The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1883-01-19
A HERO OF THE FLOODS.

Nowhere throughout the overlooked
river bottoms of the West did the de-
vastating foods of 1881 come upon peo-
pie with such calamitous swiftness, or
cover the country to such depths, as in
the valley of the far-reaching and snow
fed Missouri. Long and bitterly remem-
bered by hundreds, whose homes were
swept away with scarce a moment S
warning, will be the icy overflow of that
calamitous season.
From all its numerous tributaries,
rom the trickling rills of the snow
capped mountains to the broad and
sluggish river Platte. the bands of ice,
suddenly loosed, letforth watery torrents
to swell the mightier river, till it poured
down to the Mississippi with destruc-
tive haste that has never been witnessed
before
Many a tired farmer who went to his
rest after hard days work, and
dreamed for time. perchance, of
growing crops and abundant harvests as
the result of his labors, arose to find his
farm watery waste, the angry river
already at his very door, and his live
stock wading and swimming distracted
ly about amid floating masses of ice,
brushwood and the debris of other
inundated farms above, In vain he
sought to save his horses, his cattle, or
his household goods; it was often all
he could do to save even his wife and
little ones.
Upon broad and well-cultivated farm
on the Nebraska side of the Missouri
there lived family named Wilson, in q
frame house that stood in grove OF
large but scattered trees near the bank
of the stream.
Cultivated fields and well-fenced stock
pastures extended back across the inter
wales. The soil was dark and extreme.
ly fertile, the land lying but little above
high-water mark, on which account the
spring freshets always caused Mr. Viii,
son considerable uneasiness. The old.
est settlers Whereabouts, however, had
never known this tract to be entirely
covered; and this, with Mr.. Wilson
own experience, had, as the years went
by, considerably lessened his first mis-
givings.
Therefore the great flood of 1881
found Mr.. Wilson wholly unprepared
and at the time of its coming both he
and his wife were absent from home.
They had felt little reluctant about
leaving home, as the river was swollen
nearly TO the high-water mark, but
urgent business compelled them to ride
to the nearest railroad town, some thirty
miles away, from which they intended
to return on the day following
Mrs. Wilson carried her youngest
child, and there remained at home Hen.
ry, a lad of fifteen, and two little
daughters aged ten and six years, with
the hired man, Rudolph.
Rudolph had relatives living two OF
three miles back from the river, and
when the chores were done at night he
left the house, telling Henry that he
was going over to see ''his folks,n and
would be back at ten O'clock.
The boy and his sisters had been left
alone of an evening before. They were
not afraid, and went to bed by nine
o'clock, to sleep soundly, as such child
rem will,
When the boy awoke the next morn.
ing he found the sun peeping in at hi
window, and leaping out of bed he
called to Rudolph, as his father was il
the habit of doing. But Rudolph die
not answer.
Rude must be up and doing thu
chores" thought Henry; and ther
speaking aloud, he said: "What {
tremendous rearing the river make.
this morning. 1t sounds as if it was al
around us
"Goodness! l bheye it is" he add
ed, after listening moment; and ther
he ran to his window to look
Stouter hearts than his might have
quailed at the scene which met his eyes
Everywhere was water-a trlrbid, black
tumultuous flood daShing up agains
the trunks of the great trees, foodins
the stock-yard fences completely out O
sight. Logs, boards and great cold
looking cakes of white ice, even the
bodies of dead cattle, were sweep
furiously on. The heads only the
heads and horns--of some of their owl
cattle could be seen here and there, q.
the poor creatures swan feebly to anC
fro,
Looking down in frightened awe from
the open window, the lad saw that the
delving, guttering current had alread,
attacked the foundation OF the house
which stood considerably higher thar
the cattle yards, and that the door
steps below were under water.
As the danger of the situation dawneC
upon him, the lads terror grew
Again and again he shouted to Rudolph
but there was no response save The
rush and roar of the river
Then he ran to the room of little Jen
ME and Izah, who had already beer
awakened by his shouts With fright
ened sobs the children chung to tReil
brother scarcely daring to look out up.
on the fearful scene about them.
Where is Rudolph Where is Ru.
dolphP' they sobbed.
Henry soothed them as besthe could.
and leaving them at the head of the
stairway he went below to see how
high the water had risen.
To his increased alarm he found that
the kitchen floor was already covered.
and that the muddy water was POURING
in through the cracks about the door,
1t was rising fast-had risen even since
he first looked out upon it.
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