The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1865-10-12
Erom the Philadelphia Press1
The Children In an Oyerfiowed Base
ment-A Thrilling scene.

uneu W Ncry SlIluu space VI mia
delphia, comparatively speaking,--
The T6ins Of clouds from which the
water fell so copioisly extended in a
northeasterGly and southwcsternly
direction. 1t would seem as though
the sun had drawn water from what
may be considered the horizon OF
Philadelphia, and then emptied it
along the common cerAer. The heavy
rain appeared to be q couple of miles
wide and about seven miles long
There were doubtless many scenes of
thrilling interest during that watery
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 from theme
for a large volume. There was one
scene full of terrible and thrilling in.
terest. In the southwestern part Of
the city there are located twelve
houses with basement kitchens. The
occupants are tidy, industrious and re-
spectacle, the families being those of
pretty-well -to.do mechanics. Into
thes5 easements the water flowed
with impetuosity. and so fast that
families in the upper parts of the
houses did not, know their cellars
were full until going down stairs. In
one of the basement Kitchens a couple
oftwin children, little boys. were
asleep in cradle. The mother, Mrs.
Sara Johnson, was up stairs attending
to some household duties, not being
aware Of the intimidation thai had ia,
ken place. Her surprise may be i'm
agined, upon descending, to, fnd the
water even with tho top of the stair
way leading to the basement.
Terror Of the most thrilling kind
seized upon her mind, when she
thoughto Of her innocent babes. In
vain did she attempt to go down
stairs, the water reached her neck
as her feet touched the lower steps,
1t was q time of horror for her. She
hastily ran to the street, screaming at
the top of her lungs for help.
"Help help help" she cried, and
her shril voice was heard above the
peltings Of the pitiless storm.
Two officers went to her aid, by wa
ding through the oyerhowing water.
whats tho matter :? what's the
matter" they hurriedly asked. The
poor woman presented tho picture of
despair. 'F' ~ n" '''.
"Savo MY babies" was all that she
calculated, as she swooned and fell
The officers rescued her, or she would
have been drowned the next moment
in tSo feet of water.
"Where, madame, arc your babies?"
Ehurriodly inquired the officers, as the
poor woH.an partly recovered from the
shock that she had received, .., -,
"There!" said she, as her eyes gazed
wildly. "There!" pointing to tho
eVernowing basement. .h
"Good heavensl exclaimed the Of,
ficers, they are drowned" 5,.,. e.e
AS the word drowned fell upon the
ear. of tho despairing mother, she
again tainted ana was carried mto a
helghborlng housc'
Inc olhcers entered the dwelllng
where the children were, and present
! " tho littlp' ones began to cry, 1t
sounded llke the voice OF n spirit COM
ing from the water. other people ar
IflVed, TOR by THIS time tho ram mad
ceased to iall. 1t was ascertalned the
twins we're IN the cradle, ana that IL
must DC floating Win them' Inc
force OF the water had buoyod 1t up
lagaInstthe celilng, out whero coulu
not DO exactly toid;; 80, .'2,.
Tho mother had ny this tlme pc
come reconclled TO the situation. Her
ncighbors chcered herj tho men al
ready at hand spoke words OF en-
couragcment. "lhe children still
1--we, SAID thoy, TOR we heard them
y;,,anA they arc floatlng IN the era
die. The anxious maternal told tho
men that she she had LETT the crHdio near near
tho center OF the basement. EARS were
strained to their utmost power TO
catch the SOUND OF t9e voices OF the
seemingly doomed DaDes; put not a
breath nor SOUND could DO hoard
save inc gripping or tno gurS''nS OF
ror ana despair TO all inc menpres'
e9t however YER preserved SS 'no'r ,a presence sho;