The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-01-16
THE lRC0TT MYSTERY.

G1rcles for many years Afterwards.
There were two or three noisy saw
mills, . tannery. ,hingle mandatory
and q church which also answered the
purpose OF o school house. There were
some two hundred inhabitants, not
counting the children, which spring up
here in the forest likepiine underbrush.
In ths spring Of $50 the Sacondaga
river wss at the highest water mark
ever known. Il came tearing down
through the valley, fed by the icy
mountain streams, sweeping gigantic
logs and stumps from the banks. The
ioundations Of ths saw-mills we're shak-
e., and sarious approximations were
felt rs to their safety.
Stephen Arcott, : bluff old English
man, from whom the place derived its
name, was standing among a small knot
Of men, anxiously gazing upon the an
gry waters.
"Ieas N the rise,p muttered Arcott.
Yes assented the school-master;
Il have had my eye upon the rock out
MereinSsthe middle OF the stream, and I
cali seethewat creep higher and higher
every minute. This freshet will sweep
the valley ISfear."
All! There comes Notions BRIDGE
cried Arcott, IS . heaving mass of logs,
stamps and debris drew near, bearing
among II the stringers Of the ill-fated
bridge. ThereH be trouble 0 up in
the cedars, added he, ominously. mol
toms bridge was carried away ten
years ago, and 9 number Of liyes we're
lost"
The water is steadily rising higher
and higher. The tan-pits are over
flowing, and dense volumes Of AMBER
colored water ne pouring from the
windows and cracks Of the limestone
foundation. The sun drops behind the
western hills, and shadows creep over
the scene, amid which the mad water is
playing pandemoninm. Higher and
higher, inch by inch, the water-line
crawls. Arcott's mill is now entirely
surrounded, and the crowd is obliged to
fall back.
Old Stephen's face grows pale; the
work Of years is about to be swept away
in the rapacious jaws of the monster
element. The mill trembles on it's
foundations, the imbers SILVER and
groan, and the destroyer commences it's
merciless work Of destruction. Then.
8 crash! and Arcott covers his face With
his hands, as the mill totters, falls, and
is swept away down the stream. All! q
dark object looms upsfrom the water
mp stream. It is q house, heaving,
swaying, and clumsily tumbling from
side to side, surrounded by logs and
stnmps.
1Helpl oh, God! Helpi help!"
AThen there's Q human beings life in
danger cried the school-master to the
horriied group.
The house rapidly approaches nearer.
I'm the dim light, the figure of q man is
seem 1stride@of the roof ridge. board,
He is waving his arms f~rantically; and,
over and anon, sends forth that loud ap-
peAhng cry for help.
Pete jacobs, one Of the younger mer
ofthe group. dashes away toward point
. quarter OF o mile down stream, where
: crooked pine projects out over the
water. Hareaches the pine, crawls out
upon the trunk, ind locking his lower
limba about u hanging branch, bends
down and awaits the approach of the
house. ALL the limbs sweep against
the roof.
Throw up yoar arms!p yelled Pete.
"A parrot arms are tossed trantically
upward. The stout young lumberman
grasps the other by the wrists, and
drags him ont OF the very jaws of death,
- the house dashes against a rock and
floats away in pieces down stream.
Summer has come and gone, and the
fruits Of autumn have been gathered.
And now, the chill breath Of gray old
winter touches with magic fingers the
leaves, the grasses and the surrounding
landscape is covered with the mantle Of
now.
The man whom Pete Jacobs saved
from 9 wafery grave, the spring before,
gave his name q Winders Forney. He
told his story in so straightforward and
,unhesitating . manner, that none could.
help hut believe him.
He Ind been hunting up in the ce.
dars. and upon nlghtfall finding HIM
H-[H AIM.lMATREEg observation-disclosures FNHG = WNEl