The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1858-12-14
Local and Miscellaneous.

WRErcHEDxEss.-Near the saw mill, on
the banks of the river'n che lower part Of
the city, was moored TO the shore, on Suti-
day evening last, / wretched raft sboat Ten
by twenty feet in arch, Constructed of a
parcel of old plank, the surface, OF winch
rose not more than two inches above the
surface of the water. On this frail strue-
ture the occupants had raised o ridge pole
about five feet high, and placing against it
small pieces Of board, apparently picked up
from the drift in the river, had formed a
roof, with a kind Of dog kennei beneath of
about six by ten feet on sbs -R6er OF tlferaft
Into this hoveI, on a2liitGs> straw and heap
ofold rags were crowded, in most torlorp
and wretched condition, man. woman, and
four children, one at the breast, and the cid
est perhaps ten years old. The only house
hold goods were an iron skillet, .ls,s, and
two old barrels not seat, table, or a
dish was visible. On the bow of the raft,
on piece of old boiler iron, raised a fsw
sinches above the plank, was blazing fire
of drift wood, which, fortunately, is album
dant and without price Around this, tina
wretched gronp were hnddled, presenting n
scene of squalid poverty and restitution sell
dom seen in this country, and sufficient to
move thecompassion of the most selfish and
perurious. How they endured the pitiless
rain storm that followed in the sght with
-kal4n 1.,f rzDe. =
leaning against pole, the reader can con-
lecture. They have navigated the, Ohio, on
their frail structure from abe mouth of the
Kanawha 10 this point, in a voyage Of
about six weeks, during which there las
been an uninterrupted succession OF colda
cherries storms. Every wave washedover
the wretehed raft, and rain must have pene-
trated every part of the miserable roof; they
have passed towns and cities---the abodes of
luxury and protested christian beneyolence-
and no aid has been rendered them but
few crumbs from tables that were covered
with abundance, which have kept them
from starving
In spite OF all this wretchedness and stf-
fering, the woman was we'll and robust, and
the children were hearty and cheerful, and
as full of sport as in the midst of plenty and
comfort. The father was cripple, aud told
a short and simple story of misfortune
He was a teamstcr at saw-nin in the up
Iper part of Kentucky, and had had his feg
scrushed by log rolling over it. Unskilful
surgery had left an incurabe sore His
sickness had reduced them nearly TO desti-
tuition, when their calamities were made
complete by a fire that consumed their
1welling and all its contents. Without a
cent in the world, he had gathered a few
efuse plank from the river and constructed
MS raft, aud on it placed His family for a
voyage down to Arkansas, where he in
tended TO squat on public land, raise a small
corn patch, and rely on bis gun for the
other means Of living. The vito aud chill
lren were tired of the voyage, and begged
% go on shore or go back to their former
1ome. The hearts and pHrses of a few
generous persons who visited them, sup
piled their immediate wants Clothing for
the woman and children we saw going on
BOARD, with a good supply of bread and
neat. If any one be Disconnected with his
ot in life, and is. disposed to erumble at the
lispensations Of. Providence, Let him visit
he wretehed family upon the raft below the
,ity, and he will return a coatented and
grateful man.