RANGITIKEI FLOOD.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 288, 5 December 1929, Page 9

RANGITIKEI FLOOD.

GALLANT DEED RECALLED. HOW PERRIN WON MEDAL WOMAN'S TERRIBLE ORDEAL. It was announced from Wanganui on Thursday last that William Henry Perrin, a well-known old man who lived by himself in a hut at Sandy Hook, had died. Amongst his effects had been, found a medal given to Mm by Rangitikei settlers in recognition of his gallantry in saving Mrs. P. E. Daniel and her four children when their home was overwhelmed by the flood in the Rangitikei River on Good Friday, 1897. The full story of how Perrin won his inedal was told to a "Dominion" reported by Mrs. Daniell, who now resides in Palmerston North. Perrin was employed on Mr. Daniell's farm at Scot's Ferry. "At mid-day on Good Friday my husband had joined Mr. McKelvie's duckehooting party at Hunia's Lakes, some distance from the homestead, where so much anxiety was to be my lot in the days and nights to follow," said Mrs. Daniell. "On the night of Good. Friday, at about 9 o'clock, my four children having been put to bed, I also prepared to retire. Two of my six young children had gone to spend, a holiday with relatives about a Aveek before the flood. At the time my youngest child was only eix months old, and the eldest seven years. "Shortly after retiring at 10 o'clock Perrin roused the household to warn me that the flood waters had reached the house and the outlying sheds, in one of ■which he slept. I told Perrin to get the boat and bring it up to the verandah. He did so, but in a very few minutes the boat, which was tied to one of the verandah posts, wrenched the post away bodily and was carried off by the water. Flood Smashing In Windows. "By this time the flood had risen several feet, and was smashing in the windows on the ground floor. During the space- of these few minutes the earth under the house was gouged out by the force of the' water. One corner of the house was'washed off its piles, and the timbers forming the side of some settlers' house was carried by the flood into jjiolent contact with mjr'house. I had

endeavoured upon the arrival of Perrin with the boat to make my way upstairs in an effort to bring the children clown so that we could all escape in the boat. When we reached the top of the staircase, however, the house, struck by the timbers, gave a sudden lurch. "I immediately sent Perrin downstairs again to open the back door so that the flood waters could flow through the house, which I was afraid would collapse with the terrific pressure upon the up-river side. Before he could return, however, he found the door and window washed right out. The water surged through the house, necessitating his climbing on to the kitchen stove, where the water kept him imprisoned for the remainder of the night and the whole of the following day until twelve o'clock on the Saturday night. House Straining and Cracking. "It was useless my trying to do any more because I was then without help and the boat was far down the river. The house was straining and cracking in the torrent, and it seemed as_ if the tons of debris which smashed against its sides would smash the house into splinters. Finally the mass of debris which was forming at the side grew so large that the house slipped into the hole formed by the action of the water, and which completely engulfed the house after our rescue. "At the same time the wall which lay opposite our upstairs sanctuary was torn out, and tiie smashing timber and tearing nails added more horror to our fearful predicament. All the furniture was carried out on the flood, sonie of it being found afterwards in splinters on the Rangitikei Beach. "By the following day, through the house tipping over still further into the hole, my upstairs room,, which" had afforded me shelter during the Friday night, had been lowered to water level, the flood waters coming right into the room. The children and I took shelter on a bed in the corner." Mrs. Daniell nearly lost her baby when the house tipped over and the wall collapsed. His cot started to move down the sloping floor,;and it was only a quick movement on her part which saved the infant's life. Perrin Secured Another Boat. "Pen-in, who had been on the side of the house away from the full force of the flood, was still able to shelter on top of the kitchen stove, where he stood cold and wet through the whole of the terrible ordeal," said Mrs. Daniell. "By 1 a.m. on Sunday morning the flood had subsided sufficiently to enable him, after great personal risk, to secure another

boat which had been anchored below the house, and had held out against the flood. Although the water had greatly reduced in volume, the rescuer had considerable difficulty in bringing the boat up against the strong current to what remained of the house." At 2 a.m. on Easter Sunday Mrs. Daniell and the four children got into the boat, in which they remained in comparative safety four hours. When daylight came, a hardy band of settlers, who liad been acquainted with the family's plight, swam their horses through the flood waters and carried the woman and children to the shore. "Yes, it was a terrifying experience," said Mrs. Daniell in conclusion. "I am indued lucky to be alive to-day. No one could possibly conceive what that experience was like. I was a young woman at that time, but the experience aged me terribly. The residents of the district afforded us much hospitality after the flood, and they were so pleased at Perrin's courage that a subscription was started and a medal awarded him for his bravery."