The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-07-06


at the first house, after devious windings
among the trees, the two boats soon ar
rived. 1t was, apparently, negro renters
| hut. 1t was submerged nearly to the caves
| and was, quito naturally, perfectly dark
Lusty shouts went UP from the rescuers
| but no signs OF life were Inside and the
boats passed on.
| Soon another house OF the same char.
acter dark and half submerged, was en-
| countered.
Satisfying themselves that there was nc
one within the rescue party continued on
the course indicated by the guide. Some
difficulty was experienced In getting away
from this spot. It was necessary to pass
| through gate and as the gate was closed
and could not be opened in the regulation
way, some time elapsed before the en-
| trance was effected.
| A fifteen minute row between trees and
| shrubs and over corn fields and cotton
| patches and then, suddenly, the watcher
in the bow emitted a might yell
"see dat Light" said he. Wen find
| somebody now. suah."
| A few moments more and answering
shouts we're heard, mingled with the excit-
| ed barking of a dog. The two rescue boats
made all speed toward the light and 1t was
not until they We're quite near that 1t was
discovered that the objective point was not
flood beleaguered house, but another
boat bent on the same errand of mercy.
The occupants we're found to be Messrs.
D. C. Parker and B. f. Pennington OF
Broobshlre two gentlemen who spent all
of Monday night in constructing their boat
and all of the succeeding twenty-four
hours In the noble WORK of rescue-all with
scarcely a wink of sleep and not more
than enough to eat The newcomers were
heartily welcomed and 1t was decided that
it would be wise for the visiting boats
to follow that of the two Brookshire men,
inasmuch as they were even better ac-
quainted with the bottoms than the two
negro guides and, moreover knew where
the refugees were congregated.
While the details of the plans for the re-
mainder of the night were being arranged
Messrs. Parker and Pennington produced
a watermelon which had been caught in
the driftwood. This was enjoyed thor
oughly by the Houstonians as was the
bucket OF rain water which the Brookshire
men carried, The need of fresh and clean
water water was felt the Houstonians
having failed to provide themselves with
that highly important necessity
Messrs. Parker and Pennington stated
that the pail of water, together with
chicken, a dog and a kitten, had been
found in the branches of a tree near a
house just visited.
After short rest the three boats re-
sumed their journey, that of Messrs Par
ker and Pennington in the Lead These
terms, one of which was loaned to the oc-
cupants of the smaller ekih. The objec-
tive point, 1T WAS explained. was Peach
Ridge, an elevation between three and
half and four miles west of the Brookshire
settlement where number OF refugees
we're understood to have congregated. The
thought that some suffering one was to be
rescued lent strength to the arms of the
men at the oars and unusually good time
was made until
Look out for the current" yelled one
OF the occupants OF the leading boat
The warning was timely, TO say the least.
The words had scarcely been uttered when
the boat which the correspondent was as
sletlng to row shot into a stream which,
although two or three miles from the river
proper, was rushing onward toward the
sea with great rapidity.
So far the journey had been compare
lively smooth one, but that current made
an enormous amount of difference. The
forward boat was seen struggling with
the swirling waters for moment and
then, with a startling crash, the four
cared sSlff vainly attempted to fell a mon
eter oak with its stem. The water WAS
sufficiently high to land the >boat In the
lower branches OF the tree and the en-
twining grape vines and the cllnging
Spanish moss was gotten rid of with more
than a little difficulty. The boats bow
turned dlagonally against the current, the
oars we're worked in a most energetic
manner and one of the enthusiastic res
cuers yelled We're of"
But not for long was the good luck to
continue. The leading boat made turn
and the others followed, only to find them
selves in--or over. to be more eXect--a
narrow country lane with a hdfhed wire
fence on either side and the yellow water
rushing across the thorougnfare with the
velocity OF a mill race.
The real work began here What had
passed before was merely child's play.
Half a dozen times the most energetic
work on the part OF the oarsmeu did not
prevent the largest boat froi, hc.ng forced
into the fence, The top wire OF which, at
these points, was sufficiently high TO pre-
vent the skin which drew considerable
water for one of its Size from going
over.
AS many times the boat was extricated
after the most hercuean efforts and the
fight against the stream renewed, At last
the end OF the lane was reached and before
the necessary turn was made the larger
ekiff, which was by no means as easily
handled as the smaller ones, was forced
again into a clump of trees.
The leaders waited while the. followers
separated themselves from the trees. Then
after a few minutes of comparatively easy
work. a shout was heard from the Brook
ehire boat which, in the meantime, mad
made short turn and disappeared behind
a bunch of oaks In attempting to make
n short cut the large boat went squarely
across the top wire OF a submerged i3ncc
and hung there immovahe
II was probably only few minutes be-
fore the obstruction was crossed, but II
seemed longer and the incident waS all
the more aggrayating from the fact That
the experience was soon repeated with ike
result.
After getting off the wire the last time
only few strokes were necessary TO bring
all three boats in sight of light among
the trees. This light proved 10 be the
camp fire OF the refugees at Pench Ridge
and the rescue boats were sooi.A beached
near clump OF negro cottages situated on
the highest point OF the elevation. Greet
ings we're exchanged, hot coffee provided
by the food sufferers was servett~and lie
seemed TO be worth living once more.
In the hiclSering light of the camp hre
and the lanterns all that could be clearly
seen were the huts, the rushing water, the
trees and the refugees themselves. The
island--for Island II was by this time
was found to shelter the family OF Caesar
Spaights. colored, consisting of himself
his wife and seven children. ranging IN
size from a babe in arms 10 grown boy
In addition were Messrs. A. j. Jordan
and j. O. Aiken. two white planters who
had sought refuge on the ridge while at
tempting to save some OF their property
IN the Vicinity Captain Jordon was COM
PEELED 10 leave Ills horse In an abandoned