The Oskaloosa herald., 1905-04-13
SsS 30 ri

This time Boyd came near enough to
seize Dunn and dragged him to the
shore half dead for time. he then
made the thirdtrip ana brought in De-
lashmutt from his perilous situation
Eddyville was under water and its
people took refuge on the eastern
bluffs. Dick Butcher, who was one or
its enterprising merchants in that
year, moved his stock OF goods to the
second floor and carried them out in
boat loads to the foot of Cemetery
Hill, where he retaIIed them out TO
his customers from wagon.
The question of bread for the fam
lily when mills were many miles ass
tant with no roads or bridges, was a
hard question for the early settler to
solve. In the spring Of 1851 Dr. e. A.
Boyer and his neighbor, Van Delash-
mutt, found their supply Of meal ana
flour almost exhausted. 1t was quite
impossible to get anywhere because
of the high water. They heard of a
corn cracker some eight or ten miles
up the river and sent ". A. Delash-
mutt with four bushels of corn packed
on two horses. He arrived at Mr..
Nossman's, the owner of the mill, only
learning, however, OF the pressing
need, the mill was doctored up and
by daylight next morning Mr.. Delash-
mutt was ready to return with his
four bushels Of ground corn. During
the day DR.. Boyer noticed vessel as
He put out into the swollen stream
with two men and large canoe.
Hailing the steamer, he requested the
captain to sell him supply of -four.
The captain told him it had been or
dered by the government for the sol
diers at Fort Des Moines and he
could not sell it. Mr.. Boyer told him
he must have some flour If he had to
scuttle the boat to set it. After some
conversation the captain agreed to
let him have two barrels of -four for
the privilege of loading his vesser
with rails which were floating about
in drifts along the river. His vessel
had made the trip from st. Louis and
was short of fuel. Mr.. Boyer got his
-four ashore and rolred 1t up by the
side of his cabin, covering it with
some boards. When his friend Van
Delashmutt came over shortly after
wards he took him out to show him
his prize. He could not have been
more dumbfounded if ne had been
confronted by a bear. How two bar
rels of flour could have reached that
wilderness home unannounced was
more than he could understand. The
true pioneer never enjoys a good
thing alone, and Mr.. Delashmutt got
one of the mysterious barrels and its
welcome contents.
tracts from the editorial pages of Inc
Herald during the summer months or
this disturbing year:
THE stage coach in attempting to
cross a small stream between Ottum-
wa and Eddyville, wednesday last,
met with a serious difficulty by get
ting into deep and rapidly running
water. The current being rapid and
the animals becoming entangled, it
was with difficulty that the driver
and passengers were saved. In the
struggle the coach turned over In
the water and one horse was drown
ed. The driver and two passengers
in the coach got out as best
they could after taking a cold water
plunge"
zone of the heaviest rains we ever
witnessed occurred on Wednesday of
last week The rain literally fell in
torrents for over an hour. The face
of the whole country presents the ap-
pearance of one vast lake of rush
ing water. Much damage has been
done by the floating away of fences,
bridges, etc. The corn has been in
jured by washing of the ground and
portions of it will have to be re-
planted The small creeks and other
streams are much higher than was
ever before known. 1t is said that
scarcely bridge or footlog remains
over a stream in the whole country.
"The mail matter received here a
few days since was completely sat
urated with water One sack took a
new rotue down the Des Moines
river.
Destruction of property on the
Des Inoines river has been very
great. Whole farms have been clear
ed of fences, grain houses and every
thing else of movable nature. The
river was never known to be SO high
before. The inhabitants of the bot
tom lands have been compelled to
desert their houses and fee to the
bluffs for refuge. A number of
dwellings were carried entirely away.
This calamity will doubtless be hard
on the citizens in the immediate VI
cinity OF the river, as it has not only
destroyed the present crops, put has
taken away the old crops that were
in store for the present season. OF
tumwa, Eddyville, Red Rock and Fort
Des Moines are almost submerged
by the overlooking of the river.