New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-05-20
SUDDEN RISE OF A STREAM
IT BECOMES A RAGING RIVER
WEARY TRAVELLERS SWEPT AWAY

One of the most terrible calamities OF Its
nature that has happened lately ls narrateo
by the Austin, Te1as. Journal. 1t reads al
most like romence, as it seems Impossible
for a small stream twenty feet below It's
banks to rise with such rapidity as is stated.
It is, nevertheless, truth that ID lar
stranger than fiction:
We published some time since brief and
necessarily imperfect account OF this strange
and most painful calamity, which we now
correct, with fuller particulars, as we re-
ceive the statement from the lips OF Brevet
Colonel Merriam, Major of the Twenty
fourth Infantry, who is now IN AUSTIN. Inc
Colonel, after four years OF military service
on the frontiers of Kansas, New Mexico and
West Texas. had received leave of absence,
and was journeying with his wife and child
from Ell Paso to the Texan coast.
They had reached the head of the Concho
river, and camped for the night on Sunday,
the twenty-fourth of April.
The river is formed by the junction OF the
rills of water from several large springs,
which have been damned into ponds by the
wild beaver, and are well filled with large
fish.
The stream at this point is so small that
man can step across it anywhere. The
hanks were twenty feet above the bed OF the
water. Fatigued with the long journey OF
sixty.eight miles in the previous twenty
four hours without water, the party were
pleasantly resting, when, early III
the evening, Colonel Merriam was reused
bv the signs of an approaching storm. The
tent was fastened and made secure as posi-
bic, and about nine o'clock a hallstorm
burst upon them. accompanied Dy some ram
and strong wind.
The fall OF hail was unprecedented, iasting
until nearly eleven; the stones being OF the
size of hens eggs, and striking the tent ana
prajrie with noise like near and lncessant
musketry. 4.
The Colonel, who was not ignorant OF the
sudden and extreme overfioWs TO wnlcn the
mountain streams of Texas are liable, went
ont into the darkness as soon as the storm
had ceased. to note what effect had been
produced on this rivulet. To his amaze
ment. he found in the formerly almost dry
he'd of the creek, q resistless torrent loaded
and filled with hail, rolling nearly bank.full,
white as milk, and silent as river OF OIL!
He at once saw the danger and ran back to
the tent, shouting to the escort and servants
to turn out. He placed Mrs. Merriam. the
child and nurse in the carriage, and with
the aid of three men, started to run with 1t
m the higher ground, a distance of not
more than sixty yards. Scarcely minute
had elapsed from the time the alarm had
heen given, but already the water had
sureed over the bank in waves OF such vol
une and force as to sweep the party from
their feet before they had traversed thirty
yards.
The Colonel called for assistance on some
cavalry soldiers, who had just escaped from
the United States mail station near by, but
thew were too terrorized to heed or to help.
Colonel Merriam then abandoned the
hope of saving his family in the carriage,
and tried to enter it in order to swim out
with them. but he was swept down the
ice-cold torrent like bubble. Being an
eynert swimmer, he succeeded in reaching
the bank about two hundred yards below,
and ran back to renew the effort, when ne
received the terrible tidings. that the mo-
ment after he was swept down. the car
riage. with all its precious freight, had
turned over and gone rolling down the
flood. his wife saying, as she disappeared,
"My darling husband, goodbye" The little
riII of a few hours before, which child
might step across, had become a raging
river. covered with masses of drift wood a
mile IN width, and from thirty to forty feet
deep!
The bereaved husband procured horse
from one of the cavalry and rode far down
the torrent. but could see nothing in the
darkness. and hear nsught but the wild
sonnds of the waves. So passed the long
and wretched night.
Before day the strange and momentary
flood had passed by, and the small stream
shrank to it's usual size, and ran IN Its
wonted bed. The sad search began. The
drowned soldiers and servants, four in num-
Der, were found, and the body OF the
wife taken from the water about three
Iourths of mile below, and prepared for a
| Journey of fifty-three miles to the post ol
Conc 40 for temporary burial. Not I'll! three
| days after was the body OF the child 1ouno,
| four miles down the stream, and long dis
tance from its bed. Mrs. Merriam was
| lady of fine culture and attainments, valued
and beloved by all who knew her. Ihe
| little girl, not three years old, was remarka
ble for the maturity of her mind and the
| sweetness of her disposition.
The carriage was drifted by the current
| about mile, and lodged in q thicket. the
storm and flood are represented as frlght1u
beyond description. The beaver ponds iron
which the Concho takes its rise were Sc
filed with the icy hail, that the catfish were
| killed by the congelation, and were sWep
| in wagon loads. together with the myriade
of smaller animals of the plain, such a
| rabbits and snakes, all over the country D.
| the sudden and rushing flood.
| Three days after the storm, when tn
party left the Concho, the hail still lay IL
| drifts and winrows to the depth OF NOR
than six feet! A calamity more sad
strange and tragic it has seldom been ou
| lot to narrate, and our deepest sympathle
90 out to the father and husband thus sud
denly stricken to the heart by the ghasts
| r.. oil 4hot ba hold most dear