Litchfield enquirer., 1858-07-01

i, THE DROWNING OF THE FAMILY OF REV. MR. LESLEY AT ROSCOE, ILLINOIS, BY THE FLooD-The western papers bring the details of this shocking calamity, by which the wife aud eight children of Rev MT. Ilsley were lost, with the destruction of their house, by the flood in branch of the Rock River
 1.-The rain commenced to fall at about five o'clock on Thursday afternoon, and increased imforce till about ten At this time they did not feel alarmed; although the creek was ris- tug very fast ]; at g oclock the water was up around the house, and rushing by with great the house, but as men who were in the neigh borhood had told them that they had seen the water much higher than it was now, they con cluded not to go out. Mr. Ilsley went to the door and measured the height of the water, and found it had fallen four or five inches
 Having concluded to remain ill the house, the five younger children were sent to bed, and shortly after the balance of the family met in the lower room, and had prayers, preparatory to retiring also. The other children went up stairs, and Mr. Ilsley proposed ito his wife to remain up short time longer. This must have been about Il or II ,1-2so'clock. Just after the three children went up, there was a great rush of water past the house, and MT. l.
 went to the hall door with lantern and looked out. He found the water rushing by with tre- uendous1force on all sides of him and coming in at the door, He called loudly for help several times, but the water was so deep, and rushing with such tremendous force thatno one could get near the ill-fated house. Mrs. Ils- ley called to Horatio, the eldest son, and ran up stairs immediately. She then called to her husband to come up, which he did, and opeE- ing one of the windows again screamed for help, but in vain. At this time he was just coming ont of his study, and was standing in the. entry when he heard the children cry out Father, Father and at the same moment he saw one end of the house fall out with crash. He then felt the whole house swaying up and down, like boat on a wave, and then it fell into ruins Just as it fell, he heard his wife screain, and that was, the last he heard or saw of his family. He immediately found himself in the water, not knowing how he got there, and with no power to help himself was tossed abont and hurried along with great velocity to the liver ]. he took in some water then, but had presence of mind enough to guard against taking ill any more, and try to keep his head above water. He said, "I then commended my soul and my family to God, expecting to meet Him in eternity in 8 moment, and l all most wish had" He was carried on until he struck against some food-wood, and soon after was thrown against tree, into which he climb ed, and managed to maintain himself for some two hours, during which time the people had discovered him, and were making a raft to res cue him, when MT. Richardson swan out to him, aud got hold of him just as his strength failed him, and he was dropping off the limb. When it is remembered that MT. I. has but one leg, and was in delicate health, his escape from death is almost miraculous The family thus suddenly cut off have only resided in Ros- COG asshort time, MT. nsley having come from .rBeloit to take charge of the Congregational society in that village. The family consisted of ten persons father, mother, four sons and four daughters. The eldest son was engaged in the bank of Marshall & Ilsley, in Milwaukie, and was home on visit. A gloom hangs over the whole place all is still and subdued At daylight on Friday morning search was commenced for the bodies, and soon four were found. The babe and youngest girl were found on tic bed upon which they lay down the night before, and the other two near by. When the babe was found it held in its hand, on its breast, the watch which it's brother had given it the night before to play with, and strange to say, the watch was uninjured and still going. !" 11URE IINsEED OIL, White Lead, and other IT Paints, just received at low prices, at