Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1867-04-05
Scenes and Incidents OF the Great
Flood In East tennessee.

The late disastrous food in East Tennes-
see, by which so much property was destroy
ed and in some places many lives lost when
all the facts are known, will disclose some
noble deeds of heroic daring in persons saw
ing the lives and property of Others. The
Jonesboro Flag relates an incident that oc-
Cured at Kinesport village situated on the
bank of the Holston, in the western portion
of Sullivan county, which reflects great credit
upon Lieut.. James N. Cox, late of the thir-
teenth Tennessee cavalry:
There were two families, numbering four
teen persons-men, women and children
who were removing west in a fiat boat
They had made short stop at Kingsport,
and the boat had been fastened to a tree,
but the river had surrounded 1t, and the
sweeping torrent Of drift wood threatened
every moment the destruction of the frail
craft and its inmates. Some fifty or sixty
persons were standing on the bank of the
river, seemingly powerless, when Lieut.. Coz,
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 swelling torrent and with
his strong, skillful arm conveyed the entire
fourteen souls safely TO land. Upon their
safe arrival the crowd on the bank greeted
Lieut.. Cox with long and repeated shouts
One of the men who was rescued had a
trunk in the boat, in which was a large
amount of money, and he offered Lieut.. Cox
liberal reward if he would return to the
boat and secure it. but with a truly noble
spirit he replied
al will risk life for life, but not for
money"
In few moments the boat was carried
away with the overwhelming food, and with
all its contents soon destroyed. The Flag
states that the canoe used by Lieut.. Cox be-
longed to a minister of the Gospel, who re-
fused its use, but the Lieutenant was not de-
tered from saving life by this refusal.
The Flag also learns that family resid-
ing on the banks of the Wautauga were all
drowned save three small children. The
parents, finding their house was about to be
washed away, carried their three smallest
children to the shore, and put them in a
place of safety, and with their older chill.
dren returned 10 the house for the PURPOSE
of trying to save portion of their furni-
ture, when the house was swept away by the
Good and dashed to pieces against the rock:
all who were In 1t perishing. These little
orphans have been properly cared for.
Mr.. Joseph Merideth, residing at River
Bead Forge, on the South Fork of Holston
in Sullivan county, lost nearly everything
he possessed, except ibis land, aud bmsel
and family narrowly escaped drowning
Eleven houses of different kinds were entire.
ly swept away, including his storehouse with
a few goods in il, and his large fine foul
mill. Two buildings, mere wrecks, alone
remain, one of which is bis dwelling house
His damn and canal are much injured, aud
the grounds around the Bend are so washed
and torn up as to render the scene lament
able desolation. Three cardng machines
were carried away with the mill, together
with upwards Of thousand bushels OF
corn, lumber, plows and other machinery.
His loss is estimated at not less than $l2
900 to $4,000. The family had abandoned
the house on Sunday night thinking il dan
gerous but as ii continued to rain, and |
did not appear that the river would rise TO
dangerous height on Wednesday evening
the 9th inst, Mr.. Meredith, his wife. tw,
daughters and son. went back In the bu lid
ing. Soon the rain began to pour down Il
torrents. Thinking the house out of all dan
ger, the family retired. About O'Clock il
the morning they awoke and found the wa
ter almost up to the house and rapidly rising
The river thrown out Of banks above th
house, poured down in heavy column o
the right, leaving the building upon an is
land, and cutting of all possibility Of escape
Their only hope now was in the house. Bu
before daylight the water was on the foo
and by eight o'clock the building was q
least five feet in water The news sprea
rapidly, and soon the banks we're thronge
) with people but no one could afford theI
, relief. The helpless inmates were seen
the windows pi,eously but calmly lookin
over n, their friends on the bank, and rs,cl