The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1881-06-02
n Else IN KIOMATIA.

. LILO mdu ID JUST uc baIu0 - l.
n RISE IN KIOMATLA.
Ny health making it necessary for me
to give up my clerkship, I obtained
situation as wagon-driver to Spencer
Academy.
This, one Of the two neutrality-suspicious.
of the Choctaw nation, is situated in the
heart of the woods, about twenty-five
miles north of Red river, and fifty from
the railroad.
To reach Paris, Texas-the base of
supplies-it is necessary to cross two
rivers-Red river and Kiomatia- the
Territory. These rivers are sometimes
fordable, but more frequently must be
crossed by ferry. -,
They both-but particularly Kiomatia
ARE subject to sudden rises probably
caused by the bursting of water-spouts
in the mountains. These rises, are fire.
quently attended with loss of life and
property. 49,. .
had been at Spencer but few weeks,
when it became necessary to send to
Paris. Two wagons were sent-Ernest
Black, a young man, driving one, N.Y.
self the other. I had been intimate with
him in Texas, but had lost sight Of him
since his coming to the Nation, some
years before.
We started from Spencer early in the
morning, intending to make our noon
day halt at Kiomatia, twelve miles on the
way. The road crosses the river OBJ
iquely, so that it is 200 yards from where
it goes down into the stream to where it
energies again. with high, steep banks
on each side.
Midway Of the river, when it is low,
is flat, sandy island. I proposed to
Black that we would stop here to lunch,
as the water would be convenient for our
teams.
"No," said he. 81 tried that once,
and will never do it again."
Then, seeing my look of inquiry, he
added:
"Wait until we get on the other
bank, where there is good spring,
and, while our teams are eating, I will
tell you why have such a dread of that
island"
So, while our mules were lingering
over their fodder, he gave me the fol
lowing story of his experience with Kio'
malta
"Two years ago I first began driving
for Spencer. I had been in the Nation
for several years, and knew the country
pretty we'll, but was not aware OF the
sudden changes in this river. It was,
think, my third trip to Paris. Romatl'
had been low all summer, and no on
thought of rise. A young lady-Mls
Ellen Cotter- had been to Spencer on {
visit, and was DESTROYS of returning
home. As her home lay directly on my
road, I offered her seat in my wagon
which she accepted. I was in love will
her then--she is my wife now-and o
course was glad of the opportunity of :
long ride and talk with her.
eve started out on much such da,
as this, just cool enough to make tn
sun pleasant When we reached Kio
malta, I stopped on that island to lunch
Iloosened the traces Of my team, threw
the mules a bundle of fodder apiece
and then helped Ellen out Of the wagon
"We sat there chatting and eatins
for half-hour, and then began to ge
ready to start. It seemed to me that tn
island was considerably larger whel
we stopped. On looking more closely
I found that the river was rising rapidly
Still I was not alarmed, but little ur
easy. But I lost no time. I put Ellie
into the wagon, hitched up the trace
and got on my saddle-mule.
"By this time, the water began I
come down in waves, and before we lei
the island it was hub-deep. With
word of encouragement to Ellen,
shouted to my team and plunged in.
urged on my mules all I could, but th
river was getting deeper fast, and it Wa
soon over the fore-wheels. Mules d
not like to go fast through water, AMI
in spite Of my effort, we made slow pros
ress. But we were finally very nes
the bank, and thought we would mai
it all right.
"Just as my leaders were beginnin