Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1900-10-04

Luhne selkirk, neighbours little daugt
ter, aged 10 years. went. with no ma
protection, to our island home. IL mile
GOWN the island. This home is built ur
usually strong and has piazza about tie
rect from the ground. We had a colore
family who occupied the basement, an
NE occupied the upper part, while thert
Lne weather bureau predicted a sever
storm Friday night, but it failed to ma
terlallze then, and though the wind wa
very nigh, there was no cause for alarm
arose before five o'clock Saturda
morning and as soon as it was light wa
Out IN the back yard attending to m
STOCK. noticed the water on 18th street
opposite my house, and knew ii had no
ralned during the night. Upon investi
CATION found it to be salt water: Their
was, however, dry land between "a,
mouse and the gull on 18th street. Thf
sait water had come into 18th street, cross
ing over 18th street TO my house. Befori
leaving home for my office at 7:30 a. m.
loth street was full within six inches O
the oriek sidewalk eurbing, from the gulf
up TO several blocks north OF NV house
knew this meant probably water higt
enough to reach the floor OF my home
put going Gown town as usual, found
lhueh excitement, yet business active ano
everyone preparing for very busy season
right at hand.
AT IL O'Clock, having been told that the
water IN the bay was very high, left my
olnee and went to the bay front and
found the water up level with the dock,
pltcnlng, rolling and dashing in manner
extremely interesting and fascinating. to
me. / supposed the bay would fll with
SAT- water from the gulf at the west end
o. the island and probably flow through
Ihe streets OF the city, toward the gulf
ms turned out to be the case later. The
water from the bay reached seven blocks
south on fremont street, where a little
later i met the water from the gulf.
MY son, Joseph, and conferred togeth-
er about the situation at noon The had
gone al II O'Clock up to the last dock on
the pay, through this same raging water,
70 MS boat moored In the channel, and
mao brought II to safe place and decid-
g that u would be best for him to go
GOWN the island as soon as possible, to be
with his mother and sister. The only
way possible TO get there was on horse
oack, ana the outlook at II O'Clock was
very doubtful about being able to get
there IN any way. We found 1t difficult
70 get a horse, but a deliveryman, who Is a
friend u mine, told me he knew OF a
morse, 'coW- boyn horse, that be could
get end which would be Just the horse for
the trip; be would have Il at the stable at
tNo O'Clock II posi- bic The street cars
mao long before this stopped running so
We walked home, wading waist deep and
even deeper IN some low places. Joe very
hurriedly ate his dinner and started down
town, but experienced much difficulty in
getting to the stable, as | aiterwsrd
learned. He started on horseback from
the city about two o'clock on most per-
ilous aud apparently hopeless journey.
Before leaving the city limits he was
swim ming beside his horse, but with rare
good judgment and tact be made the trip,
~ miles, IN the remarkably short time OF
about two hours. Having cared for his
horse he rushed into the house and his
voice was the first intimation OF his being
there. They gave him a hearty welcome
you may be sure.
The wind at this time was a hurricane
indeed, and the house is at the end OF a
long, high ridge. Joe said o his mother,
! Mamma, this gale is too severe for any
house TO stand.h They left the house and
went into a metal roof shed north OF the
house, the wind being from the northeast.
They remained in this shed until II blew
from over them, knocking them all over
and hurting Mrs. Nichols against a stove,
cutting an ugly cash In her forehead.
Before this, Joe had made a hali-inch
cable, fastening il TO post at the east OF
The shed, so by clingiug to this cable they
could make their way to that point, which
hey did after the shed blew from over
them. He had them lie down on the
ground. Having placed them In this spot |
u comparative safety he went into the
house and brought Aunt Louise's aged |
'sther. they are the colored people, who |
S said to be over a hundred years old, /
rom the house to this place, leaving the |
lther members OF this colored family to |
are for themselves as best they could |
The husband is able bodied, a regular /
six footer,n bnt in this time OF great I
peril seemed to be dazed aud needed care |
himself instead Of being OF help to his |
amily and others.
Finally, all the outbuildings we're car
lied away, the water reaching the point
= there they lay on the ground. IL was
aging sea and from the gulf TO the main
and there was nothing in sight but our
rouse, which still stood. Joe decided II
,est to get back into the house as the
water was rapidly rising all around. As
hey were making their way up the steps,
gust OF wind blew Mrs. Nichols aud Joe
,ack into the water ten feet below. Joe
ucceeded in getting his mother up the
Atps hul NuGu dbuEN UPS
cit motion below and said Hurry,
They were barely on the gall
cry when the steps were blown away.
ie succeeded in getting them Into the
main room OF the house and put them on
be door between mattresses, where they
lere kept safely. The water came within
our feet OF the gallery floor. During the
light the water subsidized and by daylight
be ground around the house was above
-ater. The house was terribly twisted I
nd wrenched, but still standing. Joe |
licked up enough lumber to make little
hack with a floor, In which all were
iade comfortable, and there found them
D Monday night about $50 O'Clock, hav-
lg walked that long distance, II miles,
18th food supplies on my shoulder.
NV personal experience, / will briefly
arrate as follows Having gotten Joe
arted down the town, after dinner,
aturday, Sept. S, | was busy all the after
DON helping my neighbors. The water
mildly increased upon our premises, ana
isl before night / was in nv neighoor's
ouse, when il fell, and We all escaped 10 /
Y house. In there, the water came up to
e door; we bored holes in the floor, TO
liege the pressure from below, until the
alter came 10 under the front door. We
zen opened the doors and windows, and
/ the water come in. ! had taken up our
W carpets on the parIor and dining
ON floors We kept busy at this, until
e water was two feet deep on my moor.