The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-09-16
GhtgnteItfaeuGer,
A NIGHTS ADVENTURE ON
THE OHIO RIVER.
AN INCIDENT OF THE FLOOD
OF 1882.
ny MARTHA NJ, THOMAS.

u'Nu w auplcl' lbp ull'St w " -
top Of the bank; never was known to !
so high; and Wilson really seems scare
about it."
"Do you think there is any danger
asked Mrs, Martin, MS she poured out III
lea
mo; we are not going to be CARRIE
away because il Is few leet above hlgh
water mark. 1t will 60 down as It cam
up when it is ready. Come IN, I'M
was said in answer TO n knock ut the dOoI
and was followed by the appearance of
boy about thirteen years oil age.
"Alothcr is sick, Mrs, Martin" he said
approaching the table, "and she sent m
to ask YOU To come over. Granny Hay
is down with thGrheumati2 and she hahn
got no one with her"
81 expected It," said Mrs, Martin
"What shall dor"
go, ot course said her husband.
"You can't do anything else. ,
"Shc is very bad" said the boy, "and
am to 90 around and fetch the doctor"
"Well, draw upand get some supper
joe was Jacks answer, "thcn will pu
Dolly in the wagon, and We will go Il
the upper road and take the doctor ill.,"
"Bnt the children, father" .,... ....
"Now don't begin To worry, Molly. Sal
~ can take care of the baby, and | will
not be gone more than an hour or so
You can get along, cant you, Sally"
81 guess So" was the smiling reply Of 4
brghtcycd girl of some thirteen years,
who sat beside him.
"rhG creek Is running like a mill.race,
and the water IS spreading all over" said
doe. "ThC trees looked standing in II
when came over the hill don't be.
cyG we could get along that road"
"The water is backing up there" sand
Jack; "but it is too cold 10 rise much fur.
thCr" =
Mrs. Martin made hurried meal, and
having slowed various articles in bas.
kcl, was ready by the time her husband
had The wagon NJ the door. With char.
yes To Sally concerning the baby, she
stepped in, while Jack locked the house
door, and put they key in his pocket, tell.
Ing the children togo to bed as soon rs
they had set things to right, but
he sure and have n good fire, and keep u
light burning, rs he would not he long
gone.
Jack Martin and his young vile had
LEFT New England when they were first
married, and settled upon the Ohio River
some distance above Cincinnati, Here
Jack had built small frame house, and
brnln tn cultivate his land, and here his
five children were born, two Of whom
had dicl-Sally and win and the baby,
being all that were left, Jack was q hap.
ny, lighthCartcd, Industrious man, who
worked his farm, aud took things easy"
hshnd was productive, his crops Ind sold
well, he had built q fine barn, and had
good out.hOuscs, but his own house was
the smbbicst part of the premises. II
was frame Of but one room, with n lott
above, which had been put up Tor pros
cnl wants when he first settled there, but
il WAS paslcrcd snug and tight. Every
year lack had thought he would add to it,
and when his wife represented that II was
getting very old, and was really too small
Ior her growing family, he would put her
oil with promise Of building next
spring, and compliment to her house
Keeping,
Alter her parents left, Sally proceeded
tnwaSh up the ten things, The baby, u
Child some ten months old, was asleep.
Turning up the end Of brown table
cloth, Wllgot out his slate and arithme'
tic, aud began to cipher, while Sally
went back and forth from the cupboard
10 the table, singing and putting the
things away.
win was slow ut figures; he put down
aud rubbed out; and bothered and
scratched his head; aud finally appealed
10 Sally with, "Just show me this part"
Thus an hour passed Tho baby
awOke, and was fed md played with,
and the two getting sleepy they prepared
for bed
Usually they slept in the loft, unless
the weather was very cold, but this night
they Ind been told to get in below with
the baby. Before undressing they rolled
a large log on the fire, and put u candle
in the lantern, rs they had been taught to
do for safety.
Tired olthCir walk OF two miles from
school in the wind, they were soon asleep.
Suddenly Sally WIS awakened by she
knew not what, and was turning to go TO
sleep again, when there was u grOaning,
crcaking noise, and she thought she heard
tile house move. ......
Thoroughly aroused, she sat up In bed.
The lantern was dark, and from the
hearth, where she had left great fire,
came n Kissing sound, and there was only
the glare of n dull burning log. She
thought some one was putting out the
fire, and called, "FathCr FathcrW
There was no answer, but the sound
continued Without waking William,
sllc sprang out upon the floor and ran
toward the fireplace. AS she reached 1t
her leet splNslCd in the water which was
running along the floor. Quick ms light
the thought came, "rhG river is up |"
She CROPPED for II CandlcstiCk, md found
one with small piece Of candle remain.
Ing nit Taking one oIthc long sulphur
matches used in those days, she touched
it toa coal and had light.
a quick glance around told her nj once
what was the matter. The hearth, laid
with heavy stone, had sunk several inches
below The floor Of the room, and TN
through the CrcviCcs Of this came the
water, which had almost put out the fire,
leaving only the logs burning. The door
was locked, but raising the window cur.
tain she gN2cd out. The house was sur.
rounded by water; the waves were wash.
Ing up against II and over the doorstep.
AS Tar MS her eye could reach, all round
about was water, only water, with trees
standing in it. .'
The girl had been brought to depend
on herself and she had both resolution
and courage. Running to the bed she
shook Will, Get up viii, get up! The
river is all round the house" The boy
sat up, rubbed his eyes stupidity, then sank
back again "GCt up, win, do get up!
Don you hear? The river Is coming in
The house She shook him again. DRESS
quickly, and don't wake baby" She al.
ready hal hoe Ay,,v y