the Widow Taylor and her son were seated on a scaffold raised on the floor.  One or two dug-outs were drifting about in the roam ready to be put in service at any time.  When the flat was brought up, the side of the house was cut away as the only means of getting the animals out, and the cattle were driven on board the boat.  General York, in this as in every case, inquired if the family desired to leave, informing them that Major Burke, of ‘The Times-Democrat,’ has sent the ‘Susie’ up for that purpose.  Mrs. Taylor said she thanked Major Burke, but she would try and hold out.  The remarkable tenacity of the people here to their homes is beyond all comprehension.  Just below, at a point sixteen miles from Troy, information was received that the house of Mr. Tom Ellis was in danger, and his family were all in it.  We steamed there immediately, and a sad picture was presented.  Looking out of the half of the window left above water, was Mrs. Ellis, who is in feeble health, whilst at the door were her seven children, the oldest not fourteen years.  One side of the house was given up to the work animals, some twelve head, besides hogs.  In the next room the family lived, the water coming within two inches of the bed-rail.  The stove was below water, and the cooking was done on a fire on top of it.  The house threatened to give way at any moment:  one end of it was sinking, and, in fact, the building looked a mere shell.  As the boat rounded to, Mr. Ellis came out in a dug-out, and General York told him that he had come to his relief; that ‘The Times-Democrat’ boat was at his service, and would remove his family at once to the hills, and on Monday a flat would take out his stock, as, until that time, they would be busy.  Notwithstanding the deplorable situation himself and family were in, Mr. Ellis did not want to leave.  He said he thought he would wait until Monday, and take the risk of his house falling.  The children around the door looked perfectly contented, seeming to care little for the danger they were in.  These are but two instances of the many.  After weeks of privation and suffering, people still cling to their houses and leave only when there is not room between the water and the ceiling to build a scaffold on which to stand.  It seemed to be incomprehensible, yet the love for the old place was stronger than that for safety.

After leaving the Ellis place, the next spot touched at was the Oswald place.  Here the flat was towed alongside the gin-house where there were fifteen head standing in water; and yet, as they stood on scaffolds, their heads were above the top of the entrance.  It was found impossible to get them out without cutting away a portion of the front; and so axes were brought into requisition and a gap made.  After much labor the horses and mules were securely placed on the flat.

At each place we stop there are always three, four, or more dug-outs arriving, bringing information of stock in other places in need.  Notwithstanding the fact that a great many had driven a part of their stock to the hills some time ago, there yet remains a large quantity, which General York, who is working with indomitable energy, will get landed in the pine hills by Tuesday.