The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-07-12

horseback. and then We cut straight up the
hill to get ahead of the water. 1t was hail
ing like made. and this made 1t bad for the
horses going UP the bank. When we reached
the first bench we looked back and saw it
was mostly up with the town. ] couldn't
anything of uncle's place. and the wa
ter was booming around the turn In the
Kelly and pretty soon got our bearings.
and then we commenced to yell as we
passed houses. We shouted:
We cut along at good clip. considering
the going. and in n minute out We came on
the road below the station. The water was
piling up like a dam just there. 1t was a
tight place. but We stuck TO our nags and
in minute We were going through the
for the hail was knocking us hard Besides.
i wanted to see IL there was any one We
could help.
Save yourselves: the flood is coming!''
AS soon as We saw them take to the hills
We cut ahead fast as we could. Kelly
ard I were both raised on the ranges here
and every bend in the hills That helped us
lot. and before long we were far enough
ahead that we could do some good One
thing frightened us 1t was storming ana
the lightning would strike. but our nippers
were all right and we struck right through:
The main thing We rem RENE to shout
Several times the people came out. ana
while they were asking. us what the matter
was the roar of the cloudburst would tell
for the high ground.
WATER WAS PII.ING UP.
About fifteen minutes after We left Hepp-
ner We looked back around n turn and saw
the water piling up. 1t rose and rose and
rose till we thought there wasn't any end
TO It, ami then 1t would curl over like tar
and away she would sweep for another zap.
1t was strange the way 1t behaved. I've
tried to figure out since how 1t was we
weren't overtaken. 1t seems as If the hail
and mud and trees just tangled up into
mass that had to come by jerks. but when
it did come 1t came all at once. One time
We looked back and saw fire right on top
of the wave. 1t was piece OF house ana
burned very brightly for a minute. and then
pufTed out as the water rolled over II: we
could hear screams every now and then.
About six miles the way to Lexington
my horse stumbled and threw me hard.
to remount Kelly helped me. and as soon
as I saw the horse could still go l went
along with him. But 1t was hard on the
horse for the road was rough and rocky and
slippery as well. Every now and then r. big
pond of hail and water was in the mie'ile
Of the way and the mud was fearful
We got to Lexington all right and warned
everybody about the flood that was coming
down the valley. On the way we had
warned a good many. The water was not
far behind us even here. and we had 10
warn the people on down the valley to lone.
Kelly and / kept on and beat our horses
into az fast n gait as We could we heard
the boom of the flood behind us. and 1t
seemed as if it would be too bad II all the
houses twfnkling with lights. were to be
knocked into splinters. with the people IN
So we kept on, shouting and warning peo-
pie. till We got to Raineys. Here my horse
gave up the ghost. II was clean worn out
and I got another. Then Kelley and | hit
up the pace again on the way to lone.
twelve miles away. This was really the
hardest part of the journey. We were get
ting farther off from our folks, and it