Washington telegraph., 1849-04-11


taken from the burlington Hack. Enc of
the 10th instant:
"The keokuk, papers bring rs the in.
telligence that at the breaking nm of tho
ice IN the Des Moines during the previous
week, a heavy gorge was formed between
Big and Little Yellow Banks. This
caused the water TO back up a grea, dis.
lance, Overlooking the bauks and deyaslat.
ing aud inundaling farms and houses in
is tracks. THIS happened on the 2Oth
nlIlmo, The inhabitants above no, an.
liclpalihg the cause OF the rise, and not
apprehending serious danger, renamed
IN iancled security until after night.iall
Of that day Discovering strong cur.
rent running up stream, the families of
Mr., Frederick and Mr.. Gross, OH section
I OF the Des Moines improvement, and
about seven miles from krokuk, attempt.
ed to make their escape in q canoe to the
highlands. Finding that they could not
reach the shore in so ifaiI n bark against
tho current aud iloaling TIMBER il was
determined to leave Mr.. Cross his wife
and two children on n log, while Mr.
Frederick and his family should 20 on
Mr, L. aud family reached the shore with
much difficulty, being almost frozen.
Mr., Frederick being nnable to 20 back
Mr.. Colrln, contractor of secion-., set
ont IN the oanoo TO rescue Mr., Cross and
his family, Alter much difficulty ha
reached them with his canoe. lie found
them suffering intensely from wei and
cold, Alter taking them into tho uanon
he set out for the shore--Mf, Cross sit.
ting IN the bow OF the eaupe facing 10 the
trout, Mr. Cross aud the two children, ono
lonr nud the other two aud halt years
old, III the centre. and Mf Colvn m the
stern. AlE Cross, IN his cagerness 10 eX,#
pedie, caught hold al tie llmhs oi the
tees during their progress, Mr., Col,m
begged him 10 desist aud told him Of the
consequences. Notwithstanding this
caution. he again seized a limb-ihe bow
was pulled down siream-lhe canoe struck
a saplIng, took Ia water and, during tho
excitement - much alarmed Afs. Cfuss,
her husband and the childfen. as to upset
the buAt The parents took each a child
aud plmg to the branches OF snnll
blackberry sarl,ug Mr.. Col,n finding
that be could not legaiu tie canoe. caught
hold Of branch. pulled himself 10 the
body ol llie ,apling aud seating himself
p,lnds ol the limb objected the pafeut,
10 pas In lam the children, aud tia, h.
Would eudeaynf Ia save them but that
the pafeni, must take care oi themselves.
the ehildfen were handed tn him. aud lr
PLACED lhem IN his lap THIS Wa about
: o'olpckal night, aud ~ cold that nonn
could tHHan ont ol dlufs without sulIet.
ing,
Tls parents were sllil elinging to the
branches Of the ,apling. with Their iret
IN the water Nj COltn made known
their situation To the preplc on shore. A
llnai ol umbgr was pSde, aud with Il au
elliott la pa.h ihcul Tue current caused
II TO pass about forty ieot below the
sufferers. Ia this situation they had &c.
maiped Tor ahou, an hour aad halt whru
NJ Cfoss gnsp gave way aud he iell
into lhr whirE By lL,- lime thl arm,
aud .es,oi tht rh,hlftH had lr11,n .ud.
although Nc Colyn continued To rub aud
encourage lhcm. Notwithstanding lhe,o
efforts, both cl,llrp died in hi, arms
at about two O'Clock Mr.. Colyin begun
10 fear tia, be- luu would pensh. A. the
people on shore wohld leave their ifes
aud come ont occasionally, Mr. Colvla
mndt Them acquainted with his situation,
According 10 the adv ice OF those on ,lofc,
Ic dropped tlg' bodies OF tho children into
the water aud raised hnnsrli to his feet
on limb, aud BY kicking aud stamping
aud keeping his blood "a circulation, he
succeeded ~ maintaining hls position
m;ll = O'Clock, ncy. morning. when he
N1, relieved irum hi- pcnlous position by
q iloaI, constructed by two cabin door,
pinned togcilar Mr. Colvn voluntary
suffering IN behalf OF this lo-t faulty should
not go Wreworled. Why they did not
build a largo tire on shore aud make
greater Efforts at rescue. we caunoi i'm,
aginc. We Ihnk tho Who'll, migh, have
bccn saved.