Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1903-06-18
The Story Of a Boat.
History Of q Famous Graft That Rode
the Abilene Flood.

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was received that Pearl Ross and BOD
Davis had attempted to rescue the
other men, their boa had capsized
and they were Perched in Atree on
the east side OF the road near the
bank OF the river, only q few rods
! above the dam. There were several
small boats on the south side, but
none which could live In that current,
and no one dared attempt their rescue
in the night time. Through that
long, cold, dreary night many per-
sons turned unessily on their couches
as they listened to the pstter OF the
rain, and they thought OF poor Ross
and Davis with drenched clothes and
without hats or shoes clinging to the
tree and almost ready to fall into the
current below. John Taylor tele-
phoned in for assistance. but said 1t
was OF no use TO 20 unless we could
bring Humphreys boat, so at the
first break Of day, Sheriff Baker, who
had been all the time foremost in the
work OF rescue, started with OFT
Chrismsn to cross the river, taking
with them about 1400 fest Of rope.
Launching their boat near the Lands
farm, they passed in through the
current back Of the Engls house, and
skirting the timber crossed the river
near the mouth Of Mud creek; then
going south they reached the bluffs
on the Haskell farm where q party
had been all night with fire burn
ing to cheer the men in the tree.
Their plan was to let the boat down
with y rope to the tree, but Taylor
and MIR. Walters decided they could
row the boat against the current and
going down near the mill they rowed
up stream within the timber which
skirts the south bank Of the river and
finally reached the tree where Ross
and Davis had been imprisoned.
Even then their escape was almost
providential, for they lost an oar, and
II they had not had an extra pair Of
oars in the boat, they would have
been obliged to drop down the river,
and would perhaps, have been carried
over the dam. ~ ".+
The boat was brought back to town,
and the next demand for help came
from the people living between the
bridge slough east OF town and this
side OF Enterprise. Sunday morning
John umbArger and H. l.. Humphrey
started to remove the families who
had remained in that territory, and
who had become alarmed by the in
creasing flood of water. They re-
moved the Rudy family, and assisted
the farmers in getting their stock out
across the Santa Fe bridge. Mrs. J.
Wider shed few tears, but decided
to stay with her nine children where
she had plenty Of provisions and
clothes, although surrounded by
water. The boys also went to the
| Whitlaw farm and rescued his horses
which had been standing in the water
without food since Thursday night.
The halters were taken off the horses
and the animals afterwards found
their way out to higher ground from
which they we're rescued.
The last service Of the boat was in
patrolipg Mud creek this week and
removing dead animals which had
aoated down and lodged along tina
bank. Several hogs, calves, dogs and
chickens were removed and buried,
and thus the boat assisted in the
necessary work Of protecting the
health Of the community, as nseful
though somewhat less romantic
task as rescuing people from floating
houses.
When the next food visits Abilene,
we hope that Humphreys boat will
still be 10 existence, and ready for
the work Of rescue. II deserves
much credit as does its owner, H. L.
Humphrey, who has in SO much OF
tba resnue work hpeu In IL and who