The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1858-11-06
Id articles Of clothing, and some pillows

old articles OF clothing, and some pillows
rescued from the bed, were hastily arranged
thereon. My wife, with but slight assist
ance, climbed up: not as cheerfully perhaps
but as quietly as though she were stepping
into carriage. The infant was then hand
ed up; and, lastly, was compelled to fly
from the rising waters.
| Here, then, in darkness, illumined only
by the flashing lightning, we sat. Support
ing my wife, who trembled slightly with
suppressed emotion. | whispered words of
peace and cheerfulness, although l felt
neither; and spoke with assumed confidence
of the morrow. 0, how longed for the
coming of that morrow's light.
The water gurgled underneath, like a
monster seeking prey; and as it rose higher;
higher yet, l began to fear it would yet
sweep us from our elevated refuge.
| After about an hour passed thus, the
storm gradually died away, and the stiffness
that followed rendered painfully distinct
the roaring of the mighty food which now
filled the entire valley of Gundagai. But
We knew unless the storm again returned, a
reaction must speedily take place, and
therein lay the germ of ultimate safety.
| As if to shelter our easily excited hopes,
new fear took possession of us. A heavy,
splashing sound, apparently near at hand,
was succeeded by an unusual turbulence Of
the waters, which swayed to and fro in the
chamber beneath us. Too well guessed
the cause, but unwilling to be fooled by
trusting to a single sense, stood up and
removed few Of the shingles, and looked out
through the aperture thus formed in the
roof.
My apprehensions were but too well
founded. The next house had quite disap-
peared-swept away by the water. What,
if-the, , foundation sapped--our cottage
should be destroyed? The thought was SO
terrible that, cold and wet as was, the
perspiration stood in great drops on my
forehead; and even now, as write, l can
not recall the sensations of that hour with
out painful emotion. 1t is one thing to
meet death under keen excitement: it is
another to face him when Gagged and helpless
to see him coming, to hear every foot
fall of his slow approach, and to be unable
to struggle or to fly. Yet such was really
my condition.
Daylight broke at last, and found US
anxiously watching. When my strained
vision penetrated the depths below, saw
with a joy proportionate to my previous
suffering, that the waters were subsiding.-
| There could be no doubt of it; above their
present level, could trace on the walls a
high water mark. Then we knew that We
had been mercifully preserved, and our
feelings found expression in fervent prayer
and thanksgiving to him who holdeth the
winds and the waves in the hollow of his
hand.
Soon the sun was shining in clear bright
sky. The waters receded more rapidly than
they had risen, and scarcely covered the
floor; but when looked through the hole in
the roof, all around was still a wild waste
of waters. Many houses lower down in the
valley were yet invisible; some, which
should have appeared, had been destroyed !;
of others nothing but a few fragments re-
mained. Upon the slopes at the rear of the
township covered numbers of the wretched
fugitives, amongsts whom fondly hopeu to
find my darling Rose.
Another hour, and could walk in my
verandah; another and the garden was ac-
cessible. Garden did say? 1t was a
scene of thorough desolation. The flower
and the beautiful plants which Esther had so
tenderly reared, were torn from the earth
and lashed hither and thither in unsightly
masses.
1t was some time before could venture
to pass the minor valley which interviewed
between our cottage and the hills. When
at length succeeded, went with scarce a
doubt of my chld's easy recovery. failed
to obtain any tidings of her. In vain went
from group to group, eagerly inquiring for
nv lost treasure. No one could give me
information. What could we suppose, save
that the child and the girl Martha had been
whelmed in the food? | spent the day
yainly seeking to discover some trace of
them.
Several lives had been lost; the sorrowing
survivors were many of them homeless,
and more than half the township was in
ruins.
On the following morning was about to
set out on foot-for my horse was drowned
in the stable-when dray halted at the
door, and the driver inquired if that was
the residence of Mr.. Frank, naming my
self.
'Did you wish to see me?' asked.
sWhy, yes, sr;' replied the man. q hear
that you have lost q child
'Yes, yes, have. Doyou know anything
of her p
'Just step this way for moment
followed in eager haste. He went straight
to the cart, and lifting coarse rug, disclosed
my darling.
She was asleep, but startled by my ex-
clamations, her blue eyes opened wide, and
soon her tiny arms were claSped around my
neck, and her laughing voice, which never
thought to hear again, salutcd my well
pleased ear.
As | avoided dwelling on our sorrow, so
shall leave our JOY to the imagination Of
the reader.
Roses preserver was a small settler re-
siding about six miles off on the Sydney
road. ltappeared that early in the morning
that succeeded the storm, he was surprised
on hearing the cries of 4 child; opening the
door, he found young woman lying near
the garden fence in a state Of insensibllity.
In her arms was baby, so securely wrapt
in blankets that the rain which had drenched
her bearer, had failed to penetrate the thick
folds of her covering. He carried the help
less couple into the house, and ministered 20
their necessities as he best could.
The kind soul fed the child, and placing
the girl in his own bed, set off to station
near at hand for womanly assistance. This
was promptly rendered, and these Samari-
tans of the bush had the satisfaction of
seeing their older patient restored to con-
ciousness, but the terrors of the night had
shaken the nerves of the poor girl, and for
some hours she ravea wildly. Towards
night, however, she sank into sweet sleep,
and awoke in full possession of her facul-
ties. Then she told who she was and whence
she came.
Aroused, she said, by the violence of the
tempest, she had wrapped her infant charge
in the bedding and had escaped from the
house. Afrighted by the combined terrors
of the food and storm, she failed to strike
the rising ground, on which the inhabitants
were taking refuge, and pursued the main
road until she perceived house near by.
She only remembered reaching the fence and
seeking an entrance.
Martha was long i'll. 1t was ut one time
even feared that she would become an hope
less idiot. But spring saw her perfectly
convalescent, and in summer she took up
her abode for life in the home of her pre-
server.
n y