South-eastern Independent. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1871-1871, 1871-09-08
A NIGHTS ADVENTURE ON THE
OHIO RIVER.
An Incident OF the Flood of 1882.

sitting down 10 his supper. ct is almo
up TO the top of the bank; never W;
known to be so high; and Wilson real
u seems scared about ii.
"Do you think there is any danger
asked Hrs. Martin as she poured out b
tea.
"No, we are not going to be carrie
away because it is few feet above higl
water mark. 1t will go down as it cam
up, when it is ready. Come in" This ws
said n answer to a knock at the door, an
was followed by the appearance of bo
about thirteen J ears of age.
Mother is sick, Mrs. Martin" he said
approaching the table, " and she sent N
: to ask you to come over. Granny Hays
down with the rheumatic, and she hahn
got no one with her"
az expected it," said Mrs. Martin
What shall dor
4 "Go, of course" said her husband. "Yol
can't do anything else. :"
"She is very bad" said the boy, "and
!, am to go around and fetch the doctor"
f well, draw up and get some supper
|, Joe" was Jacks answer; "then will pu
Dolly in the wagon, and we will go the
5 upper road ard take the doctor in"
"But the children, father?"
NOW " WOIIl,
: Sally can take care of the baby, and 1 will
not be gone more than an hour or So
. You can get along, can't you, Sally?"
al gees So" was the smiling reply of a
bright-eyed girl of some thirteen years
who sat beside him.
"The creek is running like mill-race,
and the water is spreading all over" said
Joe. 1.-THE trees looked standing in it
when 1 came over the hill. 1 don't be-
ieve We could get along that road"
"The water is backing up then," said
Jack; "but it is too cold for it to rise much
farther"
Mrs. Martin made hurried meal, and,
having slowed various articles in basket,
was ready by the time her husband had the
wagon at the door, With charges to Sally
Jeconcerning the baby, she stepped in, while
Jack locked the house door and put the
key in his pocket, telling the children to
go to bed as soon as they had set things
to rights, but to be sure and have good
fire and keep light burning, for he would
not be long gone.
Jack Martin and his young wife had left
New England when they were first
married, and settled upon the Ohio some
distance above Cincinnati. Here Jack
had built a small frame-house and
begun to cultivate his land, and here his
five children were born, two of
whom had died-Sally and VIII
and the baby being all that were left. Jack
was a happy, hght-hearted, Industrious
man, who worked his fam and "took
things easy" Els land was productive, his
crops had sold well, he had built
houses, but his own dwelling was
the shabbiest part of the premises. 1t was
frame of but one room, with loft above
which had been put up for present wants
when he first settled there, but it was
plastered snug and tight. Every year
Jack had thought he would add to it, and |
when his wife represented that it was get |
ting very old, and was really too small for
her growing family, he would put her off
with a promise of building next spring, |
and compliment to her housekeeping.
After her parents left, Sally proceeded to |
wash up the ea-things. The baby, child |
some ten months old, was asleep. Turn
ing up the end of the brown table-cloth,
Viii got out his slate and arithmetic, and |
began to cipher, while Sally went back and
forth from the cupboard to the table, sing
ing and putting the things away.
VIII was slow at figures; he put down
and rubbed out; and bothered and scratch
ed his head; and finally appealed to Sally,
with, Just show me this part"
Thus an hour passed. The baby awoke
and was fed and 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
had been told TO get in below with the
baby. Before undressing they rolled a
large log on the fire, and put q candle in
the lantern, as they had been taught to do
for safety. -
Tired with their walk of two miles from
school in the wind, they were soon asleep.
Suddenly Sally was awakened by she knew
not what, and was turning to go to sleep
again, when there was groaning, creak-
ing noise, and she thought she felt the
house move.
Thoroughly aroused, she sat up in bed.
The lantern was dark, and from the hearth,
where she had left great fire, came
Missing sound, and there was only the )
glare Of dull burning log. She thought
zone one was putting out the fire, and
,alled, "FatherI fatherl"
There was no answer, but the sound con-
inued. Without waking William, she
prang out upon the floor and ran towards {
he fireplace. As she reached it her feet I
plsshed in the water which was running
long over the floor. Quick as light the
hought came, "The river is upI" She
roped for candlestick, and found one
nth small piece of candle remaining in
!. Taking one of the long sulphur matches y
sed in those days, she touched it to a !!
osl, and had light.
; a quick glance around told her at once l
Fhats was the matter. The hearth laid |
With heavy stone had sunk several inches
eloW the floor of the room, and up through Y
he creVices of this came the water, which 6
ad. almost put out the fire, leaving only =
be logs burning. The door was locked,
ut raising the window curtain she =
azed out The house was surround
d by water; the waves were washing !
D against it and over the doorstep. As =
II as her eye could reach, all around =
bout, was water, only water, with trees :,
tanding in it.
The girl had been brought up to depend a
n herself, and she had both resolution
nd courage. Running to the bed, she !,
hook Will. " Get up, VIII, get upl The y
tver is all around the house" The boy ="
It up, rubbed his eyes stupidity, then sank
ack again. sect up, viii, do get upl :,
'on't you hear s-the river is coming in y
le house." She shook him again. "Dress
uickly, and don't wake baby She al :
sady had her own shoes on, and was fas .
ming up her dress. There was the same 4
-eaking noise, and the house shook. VIII =
at last, and while putting on =
is clothes ran to the window.
What are we to do?" he asked in af. I
light. "If father was only herel" r
/" We must 20 to the loft and wait until q
ther comes" she answered.
Taking the baby in her arms, she climb 3,
the stairway and laid it on her own bed, "
rapping it up warmly. When she came !,
own again, viii, who had been looking q
Ut, stood with the tears running down his Il
zee. II
Where is father? o Sally, where is Il
lther? | am so afraid he is drowned; he "
rs not come homel'
She Rugged the tender hearted boy close. n
No, Will, no, father is safe; he will only II
2 troubled about us" She shuddered n
srself as she reassured him. He will h,
ct boat and come" a,
Finding the water was covering the In
DOR, they carried to the loft ali the arfi-
es they could move, not forgetting some Fl