The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1851-07-09

gumcnts and belief thrust upon us every
aay' we lind men among us who dare deny
inc rtght Gt secession, and clatiior tor the
Union, under all circumstances. Stewards
1 higher TAO po,cer' is growing with
alarming rapidity, and clouds arc gathering
oiackcr and blackerS around us. It is
solemn truth---rce must dissolre The Union,
or gire up slarery 10 tl,e accursed spirit of
a0ollttonism. 1t is a "midnght hour" with
US, and the foe fingers around MS while we
sleep. Lot US awake, then, and seek pro-
lection and defence in the only remedy loft
US, secession from tie Union.
~~-~~~~~~-.-0~..~.~
From The Jackson County Democrat.l
Some startling incidents and hair. breadth
escapes, during the recent high water,
have come TO our knowledge, which
we give as near as our recollection serves
us.
PERlLoUs EscArE.-A. M. Saunders,
and family, living on tho North Fork of tho
Maquckcta, were driven from their home
at daylight on tie morning of the second
ircshct on that stream. IIe obtained
u canoe in which he landed all the members
Of tho family except two sons-small boys.
After taking them from the house, in
undertaking to save some property, the
cano, vas upset and all thrown into the
rushing torrent. The father finally sue
cccdcd in getting his boys and himself into
the canoe, and after drifting some dis.
tanco brought up against large walnut
tree some three feet in diameter. BY sup
porting himself against the tree, he sue
cccdcd in getting his sons among the
branches. As he seated the last boy safely
in the tree. the canoe slid from his reach
again. leaving him at the mercy of the
swelling flood. He again reached the tree,
but here his case seemed almost hopeless.
Tho tree was larger than he could grasp
with both arms, and yet he must climb il,
or again trust himself nearly exhausted, to
the mcrclIcss stream. every moment
increasing in height and power. In his
tired condition, it seemed impossible to
rench the shore, while tho prospect of
climbing the tree seemed equally i'm
possible. What. however, will not a
desperate man do! He attempted, and
actually obtained n hold of the lower
branches, thoueh in doing so he badly la
ccraed his breast and arms. and drew
himself up into the tree with his sons.
Here the three remained from about sunrise
until midday, it being necessary to send TO
Canton, a distance of eight or nine
miles, to get a canoe 10 take them off,
This being done they were rescued from
their Der.ous condition.
HAIR BREADTH EscAPE-John Palmer,
Esq, Judge Of Probate of this Jackson
county, WIS riding on Saturday last with
lady q Mrs. Bartholomew towards the
west side Of the county. Just before
reaching tho lady's home, they come 10 n
small stream, usually no larger than man
can step across. then, however, presenting
Il torrent from four tn six rods wide. 1t
boiled and loamcd like a mountain cataract.
The Judge was lily disposed to attempt a
passage. hut the lady, protesting, and
believing that at a certain point she dcsg-
natcL, the stream could bc easily passed, he
tried lo force his horse-a young one-but
could not. The lady then insisted on
crossny.-Riding close to tho bridge, she
urged her horse TO enter the water. The
horse stood a moment, seeming to examine
ttla onRasite shore. and tlcu with one
plunge, dashed INFO lie raging stream,
which. instead OF being only few inches
deep, as she supposed, was not less than
ten feet, MS was ascertained afterwards,
aud she must have been instantly drowned.
hnd il no, been tur, the noble animal she
rode: rho horse, after d few E,iang rose
to the surface, and made for the opposite
shore, and would have borne his rider safely
out, but from fright, or some other uncX-
paiucd cause, short time after they rose
10 the surface. she fell over the right side OF
the horse into the stream. Now was the point
of her greatest danger, and SO terrific was
Ill for few moments that /, seems almost
Incredible that she escaped with her life.
When she fell from the saddle her foot
caught fast in the stirrup. and her weight
! in the water turned the horse completely
I over on It's back-thc lady being underneath,
/ in which position he struggled short time
/ and then snnk-bo,h horse and rider Mr..
| Palmer was nhout plunging into the water,
when they rose once more to the surface,
! the lady 5 foot in the stlrrup, and her neck
! and head rn,angled in the rcins. In this
/ situation The struggles OF the horse and the
| current threw them near the shore, when
| the horse obtained footing. and ohedent to
! Mr.. P.'s voice, slapped. until the lady, with
| great prcscncc OF mind, notwithstanding
/ she was suffering severely from the effect
! of the rcins being drawn so tight about her
( neck, cytricatcd her foot from the slirrup,
and her neck from the rcins. At this time
| She was standing in water up to her arms.
Alter resting lew moments, Srasping the
( horse she was drawn out lay the spirited
| animal. Mr.. =. vas still on one side and
/ The lady on the other, and, after attempting
! 10 cross the stream in various places; he
! was obliged TO allow her to proceed alone to
| the nearest house, three fourlhs of
. mile distant, while he took refuge on the
opposite side OF the stream.
! Alter hearing this account related by Mr..
/ u hmselt, whose statement would be
doubted hv no one in tho county, we are
inrccd to admit fancy and fiction are ont
done by rcalny-Trut!l is stranger
! than fiction.
>-~--~---~~. &. .-~--~-~---.--
/ The Mississippi State-Rights Conven-
ton.
! THIS Convention met on the 10Th OF
/ June. Two hundred and tiiy-ono dele.
gates, representing forty.four counties