Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1858-09-10

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and it was some time before could comprc-
hend matters.
When became thoroughly conscious, |
was alarmed a. the extent Of our danger.
The storm was raging more wildly than ey-
or. and the rush aud roar Of mighty waters
was added % its other sounds. llorg,'
shoais too. mingled with the din and
cries Of distress werc borne 20 our ears. |
became aware, too, Of a violent knocking at
the door. and voice eSclaiming, "Masier,
master, get up BE quick. for any sake
The waters are out
I did not fully understand this warning,
till, lcaping out Of bed, hastily opened the
door, when the whole truth burst upon me.
Far and wide over the township one vast
sheet Of water CLEANED in the red glare Of
the lightning. Many Of the houses in the
IN ore immediate vicinity Of the river were
entirely submerged. and the inhabitants
vcro flying for dear lifc-bare healed some
ollltIN hlUlN7h sgsNiNuN" w "hl '''f"'"N'
Aroused too late to lingcr one instant lest
destruction should overtako them, were men,
women and children OF tender age, all heap
ed together in the storm. At the rear Of
the township, little rising ground afforded
comparative security, and thither all wcrc
iurryius.
our cottage as / have saiJ, was built on
piles. and the lour garden was arranged in
the form Of mound, gradually descending
To a level with the roadway. The waters
already surrounded tie house, anl reached
L,c level Of the veranda but there was yet
time to escape, my friendly monitor aycrrcd.
How briol tha, time was might have guess
Ell ~ the speed whcrewiih-hs warning
task pSriormcd--ho sprang away IN the di-
rcctlon whiel, all were now pcrsuins. But
il was mY irsl experience Of an Australian
l,od.
My household consisted Of Esther. two
children, and domestic namcl Martha.
With the latter slept our little Rose, willis,
the baby occupied cot in our own room.
Thus mach !. necessary to enable the reader
! 70 understand what follows.
On rc.entcring the hous9, found my
wife more calm than had dared 10 antIci-
patio. She bad heard aud comprehenjcd all,
and was hurreIy dressing In few min.
utes wo were both ready. Truly, there was
no time to l0.o. She door wa. already un.
der water.
\, We wcr, passing oat, my wife sudden.
ly drew back.
Frank, Z" shc said, "whorc are Rose and
Martha"
Leaving my wife IN the yerndl, Gew
to the servants room, - ind il empty.
There was no response To my call, and thc
lightning revealing the disorl,rcI stat, Of
the bod. told that it, occupants were gone.
| searched through every room in vain.
hsI W., returning to the ycranla, ihc
back dy1T swinging t, and lrO. arrested my
attention. On examination, found that
the wooden bar had been removed, AMI the
key had been tlrncI in the lock yet | h4i
myself secured the f.steuins' on the rrcy!-
ou. evening. E,ileuiiy they had passed
on, that Wy, but whishcr!
! Ny search was hasty, !or isit the n,ccs-
sity Of instantaneous ilish; but brief Is it
was. the water was several iuehes deep in
the hOue, when my survey was completed
Another delay occurrci from the unwilling
ncss Of Esther to leave the cottage without
another, and more minute search for her
child; ut length the danger became - im-
mincnt, that having assccrtalncd that she
held our infant securely, lifted her IN my
arn-, and sought to bear her to the crowded
rclus, on the slopes.
7 When arrived at the bottom OF the gar
den, the water was breast Ugh. aud a strong
rushing current nearly carried me or my
leg. made another step or two, aud then
was obliged to acknowledge my inability
to proceed.
Esther, dear, we must return" | said.
Z Not word did she utter in reply, Us with
a heating heart retraced my steps.
+ With difficulty we regainci the shelter Of
the house. For time-short inlcci-,he
bcdstcad served as a platform to keep US out
/ OF the ever rising waters. We were sur
rounded by all the horrors Of the Great Del
uee, and our hearts sank within US, as We
contemplated our fate.
I Tho food was still rising, aud 1t became
necessary to deyi.c aud execute some prompt
plan Of safety aud escape. We were inn
prisoncd in the cottage, and our only hops
lay in the cessation Of the waters. Mean.
time, il was necessary 10 elevate ourselves
above their reach and how to effect this |
knew not, till Es,her's ready wit suggested
an ezpcdicnt.
The ceillng Of the cottage was constructed
Of white calico. as IS frequent in country
where labor is the dearest commodity IN the
marGet. To remove this would b. easy
and could we but reach the joists, wcshoud
gain an increased altitude Of nearly twelve
feet; aud the width OF the valley rendered
it very improbable that the food wood at
tain that height.
piled box upon box until could reach
the ceiling, in which I quickly made sui.
ficien, opening. Then. wrenehing of tho
folding leaves Of a square mahogany table,
placed them on the jOisss, platform.wise.