The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1885-09-10

undertaken the task themselves, all
uDaided, and had been two years at
work on the main ditch when Erastus
Hemmingway arrived in the com
munity
| So dreary and forbidding was the
outlook that he felt tempted TO leave
again Immediately, but, knowing that
no land remained open for pre-. cmption
elsewhere in the State at last he de-
cided to stay and cast his lot with those
who we're so maDfully struggling to
overcome the difficulties by which they
were surrounded
Guided in part by the advice Of such
acquaintanees as he had made since his
arrival, he located claim Of one hun
dred and sixty acres, and made ar
rangements TO live for time in the
| family OF settler who was on a claim
adjoining his own, agreeing TO pay a
small sum weekly for such food and
accommodations as they could offer .
OF the half dozen men who accom-
panied Erastus to the Slough, not one
had the hardihood 10 remain. All were
too much discouraged by the outlook,
and either returned 10 the old neigh
borhood or sought places for rent in
other portions Of the country.
When he hal staked out his claim
Erastlis hitched up and drove across
the country until he found pasturagc,
and rancher who was willing 10 let
tho colts run with his own stock until
such time as the light rains. which
might be expected TO tall a few months
later, should revive the seemingly dead
grass OF the Mussle Slough country
He then returned to the Slough ON foot,
and went TO work with his felow-set-
tiers upon the ditch, which was their
only hope. ~a
For weeks and months he worked in
company with these men, many OF
whom had worked through all the
weeks and months OF the two previous
years, ill-fed-often without bread OF
any; kind for long periods at time,
sleeping upon the ground almost as fire.
quently rs in bed, working at night
as well as by day, their families camp
ing in wretchcd little huts at the lake
watching the patches OF vegetables and
corn upon which their very existence
depended
When the rain came and vegetation
started up, the colts were brought down
from their pasture and made TO do q
portion of labor ON the ditohi their
young master taking tho best care Of
thom possible under the circumstances.
He had written home soon after posi-
lively deciding to locate at the Slough.
but hal refrained from giving very
accurate description of the country or
If l,tu aei. t.tfe t,i,,a.
any anxiety in the minds of his friends
regarding his welfare. In reply chad
received letters from the family telling
him OF affairs in the old neighborhood.
Thon for some weeks he was silent, not
feeling that he had anything cheerful
TO communicate, and dreading, yet
longing, TO hear further regarding the
engagement between Lucy and Mr..
Annelsey.
Meantime the dam which was 10 save
the Parsons settlement from the over
flow had been completed, but scarcely
was the work accomplished before II
became evident that it would not long
stay the mass Of slickings which was
coming down in such immense quanti-
ties from the mines above as to have
filled the gulch itself a hundred feet
deep for ten miles below Gravel Hill,
and in spite of the fact that large guam
titles OF II were turned aside into the
new channel cut for il above the dam,
ii was slowly but surely filing the
whole gorge and would soon rise above
that structure, even il il did not sweep
it away.
Another meeting of the settlers was
called at which twas resolved TO APP
ply TO the courts for a perpetual in
junction restraining the companies from
cmptying their slickipgs into the gorge
The services OF prominent attorney
of San Francisco were secured and APP
plicatioD for the injunction made.
But there were delays
The attorneys for the mining COM
panies asked for time in which to pro-
duce evidence to show why the iniunc-
ton should not issue, and although the
settlers pleaded tho absolute necessity
TO them of immediate action, the time
asked was given and even twice ex-
tended
Then some technically in the law or
the papers in the case was discovered,
and still further time consumed
BY this time the fall rains had COM
menccd, and a few days later the gorge
above the dam was full, not OF water
alone, but OF earth and stones, which,
pressing against that hastily built
structure, swept it away and won't
pouring over the valley and farm lands
below
The bed of the creek was at once |
filled with sand and gravel Brush and
timbers from the broken dam, together
with whole trees washed down by the
operations at the mines, were swept
along with the current and, finding
lodgment formed barrier which in
turn banked up the water and earth
behind it, until over whole farms the
worthless soil from the mountains rose
to depth of ten or twelve feet, bury
ing orchards and vineyards, and even
some small buildings beneath the ac-
mass.
Powerless to stay its course, John
and Martha Parsons saw the flood of
death rise about them. Saw first their
lower fields flooded and made yalueless.
Then saw the Hood rise about the
yrape-vines until they were buried
rom sight. and the mass of earth and
water, rising more slowly now, reached