Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1881-06-25


'oruc down in waves, and before we left |
'EIo island it was huh-ieep. With Il |
word of encouragement to Ellen, ! |
shouted 20 my team and plunged in. ] |
URGED on my mules all could, hut the |
river was getting deeper last, and it was
soon ov". the fore-whccls Mules do |
moi like to 60 fast through water, and,
in spite Of my effort, We made slow prog
ross. But we were finally very near
the bank. and ! thought we would make
it all right.
just as my leader. were beginning
to 90 out of the water. scream from
Ellen startled me. / looked around and
saw to my terror that the water had
lifted the wagon-bed ont of the stand
ards, and i. WIS rapidly drifting down
stream.
Giving a parting shout to my team.
plunged into the river, thinking |
could easily catch the bed and guide it
to the bank but had underestimate
both the depth and the force of the
stream. was swept off my feet in
moment and had to swim for Il,
II tried to push the wagon-bed along,
swimming behind it; but neither was
this possible, the force of the stream was
too great. / soon found | was getting
exhausted, and climbed into the wagon
bed. Ellen WAS much frightened, but
calm. | reassured her to some extent,
hy telling her there was no danger,
though far from feeling safe myself.
"Two principal dangers presented
themselves. First, that we would sink
secondly, that the drift, which by this
tine WAS coming down in considerable
quantities, would crush the irail wagon
bed.
"On the first score I thought there
was but little danger, as the wagon was
! almost wa:er-tight. The second danger
! seemed more serious. There was stiff
breeze blowing up stream, which kept
Ms back, while large logs, having less
surface exposed and running deeper,
drifted faster, and kept running against
us, and every now and then gave a Sc
we're shock,
Il seized pole which was floating
hy, and managed to keep off some Of
them, though not all. also tried to
steer our novel craft toward the bank.
hut It was as unmanageable as a ferry
boat. The current, for the most part,
kept us in the middle of the stream,
though every now and then We would
run close to the bank, Just out of reach
of the branches which hung down so
temptingly.
81 knew there was ferry about thir-
~ miles below MS, where We would be
stopped if We could keep ahoat until we
reached it. There were also houses
along the bank, but too far off for my
voice to have reached them, even could
the inmates have helped us.
"I was but a poor swimmer Eller
could not swim at all, or l would have
been tempted to leave the wagon-bed
and make an attempt to reach the bank
Naturally, too, We wished to stay in th'
wagon as long as possible. 1t seemed
barrier, though frail one. between II
and the seething waters.
~ began to find the water was com
inc in much faster than before. Th
blows OF the drift had orened the seams
and il soon became necessary to bail
ont. To do this, / had nothing but m
hat. and it kept me busy, as | was ofte
Obliged TO stop and ward off some larg
Jog which threatened to swamp us.
"While thus engaged, my eyes fe
upon something which gave me a gleal
Of hone. This was the rope which a
WAYS carried in the wagon in case OF az
cidents.
, "You know I used to be good han
: at throwing the Iasso. and my knac
had cot entirely left me. | thought
might be able to throw the rope aroun
some limb or log, and by that meal
. draw the boat to the bank. Ellie
. meanwhile, had been standing IN ol
I! end of the wagon-bed-it was too wet
4, make sitting comfortable-and, as
b could see from her earnest face Al
'i folded hands, praying, I hoped for n
As we'll "a herself.
"Giving my hat to her and asking n
y TO continue bailing, made the rope In
10 . l.sso. As soon as the current carri
O. us near enough to the bank, l beg
h. throwing. My Arst attempt was
W throw il on cottonwood limb. In u
e, va. successful, and, as the rope tigl
n. ened In my hands, I felt wild thrill
ns exultation. I thought we we're save
et but. rust As We began to near the bar
he an enormous log came floating down
IL