Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-06-20

were In the attic and would have been
saved but a locomotive was hurled through
the house and Knocked it down The sur
viving member of the family has since con-
mitted suicide.
The sights and sounds heard that night
were the most painful that human beings
were ever called upon to endure. In the
darkness could be distinguished human be-
ings floating by the town on house tops and
rafta Some were crying for help, others
were praying aloud for mercy, and . few
were even singing as IL to keep up their
courage About o'clock q big raft swept
by the village within 100 yards of the shore.
There was an entire family on it, and they
were singing Nearer. Ny God, to Thee. "
In the midst Of their song the raft struck
large tree and went to splintera oThere
were one or two wild cries and then silence.
Mrs Mary Fem stood by muddy pool of
water trying to find some trace of . once
happy home. A reporter asked her con-
corning her loss. She said She was left
alone, her husband and seven children be-
ing swept away. She continued:
I'VE were driven by the raging food into
the garnet, but the waters followed US there.
Inch by inch it kept rising until our
was death to remain. So I raised win
dow and one by one placed my dar-
lings some driftwood. trusting to the
Great Creator. As liberated the last one, my
Mamma. you always told me that the Lord
would care for me; will He look after me nowr
saw him drift away with his loving face
turned toward me. and with . prayer on my
lips for his deliverance he passed from sight
forever. The next moment the roof crashed
in and f1oated outside to be rescued fifteen
hours later from the root of a house in Kern
VILE If could only find one of my darlings
could bow to the will of God. But they are all
gone"
Near the center of the city were three
persons pulling apart the debris as best
they could They were an elderly woman,
young woman, quite pretty, and little
girl, all dressed in mourning. reporter
stopped to watch them for a moment,
when suddenly the little girl cried: 20,
mamma, here's something" Both women
hurried over as the child held up
a water-stained photograph album.
Eyes, that's ours" cried the younger
of the women as she feverishly
seized it and began to turn the dirty and
leaves. All three sat down
went through the album. utterly re-
gardless of the crowd that gathered.
The younger one turned to the first
picture the album and carefully
wiped the dirt away with her handker-
chief She looked at it long and earnestly
while the other two looked over her Shout
der II thought we had lost it." she said,
as the tears trickled down her face.
In the gray dusk OF that fatal Friday
evening a crowd of people stood upon the
bridge at Bolivar trying to rescue the I'M
fortunates as they were carried down by
the flood. Ropes were dangling from the
bridge for those in the water to grasp One
poor woman's plight was even piteous
that even strong men wept She was sit
ting high and dry on a substantial pile of
timber that was bearing her down
nf HOY
lay little child. They were still and
made no cutlery as the woman clasped
them close. As the craft neared the bridge
the spectators saw that the children were