The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1866-08-01


as it were, racing with the storm; but be
fore could reach my friends plantation
the clouds were flying over my head, anc
the wind was bowling aloft as though gale
was blowing; though, below, there was no.
breath OF air, not a leaf stirred, and moi
a ripple rutiled the placid sea.
Paradise now appeared in view; and il
we'll deserved its name, for a more beauti
fully situated place had never seen. BY
the time reached the house it began te
rain, and, leaping from my horse, dashed
up the steps into the hall 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 nwelcome.
VERY glad you are come" said Mr..
Gordon; Though we did not expect you.
But how is it the Colonel is not with YOU"
I" He would no. come because Old Judy
prophesied we were going to have hurri-
cane. laughed at her at the time, but
fancy l made q mistake
"No doubt of it. That old woman is
always right; the glass has gone down like
lump of lead go 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"
Mrs. 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 a 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
his family.
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
neighboring mountains, and shaking the
house to its very foundation the rain, too,
descended in cataracts; it seemed as though
he food-gates of heaven were opened, and
he eternal waters were pouring down upon
IS. To add to the awfulness Of the scene,
t gradually became as dark as pitch. the
Wind every instant increasing in intensity
About eleven o'clock, the noise Of the gale
vas something had never before heard,
md yet every moment it seemed to wax
stronger and stronger, till it increased to
uch an overwhelming roar, that the strong
,st efforts Of the human voice, in closest
proximity, were quite unheard.
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 oil, save
MIR. Gordon, were safely conveyed below,
Mary and being the last to descend. As
we did so loud crash proclaimed th at some
thing had fallen, and 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 filed with
missiles of all scriptions-branches Of
trees, huge stones, beams, and all sorts of
movables. which were driven along with in
credible speed.
Suddenly a violent shock was felt, send
ing a thrill through my heart, for expect
ed to see the whole house come falling upon
u.s. 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 annihilated
the mind.
have but very dim recollection of what
afterwards transpired, till l found myself
descending the ladder with Mr. Gordon !;
but l 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 we're in comparative quietude,
and were enabled to relieve our dumb-s show
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 been encompassed, was q 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. shall die with fright.
If ! had never left Aberdeen, / should new
er have Gracious powers! what's that I?
We shall all be swallowed up,'
At this moment there was report, and
then rolling crash oser our heads, which
made the earth shake beneath us.
That's the house gone," said Mr.. Cor
don. quietly. ~ expected it would not hold
up long"
This was followed by wall among the
negresses, and young girl rose up. ex-
claiming, "Eh, me Cad !! lef me picka-
ninny sleep; wara l do now? Tan away
der,-tan away; let me 60 fetch him."
"Chough, body" replied an old woman
you is mad; you lef you senses wild you
pickaninny too. Tan till. Garamiehty
take care OBJ pickaninny now,-nobody else
can"
This, however, did not seem to afford
much comfort to the poor girl, who did moth
ing but sit and wall
My mind had hitherto been SO occupied.
that | had not time to take in the peculiar
tiles Of the scene by which we were sur
rounded. 1mmured in a large, dark vault,
lit only by the feeble rays Of two candles.