The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1901-12-25
THE FLOOD.

The following amusing sketch OF
1.-The Flood we copy from the Demo
cratic WageWorker:
"Othello's occupation is gone. The
oldest inhabitant" has retired from
business. A new era has begun IN
this thriving community. The freshet
of last Monday a week dome the
trick. When the river began torise on
Sunday, the oldest inhahitant" was
lat the bat ~; he had been there forty
wears, and he thought that could not
be displaced; but before the water be-
gan to recede at o'clock on Monday
afternoon, he had had three strikes
and out, and ''the oldest" went away
back and sat down" with dull thud
At Z. NJ. on Sunday the rapid rise
of the water attracted considerable at
tention.
At Z. NJ, some Of our timid citi-
zens became alarmed, but their fears
wereallayed by the irresponsible and
eyerpresent oldest, who assured
them that real high rivers are n
thing of the past.
At \. NJ, on Monday, all roads
led to the river. The "oldest inhahit-
ant was first ON the scene of impend-
ing disaster; he was carefully noting
every inch gained by the raging flood,
and as each old high water mark was
paaeb al hia faoa ,vaull V,a,l,I,r Ianrtb
en-; bnt to every anxious inquirer he
would say "that's nuthin': We orther
seed her in 90. Al S \. NJ n sudden
rush of water drove the old chronicler
farther mp the bank. but after recover
ing his equilibrium, he slowly said
Gee whi2 that's as high ms 20, but
in 90 stood right ON this very spot.
and | saw a bg tree hit the bridge and
knock aust then another sudden
swell filled the ancient historians
shoes full of Upper Lehigh slop, and
another of his cherished marks vanish
ed; he forgot the rest of his story, his
face seemed to grow n half foot long
er, and barber would have been
justified in charging him half dol
lar for shave nj that moment; but
slowly recovering his breath, he smil-
ed feebly Int hrayely and said "She's
hummer, hut We orther seed her in
6e. Come and I'll show We where the
mark IS " When his awe struck follow
ers arrived at that historic point, they
found several of the oldest inhahit-
ants already on the ground engaged
III swapping yarns about that memoir
able event. Uncle Anne told about the
mule that swan across the river nj
Rabbit Run and WAS drowned by fall
ing INTO the well nj Coryell street.
Uncle Lisk said he Was standing on
the Island and snw big raft so over
the roof of the Delaware bridge, be-
cause the river was so high it could
not go under it, Uncle Club verified
tins yarn, He said he was standing
hack of the railroad round house and
seeing Uncle Lisk's raft coming, he
ran down to the outlet lock and caught
the raft, had the logs cut into stove
lengths and had some of the wood in
his cellnr yet Uncle Jointly said he
saw dog on the roof ofa chicken coop
full OF ducks, the dog was padding
with his feet, and he landed the coop
at the rubber mill and did not lose one
duck. Old Uncle "Banty" said that
he rowed boat up Swan creek TO the
West Amwell township line and res
cued COW that was chewing her cud
in Tom Browns potatoe patch. He
told how Pat Smyth's cellar was so full
of cells, left there by the flood, that it
was almost impossible 10 shut the door.
Uncle Stacy said he was standing near
the river, and hearing what he sup
posed were the cries of little child,
he secured boat and fastened to the
rescue. Arriving at the source of the
heart -rendng crles he found n cat with
four kittens drifting helplessly on a
lamppost. They belonged to Uncle
Aaron, at Bulls Island. Just as he
finished his tale, a heavy swell touched
their sacred mark; they gave one swift
glance at the raging water, then fled
horror stricken, realizing Mt last that
unlike them, Old Delaware was going
to be strictly cup to date and that
they would have to go away back and
sit down, and forever after hold their
peace. G.