"Such a scene it has never before been my lot to see. The water was now
a considerable depth in many of the houses and flowing in behind them
completely surrounded the people. In trying to reach a place of safety
men and women were seen plunging through the water, driving and
carrying, while the aged and little children were conveyed in carts
drawn by oxen or horses. Most of the Scotch settlers had from 100 to 300
bushels of wheat in lofts which they kept from year to year in case of
failure, and now for this there was much anxiety. The first night we
encamped on the plain without wood or shelter, saving what we erected;
and amid the lowing of cattle and the bleating of sheep, and the roaring
of calves, and the squealing of pigs, and the greeting of bairns, you
may be sure we had a concert. After three days we arrived here which is
a beautiful woody ridge far from water mark, but thirteen miles from our
houses. A few families are with me here, but my congregation is
scattered, so that, from extreme to extreme is, I suppose, more than
thirty miles.
A SEA OF WATERS.
"Thus the waters prevailed and spread themselves over the cultivated
lands, sweeping away everything loose and much that was thought fast.
Houses, barns, byres, stacks of wheat, etc., were floating down thick
and fast. The rail fences--and there were no other--were swept clean
away. Not a bridge is left on the road in all the flooded district.
Sometimes the wind blew very strong, and acting on the lakelike expanse
of waters agitated them like a sea, and this was very destructive to the
houses of the settlers. The breadth flooded in our part of the
settlement might be eight or nine miles, while the ordinary width of the
river is not more than 150 yards. The destruction of property has been
immense. From 3,000 to 4,000 people have been driven from their homes,
though the water did not rise so high as in 1826 by 3 feet 6 inches. I
have crossed this wide expanse twice to visit our people on the east
side. It is like a great lake. I have now three preaching stations
instead of one--_all camp meetings_. The water began to fall about the
21st. We hope to be home again in about two weeks. Our sacrament was to
have been held last Sabbath, but we have had to defer it indefinitely.
The whole will be a serious blow to the settlement, and will be an
injury to the congregation. Many will be rendered much less able to pay
their subscriptions for church building."
HOME AGAIN.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
John Black, the Apostle of the Red River: Or, How the Blue Banner Was Unfurled on Manitoba Prairies — John Shaqi
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