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

Lifted the wagon-bed ont OF the stand
ards, and it was rapidly drifting down
stream.
! /" Giving parting shout to my team,
l plunged into the river, thinking I
could easily catch the bed and guide it
to the bank but had underestimated
both the depth and the force Of the
stream. was swept off my feet in
moment and had to swim for it.
I tried to push the wagon-b bed along.
swimming behind it; but neither was
this possible, the force Of the stream was
too great. I soon found I was getting
exhausted, and climbed into the wagon
bed. Ellen was much frightened, but
calm. treasured her to some extent.
by 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
time was coming down in considerable
quantities, would crush the frail wagon
bed.
Son the first score I thought there
was but little danger, as the wagon was
almost water-tight. The second danger
seemed more serious. There was stiff
breeze blowing up stream, which kept
us back, while large logs, having less
surface exposed and running deeper,
drifted faster, and kept running against
us, and every now and then gave Sc
we're shock.
IL seized pole which was floating
by, and managed to keep off some Of
them, though not all. I also tried to
steer our novel craft toward the bank.
but it was as unmanageable as 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.
II knew there was ferry about thir-
ty miles below US, 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.
IT was but poor swimmer Ellen
could not swim at al, or I would have
been tempted to leave the wagon-bed,
and make an attempt to reach the bank.
Naturally, too, we wished to stay in the
wagon as long as possible. It seemed a
barrier, though frai) one, between us
and the seething waters.
"I began to find the water was COM
ing in much faster than before. The
blows of the drift had opened the seams,
and it soon became necessary to bail it
out. To do this, I had nothing but my
hat, and it kept me busy, as I was often
obliged to stop and ward off some large
log which threatened to swamp us.
"While thus engaged. my eyes fell
upon something which gave me CLEAN
of hope. This was the rope which al
ways carried in the wagon in case of &C
cidents.
"You know I used to be good han6
at throwing the lasso, and my knacl
had not entirely left me. I thought
might be able to throw the rope around
some limb or log, and by that means
draw the boat to the bank. Ellen
meanwhile, had been standing in ONT
end of the wagon-bed- it was too wet tx
make sitting comfortable-and, as
could see from her earnest face ant
folded hands, praying, I hoped for M
as we'll as herself.
Giving my hat to her and asking he
to continue bailing, 1 made the rope int
lasso. As soon as the current carriet
us near enough to the bank, I began
throwing. My first attempt was t
throw it on cottonwood limb. In thi
was successful, and, as the rope tight
ened in my hands, I felt wild thrill Q
exultation. I thought we were saved
but, just as we began to near the bank
an enormous log came floating down tn
stream, which we both failed to see. I
came down with such force that, as
held on with the grip of despair, tn
brittle limb parted and dropped into tn
water. I was discouraged, but though
I could easily throw the rope over an
other. But my expectations were i
vain. threw again and again, tryin
sometimes the end of a limb, sometime
sapling, sometimes a stump; but til
swiftness Of the stream, with the fore
of the wind, rendered all my efforts ir
efectual. Probably, too, the peril W
were in confused my brain.
"Again were we whirled into til
middle of the stream, and I went I
bailing. The last shock had been a
most too much for the frail craft, an
bailing out with the hat could n
5 longer keep down the water. Woman
80 ,o,,oo ~ o,,r old lillian %oLipo n