Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-10-09

A NIGHr OF PERIL Thursday evening
last young couple trom Pennington, Iowa,
named Mr. Miller and Miss Ferris, arrived in
keokuk 90 the X. aud d. NJ road en- route
for Montrose, to attend the marriage of the
young Iady's brother, Charles Ferris, to Miss
kell, which occurred that evening. The train
was late, and they failed to reach keokuk 10
time to take the Z. B. and @. trau as they
had expected to do. As Miss Ferris Was to be
Que OF the bridesmaids, they we're extremely
anxious to be present at the nuptials, so they
| sent dispatch requesting that the ceremony
be postponed until their arrival, aud procuring
a two: horse carriage started overland.
Unfortunately they missed their way, aud in
stead OF going out the plank road, they took
the JOhns0u-stree road Onreaching a stream
which IS thought to have been Sugar creek, aud
which, OF course, was very much swollen, they
attempted to ford it, when they encountered
deep watef--deep enough to swim the horses
! They proved to be good swimmers, however,
kept7wel together, did not become entaugled
10 the harness, aud after going considerable
distance landed upon little patch of dry land
| which seemed to be smalI island
| The Island was too small or the bank too per-
pendlcuar to permit the horses to draw the
carriage upon dry land, so it was left floating
10 the stream with the occupants sitting in wa
ter nearly to their waists. The night was the
very blackuess OF darkness, and they dare not
move the horses step lest they again be car
RED out into stream, and all be swallowed I'D
10 the rushing, angry torrent of waters and lost.
Incredible as 1t may seem, they remained in
that perllous situation until daybreak.
But it was a terrible night for the unfortu
pate couple-a night in which every minute
| a1 M H.
with the agony of Mingled fear and suspense.
| The rain came down at times in torrents and
the urid flashes Of Liz htuing which occasionally
lit up the surroundings only helped them to
'reallzo more fully the danger they were 10.
The water went rushing mally past them
and seemed all the time to be rising rap.
idly. They were suspended between life
and death, not knowing at what mo.
ment the end might come. Fortunately the
horses, apparently comprehendlng the situation
remalned still as posts, scarcely moving out Of
| their tracks durlng the entire night. After
long, weary hours OF waiting and watching anC
hoping daylight commenced to dawn upor
| them.
When it was fairly light the young man col
out unhltched the herSes from the carriage
mounted one of them, aud started for The
shore. The other one refused to remain there
alone, and he was obliged to return and take
them both. Even this undertaking proved t.
have been dangerous one. The horses dis
appeared FROM sight two or three times, anG
the young lady, who remained on the island
gave up all hope OF seeing either them or THEN
rider reach the shore. They did so in safety
however, and the young man, after going abou
a mile, found help. They returned to the
scene. and, after heroic effort, succeeded il
| La,
REV DR.. BACKUS The Rev. J. c. Backus
pastor OF the First Presbyterian Church, will
Tomorrow, deliver an address to his congre
cation, stating his reasons for offering his resig
natcn. DR.. Backus is now 65 years Of age ;
native OF New York State, q graduate of ale
College, 10 the class of $780, aud of Priucctot
Theological Seminary. Shortly after Flushing
his course at the Seminary, DR.. Backus re-
ccVed call to the First Presbyterian Church
OF this city, which he accepted, and was for
mally Installed as its pastor in September o.
that year. At that time the congregation wor
shipped in the old church, which stood on the
corner of North and Fayette streets, the site
of the present United States Court House. Ir
1859 the splendid new edihce was built on tho
corner OF Madison street and Park Avenue
Dr. Backus is the fourth pastor of this church
which has been organized for more than Tic
years, and has never up to this time changed a
pastor except by DEATH. .
At the recent meeting of the Presbytery of
Baltimore held at Chestnut Grove, Hartford
county, DR.. Backus formerly resi- gued bis
charge, aud in doing so stated that it was not
on account of any lack Of harmony in the
church, for their relations were OF the most
agreeable character, and the Church was enjoy
ing high degree of financial prosperity. Etc
| telt, however that it was due to the congrega.
ton, 10 view Of his advanced age, that be
should give place to younger aud more active
laborer. Mr.. William B. Garfield, one of the
elders of the church, also addressed the Pres
bytery, expressing the regrets of the congrega-
ton at the resignation.
The necessary citation was served by Rev.
j. T. Carter stated clerk of the Prcsbytery,
and a meeting of the congregation will be held
Oh Thursday next, at which, doubtless, pro-
tests will be entered against the withdrawal of
the venerable pastor. Ga Monday, the 18th,
the Presbytery will meet 10 Dr. Backus' Church,
aud consider the claims OF both pastor and
people. There has been no person named as
DR.. BackuS probable successor 10 the event
OF his resignation being accepted. baltimore
| Gazette.