Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1867-04-20
GENERAL
the Great Tennessee Freshet-A Noble
Young Man.


The Jonesboro Tenn Flag, of the
22d, relates the following:
The late disastrous flood in East
Tennessee, by which so much property
was destroyed, and in some places many
| lives lost. when all the facts are known,
will disclose some noble deeds of heroic
daring in persons saving the lives and
property of others. One instance OF
this kind has just been related to u.s.
The village of Kingsport, situated on
the banks of the Holston, some twenty
| four miles below this place, suffered
greatly in the loss of property, and
many would have found watery graves
if it had not been for the generous and
heroic risk of life of Lieut.. James N.
Cox, late af the 18th Tennessee Cav
airy, Federal Army, and an old COM
rade of the senior editor of this paper.
1t would make this notice too long to
relate all of his risks and adventures,
but one demands special attention.
There were two families of movers in
fiat boat in the river below Mrs. Ann
Phipps, numbering fourteen persons
men, women ard children. The boat
was fastened to tree, but the river
had surrounded it, and the sweeping
torrent of drift wood threatened every
moment the destruction of the frail
craft and it's inmates. Some fifty or
sixty persons were standing on the
banks of the river, seemingly power
less, when Lieut. Cox was sent for,
who instantly seized canoe, and at
the imminent peril of his own life,
dashed through the rushing, turbulent
waters to the boat, amid surging
bodies of drift-wood, and still swell
ing torrent, and with his strong skill
ful arm conveyed the entire fourteen
souls safely to land. among their friends,
whose joyous EXPLANATIONS rent the air!
Oh, great was the heartfelt gratitude
of those women aud children and strong
men when they found themselves safe,
and tears flowed freely, and a loud
shout of praise to Lieut.. Cox arose,
again and again, from the anxious
crowd of spectators.
One of the men who were rescued had
a trunk IN the boat, in which was large
sum of money, and he offered Lieut.
Cox liberal reward if he would return
to the boat and secure it, but with
truly noble spirit he replied, 81 will
risk life for life, but not for money )"
and in few moments the boat was car
ried away with the overwhelming flood,
and with all its contents soon de-
stroyed.
One fact conveyed with this sad scene
must not be omitted. The canoe used
by Lit. Cox belonged to a professed
minister of the gospel, who actually re-
fused its use But the brave young
soldier had seen too much service III
the Union army TO be thus foiled in his
noble purpose of saving the lives OF
these strangers, and immediately took
possession of it, disregarding the wish
es of tie owner and accomplished his
generous work-for which he deserves
all praise. The citizens of KinSsport
will long treasure up in their memories
the noble deeds and daring of Lat. Cox,
while the heartless owner of the canoe
will not soon be forgotten. He should
remove where this infamous deed will
never be heard Of
We learn of family who resided on
the banks of the Wautauga, who were
The parents, finding their house was
about to be washed away, carried their
three small children to the shore, and
put them in place of safety, and with
their older children returned to the
house for the purpose of trying to save
portion of their furniture, when the
house was swept away by the flood, and
dashed to pieces against the rocks-all
who were in it perishing. These little
orphans have, we learn, been properly
cared for.