The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-05-27
A TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE.
Eleven Persons Float Over Four Miles
on the Roof Of a House and Lodge
Within Ten Feet of Certain Death.
From the Clearwater Enterprlse,

| FROM the Clearwater Enterprise,
The following is an account of tn
perllous ride and miraculous escape o
Joe Sherman, his wife, four children
his aged mother. Mrs Charles Sherman
and two children. and George Sherman
in the food last Friday night, as related
to us by Mr.. Charles Sherman:
Joe Shermau's farm is in the Cavalry
Creek valley, in Valley township, abou
four miles from the Strip line. Hi.
| house stood about one hundred yard
west of the creek channel. The mair
building was well built of sod, with {
frame upstairs or loft, rooted with shin
giles. A frame addition, or kitchen, wa:
attached to the east side, the roof oil
which was Joined to the roof of the
main building about half way up. The
house, at the time, was occupied by
eleven persons.
Mrs. Joe Sherman was awakened
about midnight by the sound Of running
| water, and arose from bed to see, when
she stepped into water a foot deep on
the floor. Becoming alarmed she started
to the kitchen for lamp, but had pro-
ceeded but few steps toward the door
which led TO the kitchen when it burst
open and a food of water filled the
room. The women screamed and
| awakened thv men, (who were sleeping
upstairs) who came to their assistance
and helped them up into the loft. The
water still rising began TO fill the loft,
and hole was torn in the roof, which
was very steep-over one-half pitch
and shingles had to be torn off that they
the men, women and children) might
cling to the sheathing. Presently the
entire kitchen and roof to which they
were clinging began to move off in a
northerly direction in an eddy, formed
by the current, floating around in a
half circle, until they got into the main
current when they started south at race
horse speed.
They rode along at this rate mile or
SO, when the kitchen caught on some
thing and tore loose from the other part,
thereby taking away the support from
the roof to which the terrified people
were clnging, and it tilted right down
into the water dipping them under the
surface of the water several times. They
heroically chung on until Joe, who man
aged to climb to the upper side of the
raft Cor roof, hauled them up out of the
water.
Thus they foated along, almost naked,
the cold rain beating down upon them,
water and huge drifts Of hail all around
them and death staring them in the face,
for some distance, when they saw light,
hailed it and were answered by James
JetfreyS but got no assistance. They
fiOated down about twenty rods below
Jefreys' house and came to a sudden
stop within ten feet of high bank over
which the water flowed into the CHM
marion river. If the raft had not lodged
and had gone over this falls, all on board
would certainly have been thrown or
washed off and drowned
Here they renamed, half frozen, half
cramped-afraid to move for
fear the raft would break loose and
dash over the falls, until they were taken
out to land by the heroic efforts of little
13-year-Old Frank Smith, who rode in on
horseback and carried them out, one at
a time.
They were taken to the home of S. S.
Smith and kindly cared for.
This was certainly trying ordeal
and miraculous escape. Pluck, energy.
guidance of kind Providence performs
wonders.
Everything on the premises of the
Sherman farm was washed away.
Grandma Sherman and Mrs. Charles
Sherman and family, are at the laiters
home in this city. Joe Sherman and
family are ats. S. Smiths, Mrs. Sherman
being Frustrated by the shock.
The six children range in age from
months to Z years. Grandma Sherman
is 70 years old.