Democratic Standard

From the Buffalo Courier

INCIDENTS OF THE FLOOD.

There were many hair-breadth escapes of families and individuals in the late storm and flood, the particulars of which, if all could be collected and given, would make a volume of exciting interest.

Among the incidents of this kind we have heard the following:

Two families of the name of Wilson and Weston, resided on the south side of the Buffalo creek, above the Marine rail-way, in a couple of adjoining cottages. When the water commenced rising they saw it increase without alarm, feeling satisfied that they were beyond its reach, their dwellings occupying the high ground on that side of the stream.

Soon, however, it washed the basement of their houses, and came splashing over the floors. Both families now collected in one of the buildings, and waited the issue with some anxiety, though as yet without alarm. But higher and higher rose the flood, and from the chairs and tables on which they stood to get above it, they were soon driven to seek higher refuge. Breaking through the ceiling overhead they passed up into the little garret and flattered themselves that their retreat would be secure, but the pursuing flood soon invaded it, and they were forced to seek a still greater elevation. With much difficulty they broke an opening through the roof and as a last resort clambered upon the top of the building. Scarcely however had they done this when the house tumbled beneath them and they were committed to the mercy of the elements, and launched adrift upon the raging and boiling flood.

The families consisted each of a husband, wife and infant child, all in their night dress. It so chanced that when the building fell, the families were upon the opposite sides of the roof which parting at the ridge left each a section to serve as a raft, upon which their perilous navigation commenced. They were soon separated, and each supposed the other was entirely lost. Both were borne safely however, across the creek, and over a large portion of the flats, making over a mile of the most fearful midnight voyaging that ever man, wife and child underwent. They passed buildings where they could see families safe in their second stories, to whom they vainly shrieked for aid, which it was impossible to tender.

One of the rafts at length approached so near the dwelling of Mr. Gates, that he was enabled to render assistance, and had the pleasure of rescuing from their dangerous situation three human beings who proved to be intimate friends and neighbors. The imagination of the reader must be left to picture the joy that was felt at this remarkable deliverance.

The screams of fellow beings in distress, heard in the terrors of such a night above the dashing of the mad flood and the howling of the wild storm, reached Mr. Jacob Banta, residing in the same vicinity, and the appeal was not to be resisted. He dashed out into the swelling deluge and at the peril of his own life succeeded in rescuing the other of the two families, at a period when death seemed inevitable. They had lost their footing upon the raft and barely kept their heads above the water by the aid of a few floating staves and fragments of loose boards. Besides this they were just upon the brink of the little Buffalo creek, past aid. When he thus risked his life and in a moment more would have been in entire ignorance of who they were.— to have these hapless human beings, it was. There was a double gratification in finding that they were friends and neighbors, and that the husband was one of his most trusted workmen, whose fate, with that of his family, he had supposed to be already and mournfully decided.

Each of the two families thus providentially saved, remained until the next day under the painful apprehension that the other was lost, and the joy of their rediscovery that both were rescued, may be imagined but not expressed.

We have heard of another family, the name not learned, who made a similar voyage on that night of fearful disaster and alarm. They had taken shelter on the roof of their dwelling when it was bodily lifted and swept away by the flood, and finally landed at the hydraulics nearly a mile and a half from where it stood before the storm. In this case we are told there was a large family of children, all who were providentially saved.

There were doubtless other instances of a like kind, and large as the loss of life has been, the guiding care of Providence is seen in the fact that comparatively so many were preserved, a large number under circumstances of the extremest peril.

The office of Messrs Bidwell & Banta made a similar voyage across the Big Buffalo Creek, bringing a valuable though less precious cargo, viz: their iron safe. It was brought safely over the creek, and dropped on the flats between Ohio and Elk streets; the office thus lightened of its burden, continuing its voyage to the Hydraulics or that vicinity. A large grindstone was left in like manner near the Iron chest, having been brought across the creek by some similar means.