We could not reach camp this way as we usually did, the water had rose [risen] until it had penetrated until the willow thicket, we never knew how far,or how deep, so we retraced our steps and reached camp the way we had gone out. The camp stood about 100 feet from the creek bank and our first act was to examine the river. We found it within a foot or two of the point of overflowing and if it should rise enough to run over, our camp was doomed. Here was a dilemma. In all probabilities the river would rise higher before morning and dark now approaching. There was no time to reach any ranch-house for help; the nearest house being 3 or 4 miles distance. A hurried up consultation was held, and on the advise of those who knew the situation best, it was decided to take the chance of the river breaking through into the sea before it reached our camp.
Coffee was made and a cold lunch eaten, and by the light of our lantern we piled everything that would be damaged by water upon our bunks, which stood about 2 feet above the ground. It was our idea, to stand guard all night and by morning if there was no change in our situation to go for help to move our stock of provisions until the storm was over.
Our last look at the river, was not encouraging, for it was still rising, and we could see a dark bank of clouds hanging low near the head of the river and our decision was, that it was raining heavily in the mountains, such being the case our camp was very much in danger.
I suppose it must have been near midnight, the rain pouring again where our Captain called our attention to what we were all most interested in. “The River,” and sure enough; from under the riverside of our tent, we saw the glistening oozing, silent approach of the river, slowly but surely creeping in upon us. It was midnight and the storm raging furiously and we seven boys many miles from any inhabitant, being gradually surrounded by a steady it rising river. While it was as yet not dangerous, it was a very uncomfortable position. Only an experience so far. But if something was not done soon, we knew that the jig was up, and we would have to abandon our camp before the water got to too deep.
Many suggestions was [were] made, but none that seemed practical.
Finally our captain exclaimed, “Say boys she ought to be almost ready to brake [break] over, I don’t see for the life of me, why it hasn’t done it before now. I noticed when we were last on the beach this evening that it only backed a few feet further to rise before it would break through. I wonder what is holding her this long.”
“Why l know,” said Ed. “since the river has overrun her banks here she has found double the room to spread in, so naturally she will rise slow at the mouth.” Ed’s conclusions we at once saw was logical, but not consoling, for it meant only one thing now to do, beat it while we could.
The idea of tramping head on into a storm for 5 miles the night as dark as Egypt was not a pleasant undertaking.
We were dressed for the start when someone, I suppose for something to say, proposed for all of us to run for the mouth on our way out and see how high the river actually was. His idea grew and in a few minutes we were all grouping our way over the sand dunes or bar towards the river’s mouth. Will spoke to me on our way out to know if I thought it would be of any use to bring the shovel for if the river was almost breaking we might yet save our supplies by helping the river through. I said I would go back and get it,which I did, he accompanying me. The shovel was found and we started again for the beach.
Big Sur…NEXT