Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1902-05-28

with 10. Overacker and wife on
Mechanic street, and when the water
came up she tried to get the old folks
to go out with her, but failing took
the children and started for high
ground. Just as she got nearly across
the bridge it started to move away,
and with supreme effort she succeed
ed in reaching the embankment in
time to save being swept into the
water.
Frank Baker relates an experience
SO exciting and dangerous that no one
cares for a repetition of it. Before the
high water came he went to the
lumber shed of Riley & Baker, to do
what he could to prepare for it.
When he saw the danger he started
back home, and was caught near Chas.
Peek's house in the rushing torrent,
and was repeatedly swept off his feet.
He gained the porch and in few
moments started ON toward home,
nearly losing his life in the effort to
reach it. Down he went several
times, but finally managed to get close
enough home to be rescued by a rope
that was thrown to him by Eugene
Chamberlain, but was almost exhaust
ed when taken into the house.
The story of the rescue of the family
of Ben J. Mckay is thrilling and
fortunate one A baby had come to
bless their home but four or five days
before, and Mrs. Mckay was ill in
bed She was carried out upon her
bed through the storm to the home Of
her brother, HI. J. Jennisch, and Mrs.
Ward, the nurse, took the baby.
DR.. B. Harmon succeeded in getting
his wife and son Ralph onto Pleasant
Hill and then set about helping out
the Webster family and others in
danger. When he returned to the hill
he found that his wife had gone back
to the house for some valuable papers,
and had been caught by the flood.
She had the presence of mind, how
ever, to use megaphone which was
in the house to call out to her hus-
band that she was safe, and he dis
tinctly heard her.
The little home of Mrs. Haskell on
Winnebago street is almost total
wreck. She was living alone in the
house, and when the water came in
she had only time to get upon a table
in her night clothes; then by placing
a chair on the table she succeeded in
getting into the attic, where her cries
were heard and she was rescued as
soon as possible.
All the outbuildings on Mrs @. L.
Bailey's lot on Mechanic street were
washed away, and the house was
saved from going by four large trees
against which the debris banked and
protected the house from the force OF
the water. Nearly all her furniture
was badly damaged, some idea OF the
loss being realized when it is stated
that in clearing out her cellar after
ward 14O tubs full of Shiny mud was
taken out.
The home of G. ID. Bulger on Day
street was filled with water, and the
family had an exciting time of it, be-
ing compelled to stand up i'll beds for
several hours until the water receded.
Nearly everything in the honse was
ruined.
The house on Day street occupied by
J. X. Palmer was moved some twenty
feet off it's foundation, the family be-
ing in the upper story, making pre-
parations to get into tree from the
window, but the water receded soon
and the danger passed.
On Lloyd street besides the carrying
away of the Bucknell house, the house
occupied by old Mr. Evenrud was
moved few feet and the one in which
Mrs. Enger lived was carried against
a tree some twenty feet away, which
saved it from following the Bucknell
house.
john M. AhtIS HttIIONly CSOdPOu
death in the water. He was going
from the school house toward home,
and with the greatest difficulty, after
much struggling, succeeded in reach
ing his neighbors' door, which he
broke in and got into the house just
as the steps were carried away under
him
One of the most severe losses was
that of Mrs. Holverson, who lived in
a modest cottage on Day street. r.
Bucknell's barn swept upon it, push
ing it off its foundation, and it float
led along behind the barn, lodging
against the latter in Main street, the
barn being stopped by the trees in
front of O. E. Schenck's residence.
The house is badly damaged and the
furniture, clothing, etc. ruined.
Mr. and Mrs M. B. Ousley felt the
storm coming and he hitched up his
horse and took her up to P. McCuskers.
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