The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1881-12-02

"lt's just like the fairy story r said
he, half aloud, ~ he climbed the sloppy
steps Of bis boarding -house-'Just like
fairy story with great big,splsndid,
rich man fairy r
II was almost morning. Already
the black curtains Of night, rent here
and there by the furious wind, was
slowly lifting toward the sast and the
dull, gray dawn appearing, forming
somber background, upon which the
leafiess trees that fringed the farawAy
hills were painted in waving silhoutts.
Since ever the sun had gone down
tho wild storm had continued, and even
now the rain, driven by the mighty
wind, fell In long, slanting lances upon
the town and the frothing river, that,
6lled with great masses Of broken ice
and debris from all the up-country,
rosred and plunged bstwesn its banks
and shook with giant hands the founda-
tions Of the mills beneath which it ran.
At the bead OF the danl, where the
channel was the Aarrowest, AHd direct
ly opposite the lower Watterson mill,
was an ice jam.
Piled block upon block, until it tow
cred high in the air, pressing with ter
rible force against the mills. uPsn the
one hand, and the natural wall Of
rock upon the other, the broken leo
had formed q great, white baaricade,
growing each monent which checked
the mad rush of tho water and sent 10
swirling backward in eddying waves,
which beat furiously upon the mills
aud threatened each instant 20 engulf
them.
Along the higher shore the towns
people had gathered powerless 10 aid,
bus simply awaiting the catastrophe;
and among them, pale and haggAFd,
was the proprietor himself, already =
ruined man.
As he passed 10 and fro, intent upon
the scene before him, hoping agaiasi
hope that the jam might even yet give
way in time TO save his buildings, many
q watcher turned aside with pityiHa
word and look, for Mr.. Waterson wa'
a man beloved by ell Of bis employees
Suddenly there was q movement IL
the crowd-all fastening toward . com
mon esntre-and with eager faces
both men and women gathered about q
new conner who wal speaking earnestly
eyes. IL that timber eoull 30 cut,
1t would break the jAnl 1t lies jusl
SO that il holds"
The owner Of the mills burst through
the little crowd.
"What timberl Wherei Quickl Tel
mel Caa the jam be brokenf'
"Yes, sir" returned the ether re
specifically touching his hat. ''It can
but It's dangerous werk. have jas
been below, and from there [ saw tha
great log which has lodged at th
. very Gro wn Of the dam is all that hold
the ice. IL that could be cut, the jan
J would be broken"
, "But how can it be reached" querie
Mr.. Watterson, anxiodsly. "CAn an,
one got at it TO cut i'll"
ayes, sir" replied the man; Gin on
way"
"And tha. is-"
"Over the les itselfl''
, A shudder ran through the listener,
| and even the proprietor's face gre
more pale. Wno would venture uPo
/ such bridge on such an errAndi
, With O common impulse the crowd
| led by the workman who first disos'
! cred the log, turned hurrielly ava
} from the rivers brink, ran through
! side street, aud gained position 10 We
| down the stream, from whence th
. dam could be plainly seen.
! The report was true. The jam ~a
. held in place by single timbsr =
. great square stick; doubtless torn b
l. the angry waters from some bridge Fl
+ up the country. IL that could be Gu
s the blockade would DO broken, the il
: would no longer clog the stream, an
the mills would be saved.
8 For moment silenca fell upon al
y then, suddenly, Mr. Waterson's voic
: hoarso and thin, rang ont above Il
il noise of the storm and war of water
i "a THOUSAND dollars to the ma
who will cut the timber.
z The women in the little group locke
q ut each other and shuddered; the me
d fxed their eyes upon the dam; but !
o one replied. The roar Of the angl
4 stream increased and the waters dee
d l.ened beneath the mill walls.
s. 1.-TWO thousann doIlarsl"
a. The proprietor's voice was hoars
D than before; but the women closed the
4, lips firmly and shook their heaC
& The men moved unaasily, and O.
y drew his hand across his mouth as
he would have spoken; but still no o
. replied, and the white foam from I
10 imprisoned river was tossed by {
d. wind against the lower windows of t
Dr. mills, while the corners Of the buildin
10 were already beginning to Crumble q
!" waste away before the grinding ice.
" Three thou"
to II will gol"
~ The two voices sounded so closely
Fl pether that Ii was not nntil the Gro,