Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1866-08-02

was blowing; though, below, there was not
breath of air, not leaf stirred, and not
ripple rufaed the placid sea.
Paradise now appeared in view; and 1t
well deserved its name, for more beaut1-
fully situated place had never seen. By
the time l reached the house it began to
rain, and, leaping from my horse, dashed
up the steps into the hall. l was warmly
greeted by Mr.. Gordon and his two
daughters; for though Mary was not quite
so demonstrative as Grace, the glance Of her
eye and the rose upon her cheek told me
that | was not unwelcome.
"Very glad You are come" said Mr..
Gordon g though we did not expect you.
But how is it the Colonel is not with your
He would not come because Old Judy
prophesied we were going to have hurri-
cane. I laughed at her at the time, but l
fancy / made mistake. /" ee-e--.-ss.s --.-:.'
"No doubt of it. That old woman is
always right; the glass has gone down like
lump of lead SO let us get our breakfast
at once, or we shall be done out of it.
Here's Mrs. Seuter and her girls; think
you know them"
Irs. Seuter was the widow Of Scotch
planter, very fat and very fussy but with
the remainder of the party my story has
nothing to do. During breakfast the wind
increased in violence, and by the time it
was over the hurricane had commenced in
good earnest. Mr. Gordon seeing this, i'm
mediately set about making preparations to
withstand it. Windows and doors were
hastily but strongly barricaded, and the
most portable articles Of value. together
with quantity of provisions, were con-
veyed down trap door into cellar, built
on purpose for safety during hurricanes.
This was scarcely accomplished when the
field hands and the whole population of the
village came hurrying up to seek for shelter
and companionship with their master and
Instantly. aa eaa
Meantime the whole sky had become as
black as night, the clouds as they advanced
descending almost to the surface of the sea,
which was now dashed into the widest fury
by the gale. Every now and then flashes of
the most vivid lightning burst from the
clouds, and descending were instantly en-
quilted in the sea; the next moment they re-
appeared from beneath the white foam, and
apparently ascending towards the sky were
met by other masses lowering above.
The thunder burst in appalling crashes
over our heads, waking up the echoes of the
ACiEhDOllnk AOuuUhlu5,s anu Blinking Inc
house to its very foundation; the rain, too,
descended In cataracts; it seemed as though
the flood gates of heaven were opened, and
the eternal waters were pouring down upon
us. To add to the awfulness of the scene,
it gradually became as dark as pitch, the
wind every instant increasing in intensity.
About eleven o'clock, the noise of the gale
was something had never before heard,
and yet every moment it seemed to wax
stronger and stronger, till it increased to
such an overwhelming roar, that the strong
est efforts of the human voice, in closest
proximity, were quite unheard. s
The building began to show by its quak-
ings that it was time to get below into
place of greater safety. The negroes were
therefore reused from their stupor, and by
signs desired to 60 below.
The house by this time had become little
better than rocking vessel, whilst show
er of shingles and tiles was every instant
swept from the roof. Very soon all, save
Mr.. Gordon, were safely conveyed below,
Mary and being the last to descend AS
we did SO a loud crash proclaimed that some
thing had fallen, and L darted back to see
if any accident had happened to my host.
When got back to the room, found him
uninJured; but sudden break in the clouds
and CLEAN Of light disclosed an extraor-
binary sight to me. The air was filled with
missiles Of all descriptions-branche Of
trees, huge stones, beams, and all sorts of
movables. which were driven along with in
credible speed.
Suddenly violent shock was felt. send
ing thrill through my heart, for l expect
ed to see the whole house come falling upon
US. The clouds had once more closed up,
and darkness again covered the earth, the
rapidly repeated flashes of lightning only
rendering it more impenetrable; while the
roaring Of the wind and the crashing of the
thunder made up hideous tumult such as
appalled, the heart, and almost annihiiated
the mind.
/ have but very dim recollection of what
afterwards transpired, till found myself
descending the ladder with Mr.. Gordon !;
but | know that before we closed the trap
the storm had resumed its empire, and the
vibration of the walls told me they could
not stand long unless it abated.. When we
had done this, though the sounds from above
were every now and then startling and ap-
palling, we were in comparative quietude,
and were enabled to relieve our dumb-sbow
by the interchange of thoughts and feelings.
To hear the sounds of our own voices, and
communicate. our thoughts by words, after
the overpowering din by. which we had for
the last hour baen encompassed, was COM
fort which words cannot express. The re-
lief TO poor Mrs. Seuter must have been
immense, for now she could. hear herself
speak, and listen to her own groans.
"The Lord preserve us |" she exclaimed:
"but. this is awful. I shall die with fright.
If | had never left Aberdeen, T should new
or have Gracious powers what's that /?
We shall allybe swallowed up!" 3uf
At this moment there was report, and
then rolling crash over our heads, which
made the earth shake beneath US.
q Thats the house gone," said Mr.. Cor
don. quietly. 81 expected it would not hold
up long" ~ }&$j<&H 3HT
This was followed by a wall among the
nsgfssses, and q young girl rose up, ex-
sia1byl49ss kh, rns Cad ! / lef me pieka-
aiktH slset psFa do now? Tan away
aef,@etssa spsgj 1t ras 10 fetch him." =
'FCRga - -sssy - tetfisd~ an old woman !;
gst i RsG yss lsf you senses wild you
t4essslsEy ses. Ias ill. Garamiehty
s@ss ssfs - tisfaBitny nov. nobody else
can
THIS hsnSTsf. did not seem to afford
much comfort y ths poor girl, who did moth
ing but sit ana, vail.
~ Mind haa hitherto been SO occupied,
mat had moi time TO take in the peculiar
ines 81 the sesne by which we werel sur
rounded. lwmufed in large, dark vault,
III only ~ the feeble rays of two candles,
ana lamp which hung from the ceiling,
mere was just sufficient light to give every
thing' except within the radius of those
mghts, grotesque or diabolical aspect
The negroes in the distance yoostSof x.ho,,