Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1865-03-01
[Frem the Camden Journsl.1

: fVhlI iE1VaA dOOhS LIN a AAsH2C W.
Ny plantation is about three miles from
Camden, on the Waterree. Intelligence
reached me on Wednesday last that. the
river was rapidly rising. took batteau,
in company with strong manseryant ana
pushed on to rescue my stock: While en-
gagged in capturing three fine hogs, the
head dam on the plantation above broke,
and let loose flood hatswept everything
before it, and spread out about two miles
from bank to bank. In attempting to get
out, the batteau washed by the current
against a tree, -capsized and two. OF, the
pigs drowned. The boat was caught BY
the tree in midship, and we managed to
get on the bottom where we stood, three
feet in water. Our frail anchor began to
give way, but there was another tree tea
feet distant beyond our reach from the
boat'-By crawling as far as we could, ana
then placing one end Of the boat. pole in a
fork of the tree and holding the other end,
my companion in distress made his escape,
and in turn held the pole for me. 1t was
cotton tree, seven inches at the root, and
about forty feet high. We had scarcely
perched ourselves in its boughs before the
first tree and the boat were swept away.
Here we were up slender tree, with an
Angry torrent twenty feet deep sweeping
five feet beneath US, and an expasse OF the
river more than a mile on either side
From this time, Wednesday twelve o'clock,
until Friday two o'clock we chung for life
to.these frail but faithful limbs. The river
reached its highest on Wednesday evening
| at o'clock, and its roar and width pre-
vented our cries from. being heard until
next day. All the tifstday and mig ht, and
all the second day and night, we shouted
for help and we began to give up oil hope;
In my exertion to save the boat, l had
thrown off my coat, which we lost, and the
only way we kept ourselves from freezing
to death, was by violently and constantly
striking each OTHER and kicking the tree.
Thursday night, the boy slept soundly,
\ and it was with difficulty I supported linn
and cheered him mp from giving out en-.
tirely. We tasted no food or water, and
felt no inclination to do so, but I occasion
ally lnoistened my lips, that I might hal
loo the louder. The waves surged about
MS, land we were fearful the tree would be
washed off, as the current seemed to be
heaped Up in the track in:which it grew
Though almost nv entire stock Of mules
eefcattle, sheep, hogs. fodder, &c, was
swept away, yet SO imminent was the peril
l scarcely thought of them for a moment
Every exertion was made to rescue US by
several gentlemen, but the torrent was toe
swift and heavy for boat to live. A bat
teau, with two negroes came within hun
bred yards of the tree. when it was swamp
| ed and they barely escaped by clinging tc
another. About two o'clock on, Friday
1 Mr.. Rush, the overseer on Col. Chestnut
plantation, with two colored men, reached
the tree in boat. He, with one ofthem
took our places on the tree, and we safely
reached the shore, stiff and bruised from
the fearful exposure. The boat returned
and brought off the ether parties. My col
ored boy is confined to bed, but is doing
well he would have given out in a few
hours longer no doubt. / am sore in my
limbs, and :hoarse, but suffer in no othe
way, and sith gratitude to kind Provi
dence for rescuing usfrom a watery grave
+! I will ever remember the freshet OF Jan
uary II, 1855.