Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1876-01-19

glneer, could effect safe passage to the
shore; but could not avoid entertaining
some dismal forebodings as l noted the
alarming rapidly with which the Hood
wave was rising. Another so-called
jam" had taken place as the ice-gorge
touched upon the shadows near the island
and l could hear the grinding and clash
ing of the ice as slab upon slab was
piled up by the mighty pressure from
above.
l had enough to do to soothe the
fears of poor little Mrs. Pamela gentle,
blue-eyed little wOman-who had thanked
and blessed me as her preserver when we
met, but who now, as she saw the river
rushing over the islet, sweeping away
barn and byre, and invading the lower
rooms of the farm house, gave up all for
lost; while the child--a noble looking
little boy-showed scarcely any sign OF
alarm.
Those were anxious moments which
succeeded l could tell by the dull thud-
thud! as of a steam hammer, that the ice
was beating against the stout timbers of
the farmhouse. The meadows were sub.
merged, the garden a dreary waste of
floating fragments of woodwork, up
rooted shrubs and turbid water. The flood
was up to my knees as l crossed the
threshold of the dwelling itself That
there was no boat but that which had been
carried off by the cowardly hirelings who
had left their masters family to perish |
had speedily ascertained. OF rescue from
the shore there could be no reasonable
prospect. The danger had increased ten
fold since first | set off on my venturous
voy age, and no one was likely to launch
boat in the face of almost certain destruc-
ton
So far as could see, there were but two
courses open to us. We might remain in
the upper stories of the farmhouse, or, if
hard pressed by the mounting water, take
refuge on the roof, trusting that the strong
wooden framework would hold together
till the flood should abate. But the man
ner in which the walls trembled beneath
the shock of the on-coming ice was not
reassuring, while the frightful rapidity
with which the water rose threatened all
solute ruin. The other alternative was to
construct raft capable of battling with
current and pack drift; and to this | at
once addressed myself. Luckily num-
Der of empty aour-casks set on end, and
some sheep hurdles, which espied float
my uDpNt III thC Naius INV NuiISlOIlIl
into lagoon, in the midst of which the
affrighted poultry screamed and fiutered
supplied the needful materials, while my
professional hardness stood me in good
stead; but the peril was pressing and i'm
minent, for now the blows dealt by the
ice-blocks without made the house reel as
though beneath the strokes of a battering
ram.
Never before had I toiled as did then,
well knowing that life and death depended
onmy promptitude, and that the breaking
up ofanother liam" or temporary icedam,
would probably render the river unnaviga-
bic, so that, should the house be swept
away, our last poor chance of safety would
be gone. SO | worked on with fierce
eagerness Until the empty casks and the
osier hurdles were as tightly secured with
withes and cords as could be effected by
one pair of hands; and then the precious
raft was launched, Mrs. Parnell lending
her slight strength to the task as, slowly
and painfully, it was dragged through the
shallow water in search of place where
there should be sufficient depth to set it
atloat There was a moment OF agonizing
suspense, and strained every muscle and
sinew in the attempt to drag the light
structure clear of some uprooted trees,
while the house shook perceptibly beneath
the laundering blows of the piled-up ice,
which now rose many feet high at the
back of the islet Then the raft lloated;
and, bidding those under my charge to sit
still and leave the rest to me, | seized
fir pole and thrust it off from the bank in
10 the whirllng water.
Once, twice and yet third time l
touched the bottom with the pole with
which ! tried to steer the rude craft, and
then we were in deep water, and driving
along at the mercy of the current A
shrek from Mrs. Parnell made me look
back, and | saw the whole side of the
dwelling we had just left collapse like
child's house of cards, while with a
roar like that of artillery the ice-bar-
rier broke up, and in pell-mell contu
sion the shining hillocks and glittering
slabs began to hurry toward MS the hor
rible grinding sound of the blocks as
they dashed against one another being
loud enough to deafen the ear that heard
1t. For moment, but only for a mo-
ment, despair took possession of my
heart; but then, rs the eddy swept US in
shOreward IL ringing cheer from the men
clustered on the bank, and then another,
attracted my attention. The ice was very
near, but the shore, thank Heaven. was
nearer still, and long rope was thrown
to us. | caught it, and we were dragged
TO the bank, where, amidst the drifting
ice, the raft was upset, and il was not
without some trouble and peril that.
bruised, wet and breathless, We gained
the solid earth
Half an hour later Mrs. Parnell and
little Louis, chilled and exhausted, but
unframed, were safe under the hospitable
care Of the kindly folks in whose house
lived, while before night her husband ar
rived to clasp the rescued ones to his
heart.
I" Under Gods mercy" said the honest
fellow to me, with quivering lip, as he
look MY hanl and ,urnnn Il for the tnuin