The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1889-06-06

twisted IN tne nanQS OF uOv. MOI only
were tracks thus dealt with, but the superb
road-bed, with its depth of crushed stone
that had been b.aten down as solid as
rock with years of travel over it, was
completely washed away and nothing
left but the native rock, and even that the
Unsuitable water-iend had attempted to rip
up and wash away from its parent mountain.
Struggling along through tine wreck of steel
rails, cross-ties, and litter OF all description,
for distance of over a quarter of mile,
not a particle of the track was in proper po-
sition. Some of it lay in the river, some OF
it turned on its edge lay along the enbank-
ment like mammoth picket fence, bound
together with steel girders. Passing this. the
next obstruction reached was the body of an
immense sycamore tree lying across the
tracks. A hundred men were behind the log
trying to roll it over, but the united strength
of three hundred men could scarcely bulge
it foot.
With this work going on, the object being
to clear the way for wreck train that was
standing on the track, there lay not twenty
feet away from the track the body of an old
man, evidently a 1aborer. His wrinkled
face, covered with few Gays growth OF
beard, was upturned to the waves from
whence had come the deluge that had swept
him and thousands more into eternity. The
body had been picked up in an adjacent
swamp, where rescuing party were in
search OF other unfortunates. As your corre-
spondent passed the body with an ejacula-
tion motion of horror and pity, big, burly
railroader, whose water-soaked garments
testified to the faithful work he mad been do
ing all night, said:
That's nothin'; you will find hundreds
of such In the swamp above that cannot be
reached until the water goes down."
The swamp referred to was reached in
few minutes. and standing on the bank q
woeful sight met the eyes. There lay
mile west OF Morrelville. and in Its noisome
bosom had been deposited the wrecks of hun
dreds of dwellings, piled from twenty to
fifty feet high. There could be seen in all
its details the ruin OF happy homes Kitchen
utensils, fine Brussels carpets, easy-chairs,
broken sofas. stoves, bedsteads, babies era
dies, were all mixed together. Parlor
gans, and in one place what had been grand
piano. now lying broken with its cover
gone. A little brat had crawled out to
where the instrument lay and was pounding
on its silver strings with a stone, making
queer discord. A few bodies had been re-
covered from the swamp, but it was known
that many more had been swept into it with
the houses, and the eddics of the torrent had
whirled others from the main current and
deposited them to be torn and mangIed
among the timbers and mud.
The village of Morrillvilie was next
reached and short stop was made to gaze
on the ravages in that quiet town. Here
most of the buildings were standing,
although many of them were broken and
damaged. In the little hotel near the rail-
road was an improvised morgue, and the
floors of she lower rooms were covered with
dead bodies. Over forty had been taken in
before noon on Saturday
MEETING THE REFUGEES.
After leaving Morf1llville little groups
of refugees were met walking down the rail
road track. They were mostly women.
There was no wild demonstration of grief,
but sobs and means mingled with prayers
for friends not heard from made constant
doleful refrain to the roar of the river, which
still ran bank full through the valley. Poor
old mothers and grandmothers. with their
white locks escaping from shawls and
handkerchiefs-the only head covering they
had saved-tottered along heart-sick, weary
and homeless; son, husband and father
gone down in the waters; hunger already
gripping their wretched bodies; the internal
scenes of the previous night still before their
eyes, they struggled along, not knowing
whittier they went and seemingly little
caring what became of them. Here
would come wretched father bearing in his
arms few little trinkets or articles of fur
niture he had been able to save from the
wreck: by his side toddled his little girl. all
that he lal been left of family of Six. He