The mountain Democrat., 1863-11-21
JAMES JOHNSON,
-$ - = N----
The Storm in Georgetown.

The Storm in Georgetown.
GEORGETOWN, Nov. l5, 1868.
EDITORS DEMOCRAT The rainy season is ini-
tiated. The despondency that late sat upon the
faces of the many, during the regime Of dust
and duness, has given place to an expression
in which qualification and hope mingled, may
be distinctly read. The pulse Of industry and
business enterprise has been quckened, and
stocks generally are looking up.
What sensation the first rain Of the season
creates in this land Of climatic extremes But
speaking of sensations, the storm of Saturday
night last created one, to few of our citizens,
at least, more startling than agreeable. Twas
the noon of night, and your correspondent,
weary of sight seeing and with a mind some
what in sympathy with the clouded and gloomy
aspect of the skies, sought shelter and bed
beneath the hospitable roof of "m mine host" of
the Union
With an appreciation of our peculiar temper
ament aud desires 10 the premises, that did
/ credit to his discernment as landlord, and
acting upon literal construction of our de
mand for shelter under his roof, he conducted
us up to the third floor in order to get us as
near under it as he could. This was the sine
qua non, the ne plus Ultra, of our aspirations
for the nouce, and our jolly conductor, with his
characteristic urbanity Of manner, left us a
kindly smile, illustrated good night, and re-
tired. "Wrapping the drapery of our couch
about u.s." we laid down-not TO pleasant
Dreams however,-for the storm had increased
in violence; and if we dozed now and then, we
were momentariy aroused by the furious winds,
which continually increased and diminished
their tone as they poured their charging legions
in assault, or fell back baffled from our be-
leagurcd walls.
In sort Of semi-conscious state we lay for
perhaps two hours, and hearing our good land
lord walking to and fro at intervals. looking to
the safety of the building and the comfort of
his guests, we imagined ourself at sea on board
Ship, and that the footballs We heard were those
of the Captain and crew, looking TO the secu-
rity and guidance Of the vessel in the Storm
Just at this moment there was q craSb-a fear
ful crash, that startled the sleepers from their
dreams, and started them from their recumtent
position of inert horizontally to one Of active
perpendlcularity. In the confusion Of so sud
den an awakening TO the wild sbrieking Of
winds and darkness which might almost be
felt, and noise which, TO our startled senses,
seemed like a mingling Of all the loud, harsh
elements of discord itself, we imagined that
the vessel had struck, was parting mid ship,
and about going down lin Dublin Bay or some
where else, amid the thunders Of the breakers
soon to be requiemed by the remorseless
winds that had heaped the billowy sods over
its liquid grave. The language of our terror
was: "0h! for life preservers-a kingdom for
a boat"
With a movement in which vulgar haste took
precedence of grace and dignity, we precipita-
ted ourself with contempt of toilet and criti-
cism and the steps of the stairway, to the mid
dle-deck. Here the lamps shonc down on fair
women and-and-threw light upon the stu.
ation." Here ran against my room mate, Of
whose proximity and existence had, in the
bewilderment of the moment, forgotten.
knew it was he by a remark he made-an ex-
clamation which illustrated his unique charac.
ter, and heightened the effect of his grotesque
and udicr6us appearance. Standing upon one
foot, he was putting the boot on that belonging
TO the other, in the meantime giving expression
to his impatience in no very good humored
terms. Reaching the ground floor, and going
out into the street, the meaning of the noise
! IL ~ LoIr L.
roofing lay rolled up like scroll in the street,
while the other half with remarkable exact
ness, lay upon the top of the adjoining build
ing, the occupant of which, just emerging from
his door, looked as if he didn't know whether
the hotel or the stars had begun to fall upon
his house. The wind, to use a seamanic phrase,
was still blowing great guns" and some of
the victims of the disaster, your correspondent
among the number, did not know whether TO
remain in the Union" or secede-an uncom.
Portable dilemma for patriotic men to be placed
in. must not fail to make honorable mention
of distinguished townsman of yours, who
came very near losing his life in an act of gal
lantry. His name is patent to all, and REQUIRES
no mention. All honor to him for his gallant
act.
Our landlord was as cool and collected as an
old sea captain, and we sympathise in his losses
and the Inconvenience to which this visitation
has subjected him. The proprietor ofthe house
is the greatest sufferer, having lost all his tin.
The damage from the rain, which flooded every
room in the house, is much greater, perhaps,
than the loss of the roof. There were other
losses, of which need mention but one or
two. One man lost his latitude and longitude,
and the last heard of him he was going over
Mamaluke Hill in search of it, and so rapid vas
his movement that, Notwithstanding the wet
ness of the ground, it is said he was raising
quite dust One or two others lost their