The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1865-09-28
From The rhilaaelrhia rress
Twin Children in an Overfcwed Base
msnt.

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The tremendous water fall on Mondsy
afternoon seems TO have been confined
to q very small space Of Philadelphia,
comparatively speaking. The vein OF
clouds, from which the water fell so co
piously. extended in u northeasterly and
and southwesterly direction. 1t would
seem as though the sun had drawn wa
ter from what may be considered the hor-
lion OF Philadelphia. and then emptied
il along the common center. The heavy
rain appeared To he a couple OF miles
wide. and about seven miles long. There
were doubtless many scenes during that
waterv hour. How people who reside
on the lower grades of the part visited
by the storm, hurried TO and fro TO save
their household effects, might form
large volume There'was one scene
full of terrible and thrilling interest In
the southwestern part of the city. there
are located twelve houses with basement
Kitchens The occupants are tidy, in
dustrious and respectable, the families be
ing those of pretty well TO sio mechanics
Into these Easements the water flowed
with impetuosity, and so fast that fami
lies in the upper part Of the house did
not know that their cellars were full un
til going down stairs. In one Of the
basement kitchens n couple OF twin chill
dren, two little boys, We're asleep iii a era
die The mother, Mrs Sarah johnson
was mp stairs, attending to soma house
hold duties, not being aware that the in
undation had taken place. Her surprise
may be imagined, upon descending, to
find the water even with the top STRIP Of
the stairway leading into the base
ment
Terror OF the most thrilling kind seized
upon her mind, when she thought OF her
innocent babes. In vain did she attempt
to 90 down stairs; the water reached her
neck as her feet touched the lower steps.
1t was time of horror for her. She
hastily 10 the street. screaming for
help at the top OF her voice
Help, help, hclpt she cried, and her
shrill voice was heard above the poltings
of the storm.
Two officers went TO hex aid, by. ga
ding through the overilowed street.
w hat is the matter? what is the mat,
ter! they hurriedly asked. The poor
woman presented the very picture OF des
PAIR
Save my babesi' was ali chat size co Il
calculate, as she swooned and fell The
officers rescued her, or she would have
been drowned the next moment in two
feet of water.
Nv here, madame, are vour babies?'
hurricdly inquired the officers, as the
poor woman recovered from the shock
that she had received.
There. said she, as her eyes gized
wildly. There. pointing to the over
flowing basement.
Good heavensr exclaimed the officers,
they are drownedr
As the word drowned fell upon the car
OF the despairing mother, she again faint
ed, and was carried into neigh boring .
house.
The officers entered the dwelling where
the twin children were, and presently the
little ones began to cry. 1t sounded like
the voice of "a spirit coming from the wa
ter. Other people arrived, for by this
time the rain had ceased to fall. II was
learned that the twins were in cradle.
and that it must be floating with them
The force OF the water had buoyed it up
against the ceiling, but where could not
exactly be told.
The mother had by this time become
more reconciled TO the situation. Her
neighhors cheered her, the men already
present spoke words of encouragement
to her
The children still live.' said they, 'for
we heard them cry, and they are foating
in she cradle The mother said the
cradle was near the center OF the base
ment Ears were strained to their ut.
most power To catch the sound Of the
voices Of the seemingly doomed babes;
but not breath nor sound could be
heard save the dripping or the gurgline
of the water. 1t was now a time of ter
ror and despair to all. The men pres
ent however. preserved their presence
of mind, and did not relate their doubts
and mIsgiyings, although they believed
then that the stiffness of the babes
for the CRYING had ceased-was that Of
death The carpet on the first floor was
taken up. and one Of the police officers.
being a house carpenter. procured "a
hatchet, chisel saw and asgur, and ia
five minutes had portion Of the floor
torn up. The precise position Of the
cradle was ascertained, and it was drown
beneath a hole cut in the floor and cell
ing between the joists. This was mo-
mentous period. The babes were still
in the repose Of slumber, and sucking
each others thumbs. A smile PLAYED
upon their chubby faces, as though the
little innocents were enjoying the dreams
of an angels The mothers JOY may be
imagined at the restoration, but it can
not be described.