Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-03-05
A STORY OF
THE FLOOD.

This IS not the story you viii find In the
18th chapter Of Genesis. For it is one OF
the food Of two weeks ago, when the river
was making itself at home in the lower
portions OF Richmond.
When tho water first began rising IN
the street after dark on that FRIDAY
nignt. hundreds Of people came TO the
scene. If was not an entirely novel thing
for 10 had happened several times oelo'e'
mt there was enough OF novelty in 1t 10
attract many, old and young.
Among those who We're so attracteu
were two Church Hill girls, and as many
boys-two sisters and their brother' anu
q young fellow who may nave ptei
somebody else's brother. He came De
cause She did-She being the younses.
of the two sisters. They had been special
friends. That implies much more WIZ"
they both admit il. But they mao had o.
falling out. The quarrel, or us result
rad lasted for over q month now. re
continued 70 drop in as often as ever. but
She rarely saw him. Her sister OF
| Rrother always entertained MIN. ! 90
not know what the quarrel was auouL
Rut thew went to see tho water IN Man
street He was at her house "hen lhe
report Of the overflow reached mem.
Mamma was willing that she ana 9's''i
should Brother. Ana ne We
,here and went along. Sister and Brother
asked him. But She didn't say ahy'n4ns'
Mamma told the girls they must W.
their rubber boots. for they each nou .
usir OF those baneful articles lhat W.
weather has made so popular WIN O'''
sexes in Richmond this winter.
~, cawa over on the Traction car 10
smith street. Then they walked over ~
Nfoip and down 10 Fifteenth, near "H'cH
- tho water began. He trled very
ho~d "a he thrown with Her, but one
wor15r,t let him be thrown with any
noav I've sister. He thought ne mao
ooTor see, a golf cape have IN 1t colots
ro heoutffuI as did the one She wore. .,
ter had one precisely like II IN cut anu
coloring. ,+.d vber
Thev were rather disappointed w,
thew reached the scene OF the
There was nothing thrilling or 49,,
spring In the sight or men 10 -
hoots wading around i'm a loot OF SIus
80 ,,nddv water. Then Brother pro
1oeed thev wade across 70 the olher suu1
&C., vvas very anxious 10 test hcr IuD
- toots o. water so deep 80 she "e'
oonte5 the suggestion with g~ladness an,
800 ANYBODY could say a Woid sn'
80 for ont into the muddy pond Whlci
49, 80 blocks in width. Brother plunge
in close after her' t prt shI
at1 not know either had gone III inc.
Uore we'll started. il was no uSo Ut,
in that pandemonlum, ~eNeryOouS ~
and the two h~re-engines al W. -
seventeenth and Eighteenth Iseyin,
subdue the flames that were uoS''
: Haves & Co.'S warehouse 90
.-~IFro near Her. nc lliA VT
w. boots. and expected to soon ID
11,an,trg Her as she waded through Ia
food. Che stared on
H. vatery waste a minute, tn1'
she looked at her companion p
~ her hut He didn't say anything
81 can't wade" She said. nr. Ten,
Are you afraid?' He asked II -"
deep. -know." She said. but l haven
on NV boots. I don't like 10 wea
ttbe clumsy things, so l put on my O'0i
shoes. What am | to do
1T have on my boots He SAID teh,a
lively. But She didn't appear TO hou'
him. " sba said
..Can't we go around and 90 down Frank
IN street and como back into Main an
eaten thoih' A.. n tina
.bera's three fet Of water IN fIanKnn a
Soyenteenth street" He said. he oioh
ssm I'm the least regretful as f' III
parted the information bomo
"Hov are We 70 ever overtake thenl
Sba said. and He heard tears IN hsl ~
Tben He grew holder. Maybe th' 'e"
had something 10 do with IT..
Il could carry you" He sala, an &
tbars vas an experimental infection J.
his voice. WAS no
O nor' She said. and there was ~
a trace Of experiment in her ton9s'
of Is only a little way he S"'u'
'Oh, no. She said.
The water isn't deep
MOP
you aren't heavy. u,s"
"a hundred and ten poun'9'
"Tm pretty strong.
"vhat viii everybody a y
"Au the lights are out. u
..unw brother and Sister VIII lausn'
"a ,ben He drew the golf-cape Cos
liz shoulders. and TOOK fieI "a
apVYus arros She wasn't heavy, anu II
~ s,rong but He trembled as lie ni'e
Her. ,..,. NOV across III
~ he had said, but II was yer
49, Zines a dozen steps. lie thousn
30, over twelve. probably Tess 81
~ never expressed an opinion d. 10 III
Thara was laughter from Brother an