The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1874-06-06
Doefrg.
he incidents Of the terrible Massachu-

| N9>T The incidents of the terrible Massachu
setts flood, which carried death and destruction
to so many peaceful homes, are still fresh il
the minds of the reading public. Some of the
incidents were most thrilling, and particularly
| that of which Collins Graves, a milkman, was
the hero. Graves was near the reservoir when
it gave signs of giving way, and thinking only
of the destruction that would follow the food
started down the valley with his horse at the
height of his speed to inform the unsuspecting
people of the approaching deluge. His noble
action saved the lives of hundreds of people
and since has been the theme of the poets Of
the land The following lines, written by John
Boyle O'Reilly, and entitled "The Ride of Col
Inns Graves" gives vivid picture of the hero
ism of the noble fellow Tho rsked his own life
| to save those of innocent women and children
| No song of a soldier riding down
| To the raging fight from Winchester town.
| No song of time that shook the earth
With the ma ioas' throe at a Nations birth,
| But the song of brave man, free from fear
| As Sheridan's self or Paul Revere;
| Who rsked what they rsked, free from strife
| And its premise of glorious pay-his life.
The peaceful valley has walked and stirred
| And the answering echoes of life are heard;
| The dew still clings to the trees and grass,
And the early toilers smiling pass,
AS they glance aside at the white-waed homes
Or up the valley, where merriy comes
The brook that sparkles in diamond rills
As the sun comes over the Hampshire hills.
What was it, that passed like an ominous breath
Like shiyer of fear or a touch of death
What was il: The valley is peaceful still,
And the leaves are afre on top of the hill
1t was not a sound, nor thing of sense
But pain, like the pang OF the short suspense
That wraps the being oi those who see
AT their feet the gulf of Eternity!
The air of the valley has felt the chill;
The workers pause at the door of the mill;
The housewife keen to the shivering air,
Arrests her foot on the cottage stair,
Instructive taught by the mother-love
And thinks of the sleeping ones abovel
Why start the listeners Why does the course
OF the mill stream widen? Is il q horse,
Hark to the sounds of his hoofs, they say,
That gallops so wildly Williamsburg way?
God! what was that, like human shrek
From the winding valleyS Will nobody speak,
Will nobody answer those women who cry
As the awful warnings thunder by
Whence come they2 Listen And, now they hear
The sound of the gallopng horse hoofs near
They watch the trend of the vale, and see
The rider, who thunders menacingly,
With waving arms and warning scream
To the home filled banks OF the valley stream.
He draws rein, but he shakes the street
With shout and the ring of the gallopng feet.
And this the cry that he hings to the wind:
"To the hills for your lireS The flood is 6ehindr
He cries and is gone but they know the worst
The tTeacherous Williamsburg dam has burSt
The basin that nourished their happy homes
Is changed to a demon-It comes it comes!
monster in aspect, with shaggy front
Of shattered dwellings, to take the brunt
Of the dwellings they and hoarse
The merciless terror fills the
OF the narrow valley, and rushing raves,
With Death on the first Of its kissing waves,
Till cottage and street and crowded mill
Are crumbled and crushed.
But onward still,
In front of the roaring flood is heard
The gallopng horse and the warning word.
Thank God, that the brave mans life is spared
From Williamsburg town he noby dared
To race with the flood and to take the road
In front of the terrible swath it moved
For miles it thundered and crashed behind
But he looked ahead with steadfast mind;
"They mast be pa,aedr' all he said,
As away his terrible ride he sped.
When heroes called for, bring the crown
To this Yankee rider; send him down
On the stream of time with the Curtius old !;
His deed as the Romans was brave and bold,
And the tale noble thrill awake,
For he offered his life for the peoples sake.
Boston Pilot.