Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1864-11-10
High Tide at Long Beach.

!
! Roll! roll Dashl dash What does il al
mean, the tide rising 10 such hight Such
a hing was never heard Of beforel
was aware that in winter time there
we're storms-tbat then the waves rolled
over the bluff banks here at Long Branch,
and sometimes swept away fences, pig. pens
and small houses, but that in August such
an event could occur seemed so unlikely
that when the voice of the colored waiter al
Cooper outage called out Get up all ysl
the tide is carrying us all away!' which
proclamation he accompanied by a severe
! pounding upon a Chinese gong, could
scarcely credit the evidences of my sense
My room was in the second story of the cot.
tage, and thought if anybody vas safe,
must be. Nevertheless, it must be confess.
ed that my uneasiness was considerable as
! the gong of warning continued to sound in
the distant corridor, and the walters voice
persisted in proclaiming that we should bs
carried away"
1t was as dark as Erebus, and heard, or
fancied heard, a roaring Of the waves very
unusual to me, my hearing being none of
the best; and | began to reflect seriously
on our situation, Il say on our situation,
for my wife lay beside me, quite unconscious
| of the threatening danger.) The gong con-
tinued to sound, 50 | determined to sec how
| matters stood-or at least feel my way to
the door or window-and take q look out
stepped out Of bed, and, by George one
of my feet found itself in water foot deep
1--WE are inundated | exclaimed, as |
dashed about the room frsntically; and then
began shaking my wife furiously to awaken
her.
What is the matter )" asked my sleep
ing partner, laying hold Of me in fright
is the house on fire, or what?"
1--WE are drowningl" | exclaimed. -
Don't you hear the gong2 The tide has
risen, and Coopers is floating off at this
moment; we shall soon be out at sea, and
there will be no help for us"
hereupon seized my wife, and began to
make towards the door; and must here
remark that she is not light load to carry,
even for strong man, which | am not
The waves seemed to roar louder and loud
er; the gong sounded more terrified than
ever the house seemed to be loosened from
its foundations and rolled about in harmony
with the waters, while "carred awayl !"
was the distant but unceasing cry Of the
colored waiter.
"On horrors head horrors accumula e."
Shakespeare says, you know. l felt as though
swimming was my only chance, and | re-
solved if | could get out to do my best in
that line, trusting to the buOyancy Of my
wife to keep her ahoat while propelled. -
The door was locked, and | had forgotten
where l had laid or hung the key.
Burst it open " suggested my wife.
Just SO, !" responded |.
And | receded a step or two to get head
way for big kick at the door, which, in
my opinion, would have shattered it to
atoms when we stumbled backwards over
our large travelling trunk, and there We lay
sprawling on the fosr--er rather I did.
The sun was shining bright in the room,
and the gong was sounding for breakfast
My wife stood over me in her new night
cap, smiling benignly on my PROSTATE con-
dition, and quietly remarking: You have
made horrible muss here, old man--upset
the slop-pail, and knocked things about gen
orally. Had bad dreams, l reckon. told
you it was not good to eat crabs for sup
per-"