The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-10

oarsmen, in the cutter, would carry me
to the victim who would be swimming for
dear life; l would throw a loop of a small
rope over his head, and with thumb and
finger could tow him in. Once on the gum
boat the fun would begin. With his feet
on the sold deck he was q match for TWEEN
ty men, who, like the MeXicanS of the
plains with their lasSoS around the grlzzlyS
feet, would soon get control of him. DR..
Buckner, a nephew of General Buckner,
brought Mrs. Alexander, of cotton claim
fame, and a lady friend down the Red river
in a skiff. They came d near cut across
country, as it was all under water, and came
aboard our vessel. They told of their eX-
perience the night before, out in the deepv
woods, some ten miles from where they
then Were-I can't say from the river, Tor
the river seemed to be AT sun
down they sought some place to spend the
night, and approached the ROOF or a mousse
which was all that remained above water:
A starving dog, on a log, set up q pltlIuL
howl as they approached, and another dog
and some cats on top of the house did the
same thing. On going up TO a window In
the gable end of the house TO see IL there
were any solid foundation where they, IKE
Noah's dove, could rest thelr 1901, tney
saw all was water within except a few bare
ioists, on one of which a cow
was resting her head. The poor COW cast
such an appealing look at them that the
ladies said they would prefer to take their
chances with the wild fowls ana WIG
animals of the woods, which kept UP such
tunate brothers of the tame variety. our
travellers turned away from this deSolate
home and pursued JnelF Journey NiShb
came on. and, fearful of losing their way,
they were about to tie up to the hmb or
some friendly tree and sit the night out IN
the skiff, when they saw a great ngnt
which was welcome, if it only furnished
them with company. They found a family
of eight in q very small ark-an open scoW,
eight by sixteen feet, with it's gunwaleS
only six inches above water. Half of this
floating palace was house and half stable:
The man was in bed with his children, ana
the door was shut, but with true southern
hospitality, and while the women looked
through their fingers, he rose and sat WITH
the doctor on the edge of the old scoW an
the remainder of the night so as to make
room for his lady guests to lie down. sleep
was impossible, for. besides the din OF the
forest. the host was kept busy caring Tor
the stock and keeping up the hre when
burned on some earth in the bottom or the
boat. The dogs would fly at something at
the edge of the boat, and the host would
WELD a club vigorously. what IS that!
asked the doctor. 1T is the coons and var
ments trying to get at the chickens, was
the reply. Fortunately no bears or Wlu
cats made their appearance TO 1east on nu-
man flesh. nor did any aligators feel that
their rights were being trespassed upon, so
sfter a GOOD but scanty breakfast the trav-
elers went on their way rejoicing.
Tbis incident will suffice to show what
desolation is brought upon a country by an
extensive and a long-laSttng Hood. Ihlnk
of your home being suddenly plucked up
and planted in the middle Of the sea, OUT
of sight Of land, and you will have some
idea of what the people or that country
have to endure. IL LEEOAl' W. ~
Crawfordsville, Ind, May s.