An Exciting Experience.

Kawhia Settler and Raglan Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 333, 18 October 1907, Page 2

An Exciting Experience.

An exciting and anxious time was experienced by Mr Scott's bridge party, owing to the Marokopa River oyerbowing its banka and floodingfthe camp, Rain started on Wednesday, continuing all night, and next day. On Thursday night a heavy thunder storm came on and continued all night, causing the river to flood. Before going to bed on Thursday night the river was examined, and the party, thinking all was safe, slept tbe sleep of the just, until the early morning, when one of them woke up and putting his hand out of bunk, was much astonished to feel water racing through the tent. Awaking his mates, they discovered that there was 2ft of water in the tent, and the tents surrounded by water, as the camp was pitched on a ridge of ground. Not being able to do anything they ail stayed in bunk until it got to uncomfortable, and then made a rash for the gallery, which was up to their waists in water, and sat on the table waiting for daylight, watching the camp oven and camp furniture racing round the galley, and at streak of dawn a desolate eight met their gaze—water, water everywhere, as far as the eye could see, and ths river racing and boiling like demons let loose. Seeing their boots sailing away out of the tent?, one jumped into a large bo x and rescued them, piloting his way about by the trees. Ae daylight advanced things got very serious as the road leading to the high land was under water te a depth of 7ft. It was decided to make a raft anileave. By good luck a hammer had Jieen brought into the galley the day be'fore. Up to their waists in water and under great difficulties, the raft was constructed out of bridge timber which was ontho camp side of the river, but was fastened to the piles. After a lot of hard labour in the rain and icy cold water, the raft was finished, when to their intense joy a shout wan heard and then axoa were ringing. This was Messrs Armitage and party who were camped about half a mile away up the road, who seeing the state of the river (knowing that Mr Keville had taken the boat away) set out through the pouring rain and were busy making a raft when the bridge party came sailing up MarokopaKiuohaku road and were greeted with three ringing cheers. It was a sight of a lifetime to see four men sailing up the main road on a raft, accompanied by a dog, a can and everything'sopping wet. Securing bbe raft they all waded up the road up to their knees in water for another few chains until dry road was reached. They then struck out for Armitage'e camp, and in a very short time had a mug full of hot un and a change of clothes, kindly lent by theiir friends, ar rather would-be loscuers. The flood continued to rse until noon. About this time Messrs Haylock and Dunne came paddling over the'swamp to see if they could render any aid. The flooded camp was then visited in Mr Duane's boat, and presented a drpary eight, everything being afloat or flooded with water. Borne blankets were secured which had been tied up to the rafters of the galley, and were thus kept out of the water. The flood at this tiam was 3ft. higher than any previously known. Until the water subsided the bridge? party campod with Messrs Armitage and Do? and Dunno. Messrs Worthington, Wilford, Forbes and Langlay, of the bridge camp, desire to sincerely thank Messrs Armitage, Braithwaite,, Sadler, Haylock and Dunne for their kind assistance and shelter during their distress,