St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-03-16


than thousands around us.n
''Dat's so, Miss Patty; you'se all libin'
an well, an youah house is standin.o
81 am thankful for these blessings, Jack, p"
and the tears rolled down Mrs. Thompson's
face as she babe him goodbye.
"Jack will be heah as soon as ebah he can.
Goodbye
Just then Arthur, who had been watching
the river, called; ''Uncle jack there's a
house coming around the curve, and it
looks to me as if there is somebody moving
on the roof
'Moah'n likely! De big wind las night
got noah cabins afoat dan ole Jacks. /
see tree or foah big white houses go down
when l was comm obeh heah dis mornin.
I'll try an make dat point up dab, an see
time dey gifts dab if dahbe any pussons
needin' help
Saying this, Uncle Jack jumped into his
skiff (Which was large one) closely followed
by Arthur, who called Goodbye" to his
mother and the children, who were watch
ing from the cliff, and grabbing a couple OF
| oars, aided Uncle Jack in rowing. Arthur
was good oarsman, and had been accus-
toned to rowing with Uncle Jack from the
time he could handle an oar. AT any other
time Mrs. Thompson would have been proud
of the boy as he bent to the oars in exact
time with Uncle Jacks movements. But in
this hour of peril, she breathed a prayer to
heaven that the brave son and faithful ser
want might be successful in saving those in
peril.
She watched to see the house come in sight
around the bend, knowing that an eddy al
the point they were making for would bring
the house nearer shore, and if there were
those in the floating house needing assist
ancce they might be saved.
Soon they came in sight and shouts were
heard of ''Help! help! ForGod's sake helpn'
as the people upon the house-top saw the
skiff.
The skiff nears the house; she sees a wOm-
an lowered into the skiff, and something be-
side-she thinks, may be, a child. Then the
skiff HES off. Down, down they are carried
by the current.
What can they be doing? Rowing as if
for dear life, they gain on the house, but are
going in the same direction. She looks
again, and now comprehends the meaning OF
the strange proceeding. They are going to
make the shore and put out to the house
again, and so take advantage of the current
in their rowing.
''God help them ~ she calculated. Almost
breathless for fear they will fail in doing this,
she watches, praying and hoping almost
against hope.
They have landed, and now are rowing
downward with the tide again. They reach
the house, and she sees the man leave the
roof and take to the boat.
She watches them as they try this time to
make the shore. She knows how their
strength must be exhausted ere this by their
almost superhuman efforts, and how danger
Gus it is for skiff to land anywhere near the
narrows, to which their boat is now headed.
"Uncle Jack knows cherry rock and oak,
for miles, up an down the ribber," she has
often heard him say, and so treasures her.
self, hoping all may be well.
At last she loses sight Of the skiff, and
with the children enters the cave.
The day wears away. She sees ruin and
devastation all around. Floating houses,
barns, hay-stacks, straw-stacks, cOrn-fodder,
sections of fences, boxes, barrels, saw-logs
and lumber; and then she turns away, too
anxious to look longer. And then comes
the cry of agony, 40, God, save my Ar
thur, my dear, brave boy, Arthur
All day she waited and watched. Night
came on, and still no Arthur With the
help of Edgar she rolled stone logs together,
and built fire upon the ledge of rocks, and
kept it burning.
At midnight she heard a call above the
roars of the waters. 1t was Arthur's voice.
care you safe, my dear boy?' called Mrs.
Thompson going to the edge of the cliff.
eyes, mother; but brave Jack is drowned
L have gentleman aud lady and little girl
we saved from the house with me.n
Mrs. Thompson learned that the skiff was
capsized and the three thrown into the river,
and while struggling to make the shore with
the upturned boat Uncle Jack was taken
with cramp and lost.
They found the woman and child where
they had left them, and building fire for
them, and taking rope, used in lowering
the woman and child to the skiff, returned
to the place where Uncle Jack was lost Mr.
Walton seemed as anxious as Arthur, and
faithfully they worked until nearly sun
down, when their search was rewarded by
finding the remains of the faithful negro.
For the first time during the day Arthur
seemed unnerved, and Mr.. Walton had to
cheer and encourage the boy.
Then, the fire built by Mrs. Thompson
was seen, and Arthur said, GLOW anxious
mother must have been all day. We must
try and get to her as soon as possible, but
it will be hard rowing up stream"
81 will row for awhile, until you get
rested" said Mr. Walton.
''No, thank you," replied Arthur; 81
can not rest; you could do nothing with
this load against the current We must
both put in our best ticks and rest after
wards"
Arthur and the children we're almost in
consolable over the loss of Uncle Jack.
The next day he was buried by the side of
little Ben, and there was never more sincere
mourners than Mr.. and Mrs. Walton, who
owed their lives to the exertions of Arthur
and the faithful negro.