Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-10-21
A Thrilling story Of the Texas Floods


s.nynage of truth and simplicity, convey
;r~a he.tcr idea thus than IL could have
80 Ia any other way. Passing, as she
a;d through all and more danger than
.nv other. witnessing the death Of one
amer another Of her acquaintance and
f.I,0w.sufcrers, hearing the despairing
sntrcaiies sent forth by agonized lips To
The throne OF the Most High for help and
auccor and mercy in those terrible hours
that fearful day and night, when the
syfuI majesty Of God revealed Itself In
The sublime tempest that swept away
scores of lives and fiourishing city 81
5000 inhabitants.
Wednesday came the first indication OF
n severe storm, though 20 usual were all
ahc phenomena that no more than ordinary
results were anticipated. The waters Of
the bay rose six or seven inches more than
customary, but did not alarm those who
had seen the same thing occur many tunes
before with no more serious results.
Thursday morning dawncd, lowering
with heavy storm clouds, and with the
sind blowing strongly and fiercely from
ahs cast The waters rose still higher, yet
mo danger was felt. Evening came,
with AN increase Of wind, when the bay,
filed high with waters from the gulf, and
ahe BAYOU near where their house was,
aided In the destruction commenced At an
early hour Thursday evening First, the
winters Tapped gently the streets; then a
little higher, the doorstep; higher still,
and IL was upon the floor Of the house.
Before this they would have had
ssme to cook dinner. ~ Miss snsannah
said, $50 that In case we did have To take
10 The boats we'd have plcntyt0 eat Ere
alye meat would have had time To cook the
water was sweeping through the room and
over the stove. Retreat vas made 10 the
spper story, all the yaluables and movable
effects Of the family having already been
ulaccd there. Other persons fnelghborS
and friends of Mr. Morrison, whose house
al two stories, strongly built, was deemed
sasc and secure had taken refuge with
him. driven from their own homes by
ihe rising water. In the humanity and
love borne by the old man toward those
III his kind in danger and want, hc had
shat evening, though fifty.fOur years Of
arc and feeble in strength, gone from
house 20 house, through water up 10 his
waisi, and gathered Into his own habita-
apn those who were not 10 securely stu.
zicd as he.
So the night closed IN upon those thirty.
ave devoted men, women and children,
a8enty -four of whom were never again 10
see the dawn-~-neyer again 10 clasp each
tai,eT by the hand, and many TO be denied
syen the rites Of burial.
Harder and harder rose the mighty
wind, higher rose the remorselees bay,
aniil the second floor, upon winch the
poor, terrified creatures were gathered,
was reached. Then arose 10 Heaven 4
sailing cry Of distress; from distracted
mothers, with their little ones at their
breasts from strong men stricken with
MI awful fear, and from tiny, child lips
did that cry go up.
One mother, Mrs. Cole, when cnireating
Cor mercy in that fearful hour, was ehecred
by comfort from source hardly expected.
From the lips Of her little fonr,yem-old
daughter, above the raging Of the wind
and ssa without and the cries OF terror
within, fell words that will lingcr forever
In the memory Of those who heard them
Don't cry, mamma, God will not let ~
die! God will save us-don't, don't cry
mammal God did indeed answer hel
prayer, and saved the life Of the littlt
petitioner and mamma and papa, too
And little two.year.old boy in the same
room, cllnglng 10 his mothers knee, every
time the waves would wet his little fee
sOuld shuddcr from the contact Of the
cold element, and, repeating the erIcs ht
beard around him, would exclaim over and
ever again: Mamma, mamma, save me
awe me.'
Oh, IL must have been terrible In thai
small room, the furious wind threatening
every moment % tear the roof from oyeI
their heads, with the giant waves, thcii
white crcsts laden with the iimbers %
some ruined wharf or wrecked vessel, anc
serying as u batteringram with which 3,
tear down their frail protcction--it mus
have been terrible To hear the wailinl
cries OF those children and know that u.
hope, no suCcor, no chance of life existed
bui the feeble security offered by the
weak building In which they stood Soon
plank from part of tho house mos
exposed was torn off. Instantly the con.
apming waters rushed through; another
md still another, widening the opening
and revealing 10 the uniortunates within
shc terrible and never.to- be.iorgotteI
scene OF stormy and destruction which
NIT their first glance outside. But little
time then had they To see or think. Al
most coincident with the tearing away oI
iIle sides of the house the roof was lifted
bodily up and set down In the water out
aide, close beside the floor upon which the
people were standing. Some six or seven
Ansnnnah among the number, Jumped
from the insecurity OF the tottcring build
ing to the roof, believing that II would
noat aud sustain them. In the brief mo
nents before all were separated occurred
scenes never 10 be forgotten. Capt Law
ION was attempting To save one woman
who was struggling In the water, Several
iimes he attempted 10 pull her upon the
sAit which he was, but she would not dc
ssrt her children. Let me die, but save
my children" were the last words the
poor woman spoke. All were ost--hcr.
self and both little ones. Upon every
hand now were seen the struggling forms
al despairing men and women, and the
witness says that all about her could be
seen long hair and white faces floating In
aho water, bclongingt 10 those whose spirits
had gone 10 their Creator, borne upon The
wings OF The terrible Storm King
But little while did the frail support
Denr the combined weight OF the six or
seven gathered upon It. Ere Il fell 10
pieces young Willie Morrison saw his
mother floating by on a single plank.
Jumping from his position he swan TO it,
took her back 10 the roof with him, and
had barely placed her In fancied security
when II parted, separating In pieces too