Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1901-12-02

I lot and sidewalk were raised I'VE OF
six feet above the street level the wa
ter was within six or eight feet of hi-
front door. He watched II slowly
creeping up.
Moilie came out on the porch. Her
face were troubled expression
Jim" she said. do you think the
water will reach our houSe:' Ne :
he replied; but if il does it won't hurt
it. for huiit this lieuSe To stay" ri
4:3o the wind was blowing at terrible
rate. and the neiGhhor> were docking
TO Inns house asking for shelter. for
they feared their own little homes
could not weather the storm. Now the
water was rapidly flowing down the
avenue 10 the west. and on its breast
il bore boxes. barrels and small shan
ties.
1t was only $50. but darkness was
fast falling. when suddenly the water
rose four or five feet al bound and
was now two feet on the ground door
of .Tim's residence. Mollie begged Jim
to come up stairs. but he was busy
mailing up windows and doors and
making things more secure below.
iii be up there directly. Mollie. Yon
stay there and try 10 quiet the folks
The house was filled with sobs. cries
and prayers.
The wind had increased. and Its
shrieks and groans were awful 10
hear And now the debris sped by
with fearful rapidity. bearing not only
boxes and barrels. but large barns and
houses A cry arose above the dread
full din of the wind. water and crash
ing timhers. Jim looked out
In the uncertain light he saw the
figure of nun. clinging TO large box
with one hand and holding close TO her
beart with the other little girl. The
face of the nun stood out from Its
black drapery in bas-relief and white
as the face of death. but resolute and
firm.
Jim saw the frail piece of debris 10
which she chung tip. dip and sway
from its course. Another blast of
wind. and ii struck the corner of his
veranda and broke into small frag-
ments.
The nun disappeared for an instant.
then rose. The air was under her long
black cloak. and as it spread out IT
acted as a life preserver.
For about twelve feet she foated
with tremendous speed. and as Jim 5
eye followed the flying figure ne saw
her suddenly stop and cling TO the post
at the west end of the veranda- Quick
as thought he raised his great hammer.
broke out the window and plunged
into the water almost up to his arm
pits 1t was a desperate struggle to
keep from being swept on with the
mighty current but he pressed close
TO the side Of the house till he was just
opposite the post where the brave wo-
man chung. His great fear now was
that she would be blown off before he
could reach her. and how so frail be
ing could hold on with only one arm
(for she still held to the child was
mystery TO him The wind was blow
ing at 100 miles an hour. He waited
second for the blast to pass over. then.
with great effort. crossed the veranda-
He threw one arm around the post.
the other around the nun and tried TO
lift her but 10 his utter CONSERVATION
he found he could not. Twice. thrice
he tried. but 10 no avail. He saw that
she was not only conscious. but in full
possession of all her faculties. He
could see her lips move. but no word
reached him above the deafening roar.
He put his ear close TO her mouth and
caught two words. CLOAK and post.
Jim .comprehended the situation-the
wind and water had caught her long
cloak and wide skirt and twisted them
around the post until she was dashed to
it SO firmly that even big Jim could
not loose her. but his head must take
the place of his strength. He whipped
out his knife and while he held her
with his left arm he cut away the gar
ment with the last stroke of the knife
she rose. aud Jim almost lost his hold.
and DOW another frightful blast. and
the water rose four feet. He chung to
his post until he recovered breath. then
struck out toward the window. swim
ming with one arm and holding the
nun with the other. He found it i'm
possible 10 get back to the window on
the south, so. with almost superhuman
effort. be swan to the west side and
caught hold of a swinging blind. They
Were now somewhat sheltered from the
wind and entirely from the current He
pressed his body against the wall and
raised the nun in his arms and placed
her on the window sill. He felt for his
hammer; but. oh. despair IL had slipped
from his pocket in the awful struggle
for life on the randa.
The window must be broken in. he
must get up stairs with bis double bur
den II took only time enough for the
brain to telegraph the message to the
hand before Jim raised his huge fist
and struck the glass a mighty blow.
then another and another. until he
could get through the opening. The
blood was flowing from many a cut.
but what was that 10 a man like Jim
Martin? He got inside and found the
water was now four feet deep. He held
the n:sn-so as~te keep her head above
water. while in her turn she held the