Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1873-12-18
THE IOWA VOTER.
An Encident Of the Flood of
1851.
BY WIN. NJ. DoNNEL.

w. Mulky, with his family, moved
from Crawford Co., Ind and settled
near Agency City, in this State
Hero he remained till moved by the
fiattering reports of the beauty and
richness of Marion County to go fur
Their westward and seek a home ard
a fortune somewhere within its linn
its. On reaching portion OF the
county watcred by Whitebreast and
its tributaries, eight miles southwest
of Knoxville, he found what babe
fair to bring about realization Of his
hopes. Here he fell in with man
named b. L. Kennedy, with whom he
entered into a co-partnership in the
purchase of some land on the above
named stream, including an ex-
cellent location for saw and grist
mills.
Having erected substantial saw
mill, and collected large number OF
logs to be manufactured into lumber,
they soon found themselves doing a
prosperous business. Lumber was In
demand, and by the utmost industry
the sawyers were enabled to keep a
large quantity on hand. Eventually
their stock accumulated to such an
extent as to obstruct the way to the
mill, and they were compelled to
stack it up in different parts Of the
premises, making lumber yard Of
no ordinary extent or value.
But alas How often are the most
fIattering hopes suddenly destroyed
and fortunes swept away when SEEM
ingly almost within the grasp Of
their pursuers. Fortune sometimes
plays the coquette, and smiles to de-
ceive. The great food of Isl, an
event never to be forgotten by many
an old settler ii> Marion County, be-
came the agent of destruction to the
hopes of some Of the pursuers Of the
tickle dame, and among them were
Mr.. MILKY and his partner.
The premonitions of the coming
freshet came down in torrents of rain
for days and nights almost without
intermission. Small creeks became
rivers, and ponds expanded into
lakes, each contributing from its ex-
traordinary fulness TO swell the main
artery Of the country. BY those
whose interests were most in danger
Of the swelling flood--when signs of
its mission of destruction became
most threatening-it was earnestly
hoped that the heavens would yet
withhold enough to secure them
from destruction.
The cabins Of the two millers
stood on bottom land, convenient to
the mill, though that Of Mr.. Mulky
occupied lower ground than the
other. When 1t became quite appar-
ent that the water would reach his
dwelling in a short time, Mr.. M.
moved his family and goods into the
cabin of his partner, thinkingi 1t prob
able that they would not be. again
disturbed. But even to this retreat
the foe steslthily followed them, and
warned them to prepare for the
worst. Already 1t had taken possess
ion of the lower land between the
house and upland, and the house
row stood on an island. They saw
their danger, and fastened an old
canoe within convenient reach of the
house, but rather unwisely decided
to remain where they were. When
night came on they were still in no
immediate danger from the flood
and even at bedtime they thought
themselves still in safety, and re-
tired.
But at about midnight they were
awakened to realization of what
they should have been more appre-
hensive of sooner. Hearing the
chickens cackling and flying about in
alarm, and the cattle lowing, MIR.
Mulky went out to see what was the
cause, and found the water at the
door. Knowing that there was no
time to be lost, he quickly reused
the others, informed them of the sit
uation, and then went out to release
the cows and calves from their in
closures. The darkness was intense,
aud some tins was spent in wading
about in the performance of this du-
ty. The brutes seemed to realize
their danger, and instinctively made
for the shore, the moment they were
at liberty.
On returning to the house Mr.. nj.
found unmistakable and alarming
evidence Of the rapid increase of the
food. Stepping within, he discover
- a