Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1876-02-16

OF the pine trees bent and writhcd il
the terrible gusts, which became NOR,
frequent. The river, always rapit
and strong. was now a fierce. turbu
lent stream. whose middle curren
: nothing could cross in safety. AT las
/, Tom burst into the mill.
!, 'lt's Of no use. he exclaimed, ''wc'v,
: got to stav here or swim home.
: went clear to the main road. NOR,
. than five miles from here, and fount
! that the horses had turned the wron.
! way instead of going home. If they
! had gone straight back, the mel
: wonil have known that something
had Happened and come for us: bu
: there no chance for that now"
. AT this Harry and Jack began t.
cry, aud even Mrs. Allen looked dis
mayed.
!, "StaN ing here tonight Is ont of thu
question. said Mr.. Allen. We mus
!, get home somehow. We havnt {
morsel l., cat and every hour make,
it wOrsc. We're in for long storm
and the road half the way from here
to the turnpike will be under water
within L. hours.
"What shall we do then p asked
Tom, who was holding his dripping
coat before the blaze.
Mr.. Allen shook his head.
. IF il was fair weather | should
know what todo quick enough and
don't know hut we shall be obliged
to come to ii anyway
s.Why, what do YOU mean. father 2
!, asked Mrs. Allen. anxiously.
He pointed to the river.
~ should take the single raft living
there by the landing. II is stauncl
and strong. and just as safe as an,
boat that ever floatcd on the st. Johns
|, river
Mrs. Allen had all womm's dread
! Of water. and her heart sank at once
But the idea Of being compelled to re.
main two or three DAYS i'm that desc.
late spot, without food or chance to
, sleep. was more dreadful yet. and she
felt almost like urging her husband
to carry out the desperate idea he had
announced.
"We'vc got to decide upon some.
thing very quick" continued the far
mcr. 'lt'll bcdark in an hour. and
then we shall have no choice
lie went to the window and look
cd out for a moment at the river
Then he came back to the stove.
4 at storms fearfmlly; but then were
pretty nigh as wet as we can be now
| believe we can keep in shore with
out much trouble. and at the rate the
stream is running now. we should
reach Woodstock in less than an hour.
I've done it worse weather than this. :
II shouldn't be afraid myself" said
Tom. "Bnt then there's mother and
the children to think Of
I'm not afraid. Tom" said Mrs.
Allen. '.And even if Il were. Ihclicvc
lis the only thing we can do.
We'll Try it then" said Mr.. Allen.
decidedly. .!Comc. Tom. we've no
time to lose. See il there is rope
enough in the corner there for a coil
TO throw ashore when we get to the
isnding at Woodstock and put the
paddles aboard. Let me take the ba-
by. mother. Now. boys. jump on.
There's room enough for regiment.
Nou'll have To make up your minds
10 stand a good deal of water the
next hour. Push her oil.
The raft swung slowly round from
its fastenings. and in another moment
struck the shore current. which,
though less swift than that in the
middle af the river. was vet so strong
as to make safe navigation a difficult
task. The rain came with such
binding force that il was almost inn
possible tn see the shore. and the in
: creasing dusk threatened TO grow in.
to total darkness before the end ol
their perilons journey was reached
II was barely thrce-puartcr> OF m
hour from the time they left theii
starting point when the raft touched
the landing place at Woodstock. and
Tom. rope in hand. jumped on shore
10 throw the loop over the post
which had always stood there.
To his disma! the post was gone.
and a> the raft swept along he felt
the rope slip through hiS fingers in
spite a: his endeavors to hold it
There was another point lower dow,
|, where the raft might strike, if hi-
father could keep it ont of the eur.
rent by his single arm. Beyond that
the river made sudden bend. and il
the landing should be missed there
no power could stop them from going
down the river.
lie hurried to the nearest house of
The village and gave the alarm and
, then flew down The street which ran
parallel with the river. to the lower
landing. lie was just i'm time Ia sec
his father spring from the raft, hold
ing the rope, and rushing in the wa
ter up 10 his waist caught hold of i,
to assist him. Their united strength
badc fair TO bring the raft into the
eddy. and the shouts of the rapidly
advancing men. who had been reused
by Toms brief warning. gave them
additional energy. Two minutes
later half Il dozen strong arms were
aiding them. aud the raft was slowly
drawing To the shore. when the rope
suddenly parted.
With a wild scream the mother
rose with her babe in her arms, n, il
.to plunge into the river. Then seem,
ing to remember the children VIII,
/, clmg To her garments. she sunk down
again. and the next moment the iicrc,
current had swept them away in tn,
darkness.
There was but one hope more. 1
=
!, could he reached in time, they nigh,
, he saved. and the almost distracted
father and son. mounted on horse
, provided by sympathizin" friends
.alioped there. Too late, The fer
: nv keeper had seen some black ohicc
, rush by in the darkness. aud hear,
; cries for help, which he was unabi
:, to give. They were in the hands o
!. God. and he only could hold them. i.
!, All that night farmer Allen paced
j the floor OF his hesolate home. Til,
: friends who came to comfort hin
: found their endcavorS vain. II,
wished to he alone with his sorrow
!, rom had remained al the ferry. dc
!, termined Ia take boat M early DAY
: light and follow down the river.
There was little sleep that night il
!, Woodstock, and long before the usli
= al hour for the village to he astir. lit
!, tie groups Were abroad in the raj
!, discussing the sad event OF the pre-
!, vions evening. suddenly there vi,
= a stir in the direction of the little tel
: cgraph office, aud the operator VIII
. slept there came r,lshin. ont with
!, sealed envelope in his hand in stat
!, of great excitement.
! "WhO'll carry this over Ia farmc
= Allen's." he shouted.
- "What Is it. ANY news: l.
!" about his folks"
Hell tell YOU. It's news. I'v,
3 no right to tell you. wish I ha,
. Who'll take il -
Il will.sI will" exclaimed half
- dozen. eager to he the bearer of Ia
= news.
!; The message was entrusted Ia on
:, of The fectcst footed BOYS of the vi
!. lage, who sped over the mile whic
: lay between the Office and farmer Al
!, lens like greyhound.
"iterc's something for you." h
!, painted, as he ehmrSt into the hons
: without knocking.
The farmer took il mechanical,
!. without a thought that il conccrnc
!, those whom he already looked upo
= as in heaven. breaking the seal, i
4 n