Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1874-06-03
In the Jaws of Death.


The marvellous escape OF young
Dunning at Leeds has already been
alluded to, but his story is so interest
ing that it 10 worth giving in detail.-
Whoa the alarm was given he was at
work in the spool room Of tho Mono
tuck silk works, and, rushing out OF
the mill, his FIRST thought, of course,
was for bis family. lIc found that
his father, wife aud three children had
left the house. He shouted to them
to run for their lives, at the same time
pointing to them what direction TO
take. His wife and children obeyed
him and were saved but his father
an old man Of seventy-eight thinking
that something might DO got out Of
the house before the flood reached il,
went back. In dashed his son after
him, begging him to leave the doomed
building. While raising one OF the
windows tho floor gave way beneath
their feet and his father disappeared
from his sight. The young man had
Just time TO Chamber out Of the window,
and as the housc tipped over crawlvd
up it's sidc to the roof just as the build
ing broke up, leaving him but frag-
ment to cling to for his life, and on he
went sailing down that awful food
in full sight Of wife and children,
who, as they looked on IN terror and
agony, expected momentarily 10 see
him sink beneath the surging mass
In few seconds his frail raft was
crushed like an egg-shell, but his pres
encc Of mind never deserted him. lie
jumped for another, and when that
was gone, for yet another. lie was
fastening down with the current at
terrific speed, and intent on the fear
ful task he had on hand, never once
thought Of the dams toward which
he was Fastening. The first one is
reached in the awful crash and jam.
lIo is hurled seemingly twenty feet in
the air, TO come down and be sub.
merged for the first time far beneath
the wave. AS he came to the surface
again and clasped another piece Of
drft.wood ho realized with an intensi.
ty unimaginablc by those whose lives
have never been imperilod that an.
other and higher dam was but short
distance below and that he had abso.
lutely no hope for life unless he es.
capped from tho food before that point
was reached, but fortunately the swol
len mass of water and debris at that
moment surged toward the shore, and
seizing an opportunity, which seemed
to be providentially presented, he
clambered across some broken roots
which served him as bridge and
with leap again had foothold or
the earth. The feelings Of q man
who, like him, had scarcely hope o
life, on finding he had escaped iron
tho jaws Of death cannot be depicted
Only a cool and intrepid man coult
have passed through that experience
and possibly Mr.. Dunning could mo-
but for his experience as a raftsmar
in Canadian waters He had beer
swept half a mile down the river ant
was utterly exhausted by the intens,
strain on mind and body, nerve ant
muscle, yet as he lay on the bank fol
a moment TO get his breath he ooult
not suppress smile at the appear
ance Of q man who escaped from th,
food near the same place by seizinl
hold Of the limbs of large tree Of
the bank. Fleshy though be was, ,thi
man went up that tree like squirrel
and did not stop till no was at leas
thirty feet above tho water. Mr
Dunning describes,as the most appall
ing incident Of tie memorable ride
tho hear. rending screams and groan
Of women and children In houses tina
were swept down with him and scenes
to be beneath him. He says the,
will ring in his ears I'LL the end Of hi
life.