Weekly miners' express. (DuBuque, Iowa) 184?-1849, 1849-04-03
FLOOD AND LOSS OF LIFE on THE
DIES MONIES

The Keokuk papers bring us the intelll-
cence that at the breaking up of the ice in
the Des Moines during the previous week
heavy gorge was formed between Big and
Little Yellow banks. This caused the wa
ter to break up great distance overlooking
the banks end devastating and inundating
farms and houses in its track. This hap
pened on the 2sth ut. The inhabitants a.
bove, Tot anticipating the cs2se OF the rise,
and not apprehcndiny serious dans,er' re-
manned in fancicd security until alter ght-
fall of that day. Discovering strong cur
rent running up stream the families of Mr..
Frederick and Mr.. Cross, on section Z, of
the Des Moines improvement and about sew
en- miles from keokuk. attempted to make
their escape in a canoe to the highlands
Finding that they could not all reach the
shore in so frail bark against the current and
floating timber, it was determined to leave
Mr.. Cross and wife and two children on a
log while Mr.. Frederick with his family
should 90 on. Mr.. +. and family reached
the shore with much difficulty, being almost
| frozen.
Mr.. Frederick being unable to so back
Mr.. G oIvIN. contractor on Sec 7, set out
in the canoe to rescue Mr.. Cross and his
family. After much difficulty he reached
them with the canoe. He found them suf-
fering intensely from wet and cold. At
ter taking them into the canoe he set out
for the shore-Mr Cross sitting in the bow
of the canoe facing to the front; Mrs. Cross
and the two children, one four and the 9th
err one and q halfyears old, in the centre,
Mr.. Colvin in the stern. Mr.. Cross in his
eagerncss to expedite the passage, caught
hold of the limbs of trees during their pro-
gress. Mr.. Calvin begged him to desist
and told him the consequences. Notwith-
standing this caution, he again seized q
!imb-the bow was pulled down the stream
the canoe struck a sapling, took in water
and during the excitement So much alarm
, ed Mrs G. and her husband and children, as
to upset the boat. The parents took each q
child and hung to the branches of small
blackberry sapling. Mr.. Calvin finding he
e could not regain the canoe, caught hold O.
! branch, pulled himself to the body of the
r sapllng and secuted himself astride Of small
Y limb, directed the parents to pass to him
the children, and that he would endeavor tc
> save them, but that the parents must en-
deavor to take care of themselves. The
children were handed to him, and he placed
them III his lap. This was at about eight
C o'clock at night, and SO cold that none could
C The parents were still clinginc to r.,
:. branches ofthe sapling, with the feet in the
: water Mr.. Calvin made known their stu
, alton to the people on shore. A float o
> timber was made and with it an effort wa
y made to reach them. The current caused i
!. to pass about 40 feet below the sufferers
In this situation they had to remain for q
bout an hour and half, when Mr.. Cross
grasp gave way and he fell into the water.-
In about an hour and half after this Mrs
Cross, unable any longer to hold on, SUM
into the water. BY this time the arms an,
! legs of the children had frozen stiff, altho
Mr.. Colvn continued to rnb and encourage
. them. Notwithstanding these efforts. boil
children died in his arms. AT about 9 o.
clock Mr.. G.. began to fear that he too would
perish. AS the people on shore would leave
their fires and come out from their houses
occasionally, Mr.. Colvin made them &C
quainted with his situation According tc
I the advice of those on shore he dropped the
bodies Of the children in the water and rails
ed himself to his feet on limb. and by kick
!. ing and stamping and thus keeping his blood
in circulation, he succeeded in maintaining
his position until clock the next morning
3 when he was rescued from his perilous pos;
ton by float, constructed of two cabr
doors pinned together. Mr.. C's voluntary
suffering in behalf of this lost family should
not 60 unrewarded. Why they did not
build large fire on shore and make greater
efforts at rescue we cannot imagine. We
think the whole might have been saved. -
Hawk. Eve.