Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1858-06-24
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The drowning Of thewife and eightchildren OF
the Rev. Horatio Ilsley, in tire food al Roscoe;
H., has been noticed. The followingjs the state
ment of Mr.. Ilsley,, who was the. only survivor Of
the family.
The rain commenced to fall at about Eve o'clock
on Thursday afternoon, and increased In force nm
til about ten. At this time they did not feel alarm
ed, although the creek Vas rising very fast. They
did not know anything about the railroad or the
caulvert then at nine o'clock the water was up
around the house, and rushing with great force.
Mr.. .nsley proposed to his family to leave the
house, but as men who were in the neighborhood
told him they had seen the water heigber than 1t
was then, they concluded not to go ont. At about
eleven o'clock Messrs. Thompson, Lane and Tow
ers got up to the house and told them theythought
there was no danger, as the water had lowered;
Mr.. Ilsley went to the door and measured the
heighth Of the water, and found that 1t had fallen
four or FIVE inches. (He had previously measur-
ed the highth o fthe water and marked whereTit
then stood.) From some of those gentlemen who
were at the house at this! time, we learned TINT
they took the clothes on the line and handed them
to the family, and Mr.. Lane said If they wished
to leave the house he would carry them through
the water. Having concluded Il: rsldain in the
house, the Eve younger children we're sent to bed,
and shortly after the balance Of the family met in
the lower room, aud had prayers preparatory to
retiring also. The other children then went up
stairs, and Mr.. Ilsley proposed to his wife to re-
main up a short time longer. This must have
been about eleven or half. past eleven O'clock.
Just after the three children went up, there was
q great rush Of water passed the house, and Mrs.
Ilsley went t. the hall. door with q lantern and
looked out. She found the water rushing b y,with
tremendous force. on all sides,of her, and coming
in at the door. She called loudly for help several
times but the winter was too deep, and rushing
with such tremendous force that no one could
then get near the Inflated house. Mrs, llsley call
ed to Hotatio, the eldest son, and ran up stairs
immediately. She then called to her husband to
come up, which be did, and, opening one Of the
windows, again screamed for help, but IN yain.-
At this time he was just coming out Of lis study,
and was standing in the entry, when he heard the
children cry ont, HFather! father!n and at the
same moment he saw one end ofthe house fall ont
with a crash. He then felt the whole body sway
ing up and down, like o boat on q WAY, mud then
it fell into ruins. Just as it fell, he heard his wife
scream, and that was the last he heard of his fami-
". He Immediately found himself in the water,
not knowing how he got there; and no power to
help himself, he was tossed about and hurried
along with great velocity to the river he took in
some waterthen, but had presence Of mind enough
to guard against taking in my more, and try to
keep his head above water. His own simple and
touching words describe his feelings at this awful
moment, and shows. his faith in that God he so
long has served. He said: tI then commended
my soul and myfarnily to GOD, expecting to meet
Him In eternity In q moment; and I almost wish !
had" He was carried on until he struck against
some food.wood, and soon after was thown against
a tree, into which he climbed, and managed To
maintain himself for some two hours, during
which the people had discovered him, and were
making q raft to rescue him, when Mr.. Richard
SON swan to him, and got hold of him just as his
strength failed him, and he was dropping off the
limb. =
Mr.. Ilsiey formerly lived in Monson, Me-, but
more recently in Dixon, III. Mr.. Ilsley had re:
Gently removed to Roscoe, and taken charge of
the Congregational Church IN that town, under
circumstances of much promise: His eldest son,
who had been absent ten months in Milwaukis,
had just returned home on q visit, and at the time
Of the accident, for the first time in ten months
Here his family all at home.