Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1883-09-27

stream, and the food dashed by now so
close to the flooring that it almost
seemed he was pillowed on the whirl-
ing eddies; but when his emotions were
most aroused he welcomed the COM
panioIship, and its very madness was
his lullaby.
But one night there came a strange
commotion in the hamlet along the
stream.
Some one disturbed bv a sick child
was further startled by heavy crash
and roar from the darkness without.
He flew to tbs door, and his worst
fears were confirmed.
Plainly enough the crashing and
splintering of timbers came to his ears,
mingled with the grating and crunch
ing of great stones borne along by re.
sistless force.
Then followed the roar and sweep of
an immense body of water suddenly lib
Grated and overwhelming everything in
its course.
There was but one explanation posi-
ble-the dam had given away, and the
great mill-pond was added to the al
ready swollen current of the Branch.
From house TO house the frightened
messenger ran. and in very short
time half-dozen men with lanterns
were hurrying through the mist and
darkness towards the pond.
The dam had been locate perhaps
hundred rods above the mill, where
large region was overtiowed, but long
before it was reached all doubts were
removed.
Inc cI rent was imm 'n>rlv swollen
and laden with debris. W lie much of
the bordering land was overwhelmed,
SO that ut last the effort 10 reach the
dam was given up, and the party turned
their attention downstream.
A few rods above the mill n highway
crossed the Branch, but where there
had been heavy bridge high above
the water, they could discern only q
struggling wreck, crumbling away each
moment under the resistless energy of
the flood.
The bridge had gone bodily with the
current
Hugh Crittenden had not formed one
of the first party, for his house was
more remote than those of his neigh
bors, but now they saw the flashing of
lights about the mill, and heard cries of
alarm.
"There is something to pay there"
cried one, and all ran about the great
piles of logs and made their way to the
structure.
Hugh was there, with friend or
two, and all were in the widest excite
ment The mill was wrecked, and
trembling under the force of the mad
current which rushed through the lower
part of the structure; but it was not
that which filled those present with
horror.
At the rear the door leading to what
had been the office-Daniel's sleeping
room-was torn from its fastenings, but
it opened only upon seething, howl
ing waste of waters. The little "annex"
had been torn from its place, taking
away q section of the mill, and with all
that it contained had gone down the
turbulent stream.
''DeWolf-where is bep" gasped more
than one, and Hugh Crittenden, very
pale but calm, made all the answer that
was IN MS power:
"God knows, men; don't. There is
no trace of him here"
Then he must be in the river!'' cried
Nathan Goodman, Daniels assistant al
the mill, ''for was here till late, and
he was very tired and sleepy when
left, and said he should shut down and
90 to bed soon and try to get good
nights rest, which he hadn't had since
the storm began. Poor fellow! If he's
gone into this flood he'll never wake
again.
POSSIBLY he may have been thrown
ashore somewhere" suggested Mr..
Crittenden. "While there is hope We
must try to find him. Some of yor
men with lanterns follow down tht
bank-we may get some clew of him. >
The search was made, and thorough
ly made, for apart from the prompting
of common humanity the missing
man was u favorite with his associates
but it was all in vain, though the ex
plorations were carried far below th'
limit of hope, and with the coming o
daylight the party made their way bacl
to the mill with sad faces.
AS the water was now subsiding. ant
there seemed no danger of further dam
age, the men repaired to their homes
Mr.. Crittenden among the number.
On entering the house he was met b,
his wife with an enquiring glance whic
voiced. the question she would hav
asked.
Some time before neighbor had toll
her the sad news, but, in the hope tina
the worst might not be true, Mrs. Crit
tenden had kept the tidings from he
daughter.
"1t's no use hoping" he said; "we'v
got to give him up"
A despairing word fell from the heal
ers lips, ut the same moment tha
Ethie, who had wondered at her mott
er's constrained air and manifest agit;
ton, appeared on the scene, and eager
ly demanded:
who is it, father? l know that ther
is some one hurt-why will you not te
me what is the matter?"
"Why, girl, don't you know ths
Daniel is carried down the stream, an
we can't tind-"
Before he could complete the sentene
. the maiden, with cry of terrible al
guish, sank at his feet in Il swoon.
"Why, mother. what is the matte
with the child?n her astonished faith,