The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1844-11-14
Incidents of The Flood at Buffalo.

Incidents of The Flood at Buffalo.
There were many hair bre a1th escapos
Of families and individuals in The late
storm and food, the particulars ofwhich.
if all could be CO llected and given, would
make q volume of exciting interest.
Among the incidents ofthe kind we have
heard is the following.
Two families of the name Of Wilson
and Weston, resided on the south side
Of the Buffalo Creek, above the Marine
railway, in a couple of adjoining Gotta
ges. When the water commenced rising
they saw it increase without alarm, feel
ing satisfied that they were beyond its
reach, their dwellings occupying the
highest ground on that side of the stream.
Soon however it washed the basement
Of their houses, and came splashing over
the floors. Both families now collected
in one Of the buildings, and waited the
issue with some anxiety, though as yet
without alarm. But higher and higher
still rose the food, and from the chairs
and tables on which they stood 10 get
above it, hey were soon driven TO seek
other refuge. Breaking through the
ceiling over head they passed up into
the garnet and fattered themselves that
their retreat would be secure, but the
pursuing food 10 soon invaded it, and
they we're forced to seek u still greater
elevation. With much difficulty they
broke an opening through the roof and
as q last resort clambered upon the top
Of the building. Scarcely however had
they done this when the house tumbled
beneath them, and they were committed
to the mercy Of the elements, and launch
ed adrit upon the raging and boiling
food.
The families consisted each Of hus-
band, wife and infant child, all in their
night dress. 1t 80 CHANGED that when
the building fell the families were on the
opposite side Of the roof, which parting
at the ridge, left each a section to serve
Is a raft, upon which their p%erilous nav
Iigation commenced. They were SOON
separated, and each supposed the other
was entirely lost. Both were bore safe
iy across the creek, and over a large
, portion Of the fats, making over a mile
of the most fearful midnight voyaging
that ever man, wife and child underwent.
They passed buildings where they could
see families sale in their second stories,
to whom they vainly shrieked for aid I,
which it was impossible to render.
One Of the RATS at length approached
so near the dwelling of Mr. II. Gates,
that he was enabled 10 render assistance,
and had the pleasure Of rescuing from
their dangerous situation three human
beings, who proved to be intimate friends
and neighbors. The Imagination of the
reader must be left to picture the Joy
that was felt at this remarkable deliver
ancc
The screams of fellow beings in digs
trss heard in the terrors OF such a nixht
above the dasling ofthe mad food and
the bowling of the wild storm, reached
Mr. Jacob Banta, residing in the Same
vicinity, and the appeal was NOT 10 be
resisted. lie dashed out into the SWELL
ing deluSe and at the peril of bis own lie
succeeded in rescuing the other OF the
two families, al a period when death
seemed inevitable. They had lost their
footing upon the raft and barely kept
their heads above water by the aid of a
few floating slaves and fragments ofloose
boards. Besides this they we're just up
on the brink ofthe little Buffalo creek,
and in a moment more would have been
past aid. 1t was only by his perfect
knowledge battle-ground and his undaunt-
ed courage that Mr. Banta was enabled
to reach and rescue them. When he
thus risked his life to save these hapless
human beings, it was in entire ignorance
of who they we're. There was a double
qualification in finding that they were
friends and neighbors, and that the hus-
band was one of his most trusted work.
man, whose fate, with that of his family
he had supposed TO be already and mourn
fully decided.
Each ofthe two families thus provi-
dentially saved, remained until the next
day under the painful apprehension that
the other was lost, and the JOY of thst.t.
discovery that both were rescued, may
be imagined but not expressed,
We heard of another family, the eatnr
not learned, who made a simllar voyage