The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1875-04-02
A RACE WITH THE FLOOD.
An Enofuns Ride rom Roses Tavern
q" fert Servts-A Toushtng ~inciaens.

which was 80 destructive throughout the
Delsw are Valley Yesterday and the day
before, was Uncovered by Supervisor Near
pass, L. o.. Rose aud james Buchanan
about o'clock Yesterday morning. They
went up along the Sparrowbush road to
the camp ground. and thence TO Rose's
tavern, about two miles from here. The
road runs close to the edge Of the river
bank, which between Roses and the camp
ground is eight feet above the river, d
quarter Of 4 mile. Ittilcn rises 10 fifteen
feet high. Between seven and eight
O'Clock they noticed that the river was
rising very fast. Looking up stream they
saw, half mile above. "A wall of ice as
high as the banks moving down toward
hem. The ice IN the river where they
were began heaylng inward, and wa soon
almost up 10 the road. The advancing
Hood FROM above WAS throwing cakes Of
Ice high in the air and hurting them over
the banks on either side. lt was plain 10
the three spectators that unless they could
put the quarter Of a mile Of low ground
between them and the Hood of ice. they
would he cut of from communication with
Port Jervis.
THE RACE.
They instantly jumped in the sleigh.
Buchanan put his horses on a dead run
The ice had now raised above the bank,
and great cakes began TO fall i'm the road
behind the sleigh. The ice moved with
such velocity that the running horses
could not Increase the distance between Il
and the sleigh. Before half the distance
was accomplished the ice received new i'm.
perus from the wave from above. which
had overiaken the smaller flood. Buch-
anan saw the ice gaining on him. He
piled the whip AZ every jump, and his
horses almost flew. when they reached
the foot OF the hill. which cirries the road
10 higher ground. there was less than a
wards space between the sleigh and the
ice. The occupants Of the rear seat Jump
ed forward. expecting that before they
were up the hill Gle sleigh would he
crushed beneath the pursuing ice. The
higher bank was reached In safety. how
ever. For half "A mile the flood kept
abreast of them. Now and then a cake Of
ice would be thrown over the top OF the
bank, falling sometimes within a foot of
the sleigh. When they came 10 the hill
beyond Buckley's. on the outskirts ef Ger
mantown. the river for some distance
leaving the road. they felt that they had
escaped the flood. What was their dis
may. on lookingof to the right, 10 see that
the ice had been stopped in the channel of
the river, and was making a new one
through "A gulley across Bucklcy's fiat,
and was rapidly approaching the road nc a
point u hundred yards ahead of the sleigh.
The distance TO be made by both sleigh
and ice to pass that point was about equal.
Buchanan knew tnat he must make a last
effort to oststrip the flood. Putting the
whip to his horses the race was renewed.
The sleigh passed the disputed point not
more than a yard ahead of the ice, which
a second afterward rushed across the road
and carried destruction into Germantown.
VINO X CRIPPLED HUSBAND.
Patrick Creighton lived with his wife
and nine children in a little house on the
Germantown flats. He lately had one of
his legs cut OF on the railroad. on which
he was employed. The flood came So sud
denly that the ice was knocking holes in
Creightos's house before he knew il. and
the water was pouring in. Being unable
to escape in this crippled condition, his
wife started her nine children out of the
house. and then took her helpless husband
in her arms and hurried away to a safer
place. This poor family lost every thing
they possessed.
Mrs. Mary Moloney. an aged widow,
lived alone in a small house on the flats.
In the morning Policeman Elsten went 10
her house and told her she must move.
She refused TO 20. "lour house will be
knocked all to -. said the officer. Thin
I'll 90 wild il. shure," she replied. and
did not leave her house. twas surround
ed by large cakes of ice. and carried twen-
ty-five feet away. She stuck to il. and still
refuses to Quit IL, although the Ice and
water are foot deep in il. and il il propped
up on every side by huge cakes.
When the flood was bearing down with
great speed on the town an irishwoman
ran to q house near the river. and soon APP
peared with a half grown pig in her arms,
carrying it off in the very face Of the
flood.
INCIDENTS OF TUE FLOOD.
On the Pennsylvania side of the river the
ice was thrown up the bank fifty feet.
Jacob Westfall's house was surrounded
with huge cakes in an instant. and a pass
age had 10 be cut through them TO rescue
his family. Mr.. Weslfall lost nine cows
and a team OF horses.
There was four feet of water in the gas
house in this place. putting out all the fur
mace fires and destroying the lower tier of
retorts. The damage il 5000.
Tn - gine house Of the Germantown
y re Department was carried a quarter of
mile, with engine, hose carriage, and all
the furniture. They we're all ground to
pieces in the ice.
A hog and nine chickens passed this
place on n large cake OF ice. They went
on down the river, and were rescued at
Milford.
Jacob Hornbeck, a wealthy farmer liv-
ing below here, counted forty skunks
swimming between his house and tins
place. They were driven from their holes
In the numerous islands i'm the river.
superintendent Il. Thomas, Engineers
Billy Morris and Van Wormer, and Con-
ductor Cow were crossing the railroad
bridge on an engine, when they discovered
that the ice was moving the bridge. They
ran slowly back, and got safely TO
end. Robert Frampton, supcrintend-