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

Then | advised all the women in the
house to go up into the attic. | encour.
aged them by SAYING that IL we had six
feet OF water 1t would add to the safety oil
our house, so far as the water was con-
cerned. AlmostI all the refugees in the
houses were, by this time, in the atties,
and the water waist deep. The waves
would rush through the long ball with
much force. | stationed a man at the
north end OF the house, one at the sout b
end, and | stood in the centre, giving
directions when to open and close the
doors to let the water pass through. The
waves were coming from the southeast
| and the gale from the northeast, at the
I same time. | saw all the buildings south
east OF me go into the water, and all to
the south OF me go into it with the wreck
age. To be in this wreckage, was death to
the ablest swimmer. This wreekage
coming with mighty force against the
posts OF the gallery, 1t went to pieces soon
after. We all escaped to an elevated house
to the west OF us; those below by swim.
ming in eight feet OF water; and when
those in the attic got down, both men and
women, the wreckage had piled up, so
they were enabled to walk over. This
house went down also, and we were again
thrown into the water and wreckage. /
bad to see many who were in my house,
lost from my neighbors house. My own
escape was miraculous. | swan to the
high edge OF shed roof, through which
salt cedar had grown, and had just seized
the edge and was climbing over, hen a
section OF a roof struck me, carrying me
by, under the shed, just leaving my head
and shoulders exposed, pinning me fast
Just below the small OF my back. / knew
at the next swell / should be cut in two,
II still in that position, and being unable
to escape | read the end calmly; but in
some way the pressure was relieved
sufficiently to enable me to escape by
shedding my rubber boots and socks.
climbed upon the shed and chung to the |
salt cedar with one hand, holding piece |
OF board with the other to protect me
from the flying debris.
Finally section OF roof ended up right |
over me, about eight feet high, and |
found | must move; next climbing over /
roof after roof moving in the surging /
I'VE feet wide. | stayed there on the 4
timbers in the water, hatless, shoeless and /
coatless, until 2 o'clock in the morning.
AT this time the water had receded, so
that | got into IL, waist deep. climbed over
wreekage for blocks and blocks; finally I I
made my way to fremont street and down
past wrecks and timbers to my Office on
Market street. ! then went to the room
OF Mr., Sheets, who is associated with me
in business, where / went to bed and
Immediately dropped to sleep.
In the morning, physician dressed my
and was all right for the many
calls upon me which followed.
Forty eight hours after Joe's departure
for my island home on Saturday, no
message had come from my wife or
daughter. About 30 D. m. Monday, as
was going down fremont street, | met a
friend who said that Capt. Hutchins OF
the life saving station had just told him
be had dispatched a launch from the
station down the bay, which launch had
returned, reporting everything swept
away.
Hutchins and repeated the report | had
heard. He said, "Ar. Nichols, this is not
ri e; no launch has been sent down the
STAND. | will send one Tuesday morning
md will report to you on its return
Half an hour later met man who said
n an excited manner, 81 have
message from your wife, to the effect that
he family are In the Denver Resurvey'
ind in need OF food procured supplies
Ind divided them SO | could take the
parcel on horseback, but found | could
ret no horse. Chief OF Police Ketchum
old me to go to his house on the way out
md go to the stable and cali to Ten and a
lorse would come to me that | could ride.
continued my walk and my hunt for
loTce on NY way out 10 h6iCuuul ., DuN
III in vain. On reaching there could not
ind his horse, so / continued my walk to
Denver Resurvey,"2 miles out.
Found report had been twisted and
amily not there, but before leaving there
found the man who had brought the
Message from my family He proved to
re an intelligent colored man, who was 9
ur neighbor, but who was up town
uring the storm. He made his way as
arly as possible to his home down the
Stand, found everything swept away, and
amily persisted. He saw our house stand
NC and saw the folks were all safe. So
Nth a happy heart went trudging along
S fast as ! could, wading in many places
D deep water, but keeping to the road
new so WE'LL
] left "Denver Resurveyn at p. m. and
Tithout looking, ! saw five bodies right in
~ path. Before dark, had ! looked, l
ould have seen many more. When
Tithin a little distance from my house, 81
hey heard my whistle; they were in q
oat starting to town. Joe said, "that is =
apa's whistle" In fifteen minutes was NJ
the boat on my way to town.
This boat had history of its own. In
ght OF my house is Anderson's Marine U
Jays. The family OF Capt hite, inelud-
lg his son law, wife and baby, we're
lost mlraculously saved in this boat. =
he next day they managed to get to C
lr house and he ADD Joe managed to rig =
p this boat, with whatever they could
nd, and started out for Galveston.
| found them as before related. So we
e alive and well, and thus ends my little
DRY.