that she had
not added to tatiguing sickness, ,unneces-.
sary anxiety concerning her attentive
husband and group of interesting chil-
dren. In health they had lived ndepen-
dent OF the tyrannioal customs of society,
governing their expenditures by their in
come and their necessities; and not by
the dlctation of fashionable communi-
ty. BY this means, they found their
reward, in short time, in the true en-
joyment not only of'the necessaries, but
of the comforts Of life. Tine consequence
was contentment and happiness. And
IN sickness they found much consolation
in the reflection that their prudence and
economy had placed them in independent
circumstances, although they bad en-
countered the sneers and ridicule Of their
and been shut out from the
circle Of an intelligent community. We
hope to live to see the time when. in this
country, the naughty lidiculers of these.
and other enterprising mechanics, shall
be ground under the thick soled boot of
the honest cooper.
.FRIGHIF'UL SNAKE STORY.
The following incident was related to
US the other day, by one whose ,veracity
Is unquestloned, and who was an eve wit
ness of the fact. 1t is more appalling
than any we recollect to have ever read
in the history of these reptiles.
Some time last summer, the inhabi-
tants of Manchester, Mississippi, gave
Barbecue, which was attended by most
of the fashion and beauty Of the town AMI
surrounding country. 1t happened that
among the guests tthere was a Young la
dy, Miss N. recently from one of the
Eastern cities, who was on visit to her
relations in the neighborhood of the town.
Miss NJ. was gay and extremely
fashionable young lady, and witkal pos
sessed an uncommon share of spirit and
courage, except in the matter of snakes
and of these she had so great dread
that she scarcely dared tie walk any
where except in the most frequented
places, for fear Of encruntering them. E.
very effort was used, but without avail.
to rid her of her child lsh fears. They
haunted her continually, until at last it
became the settled conviction of her
mind that she was destined to fall "a VIC
tim to the faneS of q ratilasnake The