The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1844-11-09
THE FLOOD AT BUFFALO.

I'"N'N v" '"O p"BGs VI lhS uOFtliS'j Oh
amid the excitement Of disaster, th,
single event, appalling as it may be, i.
lost sight, OF, aud W. hear orly Of the
main result. Tue ,urnaIs tell us thai
'ueh number w,re saved, while 50
many we're lost; and particulars ar,
M rked in the broad generality. Tn,
following, however, from the BdHalo
Courier, Of the 23d ull. graphically
describ's some OF The events of The ter
rlble night of the lS,h Of October -
Two families of The name OF Wilson
aud Weston, resided 90 the souh side
If the Buhlo Greek, above Marine
raiIway;ln a couple Of adjoining cottages
When The water commenced rising, The,
-aw u increase without alarm, feeling
'allsted that they were beyond iis reach
heir dwellings occupying the highest
ground on that side at the stream. Soon
however, IL washed the basement OF
heir houses, and came splashIug' ovei
the fIors. Both families now collected
in one Of the buildings, aud waited the
issue with some anxiety, though as ye>
without sIdrm. But higher and hig her
sill rose the food, and from the chars
and tables on which they stoo To ger
above ii, they were soon driven TO seek
other refuge. Breaking through the
ceiling over head they passed up into
The little garrett and q tered themseIve.
;hs, their retreat would be secure, bu
The pursuing food soon invaded II, and
hey were forced TO seek a sill greater
elevation. With much difficulty they
broke an opening through the roof, and
as last resort clsmbered upon The top
Of the building, however,ha they do6e
this when The house tumbled beneath,
hem and they were committed TO The
mercy of The elements, and launched
'drlil upon the raging boiling food.
The families consisted each Of hus.
band, wife and infant child, all ia their
might dress. Ii SO chanced that when
he building fell, the families were on
Opposite sides of the roof,w which, parting
Il the ridge, left each a St ction to severe
IS raft, upon, which their perilous ma
vlga,ion commenced. They were sool
separated, and each supposed The Other
was enlirely lost, Both were born,
safely, however across The creek. anG
over large portion of The Fats, making
over mile Of the most fearful miJnghl
voyag ing that ever, man, wife aud chllo
underwent They passed building,
where they see families safe in then
'econd stories, to whom they vanl,
'hrieked for aid which it was !mpo.siblc
o render.
One OF 1he RATS. at length approached
% near the dwelling OF Mr.. II. GHes,
hat he was enabled to render assislanc,
md had The p 'easure Of rescuing from
| helr dangerous situation, three human
lDeingS, who proved to be intimate
trends and neighbours. The imarina-
ion of The reader must be fell 10 PC
ure 'he joy that was fel, NJ picture rht
'lJoy that was i.lt at re remarkable de.
Iliverance.
| The screams Of fellow beings in dis.
reSs heard Ia the lerrors Of su,h night
tbove the dashIng vi The mad Glod anr
he bowling Il the " III sIurn, reached
Mr.. Joseph B,nra, resisting in the sam,
vicinity. aud the appesl was no, TO b..
resisted. lie dasht d out intu The swell
; ing deluge and al the peril Of his own
l'le succeeded in rescuing The other OF
ne Two t'mlIies, al, peIio when dealIl
. seemed inevitable. They had LOST lheir
footing upon the raft and barely KEEP
heir heads above water by The aid of q
lew hostIng slaves, and fragments oil
loose boslds. Besides this they wer,
Just upon the brlrk Of the little Buffalo
creek, and in moment more woulo
have been past aid. /, was only by HI.
perfect knowledge OF the ground snc
his nndsunled courage that Mr. Bants
was enabled TO reach and rescue them
I Wien lie thus risked his life 10 save
'hese hspIess lunsn beings, it was it
tntre ignorance Of who hey were
; There was a double gra,fcaiion in fnd
i ing 'hal they were friends and neigh
oours, and that the husband was on,
ol his most trusted workmen, who's
= late, wl'h tha, OF his family, he ha,
supposed 10 be already aud mournful,
dldtc Ged.
u Each Of the two families thus prov
= den''sl'y saved, remained until m
+. "x, day under NE painful apprehpnsio
= thai the ether WAS lost, and the Joy g
! 'teIr discovery that both we've res
: coed, may be imagiued but nc