New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-02-18
A WINTER FLOOD on THE PRAIRIES
isl Correspondence of The N. Y. Tribune.

GALEsBURG Ill, Feb. Z 49,.
left the train from Chicago on this the Burlngton)
Road at a. m. yesterday at "Oquawka junction.
the last station this side of the Missssipp-and took
the stage in due season for Oquawka 5l miles norb)
on the bank Of the great ver, and the shire town of
Henderson County. 1t had been raining and thawiog
for day or so hereabouts; and, though there was
little snow TO melt the hardfrozen earth threw off the
water like glass roof The creeks were all over
their banks and wandering at their own sweet will
4" south Henderson, !" main Henderson, and north
Henderson veipg with each other ia entertainments
On the peoples highway, and all the "slOughs' and
depressions transformed into temporary lakes; but
our stage crossed them all safely-here being solid
frost bottom to each-and reached Oquawka in due
season. But the rain poured harder as the day wore
on and the evening was Indictment and forbidding
as could well be imagined. ! said my say to rather
thin house-yet large gathering for such highland
then looked about for the means of making good my
promise to be in Guesburg (oLly 80 miles distant
q of it raroad) this evening.
The prospect was not cheering. The rain was pour
ing the wod bowling, and the creeks rising. Already
the stage had been stopped by the creeks on it's even
ing trip to the cars and it was plain that to wait till
morning was to prooDg my stay indefinitely. Now,
Oquawka is a nice place, its melluous name would
indicate, and has many excellent people whose ac
Guaintance should have been glad TO improve; but
the telegraph Is not among its advantages and could
not let the people Of Gaesburg and other towns to
which anf due know what had become Of me- nor
why disappointed them; 20 I resolved to dig out if
possible and as the creeks were still rising rapidly,
the only course was to Start at once. council of
wise friends decided that could not reach Oquawka
Junction if so bent upon it, and should hud
10 train there if did and that the only hopeful course
was to take the highest eastern road and steer for
Monmouth (hah way to Gslesburs) at once. By TAX
ing this course should turn several vicious creeks,
leaving only 'main Henderson really formidable.
So buggy and capital span were procured from
livery stable, with their shrewd and capable owner as
pilot and at little past 10 O'Clock We put out into the
storm, resolved to see Monmouth lS miles by our
route) before day light il possible. Though the clouds
were thick the wind blew and the rain poured, there
was good moon above all which gave about all the
light that was really necessary.
Though Oquawka is built on the sand, we crossed
wide stretches of water before we had cleared it,
and of the two miles Of high cambridge hss interviewed
between it and the "main Henderson" JUICE that
fully fourth lay under water Still hoofs and wheels
brought up on frost and il was not till we descended
into the bottom of "main Henderson" that mat
tiers began to wear se-ious aspect Forty
rods west of the ordinary channel of the creek,
we plunged into the water, which grew gradu-
ally deeper until our boots and baggage had
drunk of it to satiatiOp. Just at this point, the
drivers quick and wary eye caught sight of some
plank or timber which had formed part OF bridge
over one of the ordinary sdecuts Of the stream when
over its banbs-said plank timber head being even
with the surface Of the food with such an angle OF
Il. A,f1
and had probably in good part foated off. lie refined
up bis horses before reaching it and turned them face
about and in minute we were halfway back, not to
dry but to unfooded land.
Here we took sweet counsel together, ard offered
TO return to Oquswka if he considered it foohardy TO
persist in going forward. He studied a moment and
concluded to make another attempt which he did aud
went through above the treacherous bridge, though
don't believe any man could have done ii two hours
later. We were soon in shallower water, found the
main bridge all right, and deep water east of it,
though "Smihs Creek, tributary which enters
ain Henderson just below the bridge, set back
| upon and covered our rosd with swift current for
perhaps quarter Of mile. The driver familiar
with the road, and thought it had never been 50
covered before. Soon however, we assembled long.
badly quilted hin Of the very worst clay, and breathed
more free on the high Level PRAIRIE covered 10 good
part with water ard not pretty wheeling, but never
threatening to float bodily off, ike that raving
main II, ndeIson.
| Having reached Suingtown," five or six miles on
our way, the driver called up wayside friend and
borrowed dry socks, while / msde researches 10 my
bsggage for Ike creature comfort, but with very
satisfactory results "Man Henderson had beer there
before me- snd had made everything fit for his wesr
snd unfit 'or mine. | closed vahse and lesthern bsg
| with shiyer and we resumed our weary way.
do Ike prairies, though their admirers won't admit
II, and / cheerfully certify that the best going we
Gund was on the virgin tuIf. True, the "sloughs'
were many and wide; but there frost sndice attic
bottom of them which seldom cut through; but when
ever il did it gave horses, buggy and nders rscking
My pilot picked our way with great judgment, and we
were pevermore stopped and hardly checked until we
came oct on the main road westward from Monmouth
three miles distapt Ths three miles Of dense prAiae
mud was the heaviest travelling ever underwent, and
and il om jAded horses traveRed it In sn hour and
quarter, they did pssspg well
| On the naked prairie, we felt little anxiety; for II
the slough seemed too deep straight ahesd, we could
sheer right or left 0d hJium only taking care to keep
some landmark in view if possible. Bat roads imply
bridges the water-coursts and these brdges
far more perous than the intercourse themselves
Still the wind blew st the rain feu, in spite Of our