The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-05-06
TIE MON WATER.
,Iany People on the River Bank-A Tragic
Rescue.


Crowds Of people went down to Twen-
ty-eighth and Main streets TO gaze upon
the waters. red and turbulant, carrying
driftwOod and every sort Of debris 70 the
sea.
Boats innumerable plOwed its waters.
The river pirates drove a brisk trade,
and took I'm the shekes of the people
with a CELEBRITY both pleasing and instruc-
tive. For two squares before reaching
the water the uuucky wayfarer was as
sailed on all sides with the cry Of Boat,
mister; take you right over; only five
cents" Once launched upon the bosom
Of the noble James many strange sights
We're seen. Houses with water up to the
second-story windows, Offices and ware
houses with the very unnecessary and
superllous sign affixed 10 the doors, mo
admittance except on business" Here
and there a lone tom cat unon the roof
Of some deserted building made
melancholy music 10 the smiling heavens.
The waters of Gillies' creek had backed
up and spread out into beautiful lake.
tapping the foot Of Chimborazo Park hill.
crowned with its green trees waving in
the wind, suggesting 10 the enraptured
oarsmon that lone lake where Ellen
Douglas pushed her light shallop from
the shore" Through a narrow passage
we get back again into the waters of the
James. and, rowing through the
Old Dominion warehouses. borne upon
six feet of water we are again among
scenes which put sentiment 10 flight and
bring us down 10 everyday life Around
the lower gas works things which could
be carried off by the water such as
boxes. barrels and timber were tied to-
gether with cords, and firmly anchored
down.
I'm the Old Dominion warehouses all
articles Of value were piled up on the
iOists. The telephone was taken out of
the Office and the desks and chairs were
piled TIP on top Of the table AT 6 yes
terday evening the river was at a stand.
and will soon begin 10 fall rapidly
Some idea of the mighty force of the
current may be obtained from this fact:
a steam launch from the Monitors, which
came 10 Richmond yesterday. occupied
one hour and ten minutes in the up trip
and sixteen minutes ia the return. The
latest report from Columbia says the
river is - feet and failing fast.
a Tragic Rescue.
The story Of three men In a boat"
was repeated with many variations upon
the on-rushing currents of the turbulent
James yesterday afternoon.
Three Times reporters after many en-
deavors among the pestiferous river pi-
rates who infest the bays OF Glllies,
creek and rival each other I'm the at
tempt at securing a dozen five cent pas
sengers for "a four-passeuser boat sue
ceeded in making one Of them believe
that they were not a lot OF mysterious
conspirators in combination for the pur-
pose of stealing his ancient craft, and he
finally agreed 10 hire il without the
usual appendix Of a bare-footed Niger
and a drunken white man.
Thus with the craft all 10 ourselves we
embarked upon the swollen bosom OF the
mighty river. and explored the sub
merged warehouses and streets for what
eyer we could find The cold, muddy
water tapped dreauly against the walls
and posts i'm the flooded warehouses, ana
not a living soul was seen Where there Is
wont 10 be- so much Of business and
hustle until entering the large warehouse
OF the Old Dominion Steamship COM
pany. Rowing hard against the strong
current. which ran even there. until near
the upper end OF the long building the
INK eye Of the steersman caught sight
of a bit Of color perched up on one or
the posts which supports the roOi. lie
stopped suddenly and said Look. boys
there Is a little girl" Sure enough there
stood a beautiful little girl apparently
about four years old. looking down on
US with placid face, and we az once
planned a rescue. and laid 10 the oars
until the ash sticks fairly bent How did
she get there? what is her name? were
questions which rapidly formed on our
llps. until getting closer the spirtins
reporter. who is familiar with Rockets
and it's people exclaimed: Il thought 40.
IL is little Willie Mantle. and so II proved
10 be she Of the sx-cOrd spool cotton no.
toriety. The startling picture OF deserted
innocence was a large illuminated picture
card Of the Willmantic Spool Cotton
Company. We rescued the maiden and
went on our way in a more thoughtful
mood, thinking more Of the blisters on
our hands than the tragic rescue OF wa