Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1914-10-01

could meet anywhere -drenched
to the skin and no whiskey or
other snake bite remedy with
which to dampen the inside.
Along towards morning the
rain ceased and we heard the
team splashing in wat T.. Think
ing they had broken loose and
might leave for home George
and Arthur got out OF the wagon
To investigate and got into water
more than kneedeep where there
had been no water when we
camped. Then we knew some.
thing must be done, and at once.
The bed of the wagon was clamp.
ed to the running.gear, the stay.
chains brought into requ'sition
and fastened to the end of the
tongue of the wagon and tied to
a tree. Our team was now
brought into service to trans.
port our plumber to higher
ground, and we moved to a spot
a distance from the wagon that
was some four feet higher. The
creek was rising rapidly and we
were hemmed in. There was a
mountain just across a deep
branch of the creek, but we
could not get across to it. Our
provisions We're wet and ruined
and we were in a sad plight.
About 10 o'clock the flood had
reached it's highest mark, but
we had already moved our horse
feed and bedding again, this
time up on-a large log, II speak
of horse feed first because we
expected them to get us out of
our trouble, whereas the bed
clothes were already wet and SO
we're WEI, the water having GOV.
cred our island refuge, and we
were preparing to take to the
saplings" if the water got much
higher. We ''hollered" ourselves
hoarse ard shot away the greater
portion of our shotgun amuni'
ton in trying to arouse Mr.. Ran
die, who lived just across the
|, now raging creek, but he could
do nothing for us. He had q
boat but could not reach us or
account of the swiftress of the
stream and the immense amount
of driftwood that was running
! 1t would have swamped any
E. boat. But finally the water be
/ gan falling and along toward,
night we were able to reach the
) mountain by fording on thu
backs of the horses. Here W.
again established camp and be
, gan looking for a shallow place
: to cross the creek and get some
, thing to eat, but were unsuc
, cessful. We had q few matches
{ that had been dried In the sun
, shine and soon had a pine knoI
fire burning and spent some
, time trying to dry the bedding
. We made coffee with muddy
, creek water and remained in Oul
mountain retreat until the next
} morning, and then by making
long detour around the south
side of the mountain, t%raversine
a path made by stock, we finally
found a place where two of the
boys forded on one of the horses,
soon returning with suffcien,
|, grub to last US that day. While
they were gone l killed several
squirrels on the mountainside
next to the river,and If we didn't
enjoy a fashionable breakfast
$50 am of fried squirrel a Ia
Delmonico, potato chips a Ia
Faust, eggs turned light a Ia
Paree, coffee a la Creole, and
biscuits!
Shortly after noon we thought
the water low enough to cross,
and hitching the team to the
wagon made a start. The team
was the property Of George and
Arthur. but they would not
drive, delegating that duty upon
me, saving they would stand the
consequences, but if I had
drowned / don't know how they
would have paid for me and per-
haps it would have been best if |
had come to a peaceful death
then or sooner. Being always of
q venturesome disposition l