Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-03-28
scenes and Incidents of the GTea
FIOod iu East Tennessee.

scenes and Incidents of the Great
FlOOd in East Tennessee
The late disastrous flood in East Tennes-
see, by which so much property was de-
stroyed, and in som places many lives lost,
when all the facts are known, win disclose
some noble deeds Of heroic daring in per-
SONS saving the lives and property Of others.
The Jonesboro Flag relates an incident that
occurred at Kingsport, 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 thirteenth Tennessee cavalry. There
were two families, numbering fourteen
persons-men, women, and children-who
were removing west In fiatboat. They
had made a short stop at Kingsport, and
the boat had been fastened to a tree, but
the river had surrounded it, and the sweep
ing torrent Of drift wood threatened every
moment the destruction Of the frail craft
and its inmates. Some fifty or sixty per-
sons were standing on the banks of the
river, seemingly powerless, when Lieut.
Cox, was sent for, who instantly seized
canoe, and at the imminent peril of his
own life, dashed through the rushing, tur-
bulent waters to the boat, amid surging
bodies of dFiEtwood, and a still swelling
torrent, and with his strong, skillful arm
conveyed the entire fourteen sogls 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 il he
would return to the boat and secure il, but
with truly noble spirit he replied, 81
will risk life for life, but not for money !"
and in few moments the boat was carried
away with the overwhelming flood, and
with all lis contents soon destroyed. The
Flag states that the canoe used by Lieut..
Cox belonged TO a minister of the Gospel,
who refused its use but the Lieutenant was
not deferred from saving life by this re
fusal.
The Flag also learns that family re-
siding 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 10 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
10y the food and dashed to pieces against
the rocks--all who were in il perishing.
These little orphans have been properly
cared for.
Mr.. Joseph Merideth, residing at River
Bend Forge, on the South Fork Of Holston,
in Sullivan county, lost nearly everything
he possessed, except his land, and himself
and family narrowly escaped drowning
Eleven houses Of different kinds were en-
tirely swept away, including his storehouse
with a few goods in it, and his large, fine
-four mill. Two buildings, mere wrecks,
alone remain, one of which is his dwelling
house. Hisdamand canal are much injured,
and the grounds around the Bend are so
washed and torn up as 10 render the scene
a lamentable desolation. Three oarding
machines were carried away with the
mill, together with upwards Of a
thousand bushels of corn, lumber,
plows and other machinery. His
loss is estimated at not less to $4,000 to
$4,000. The family had abandoned the
house on Sunday night, thinking il
dangerous; but as it continued to rain, and
il did not appear that the river would rise
to a dangerous height, on Wednesday
evening, the 9th inst, Mr.. Meredith, his
wife. two daughters and son, went back in
the building. Soon the rain began to pour
down in torrents Thinking the house
out of all danger, the family retired.
About O'Clock in the morning they
awoke and found the water almost up 10
the house and rapidly rising. The river,
thrown out Of banks above the house,
poured down in heavy column upon the
right, leaving the building upon an island,
and cutting of all possibility of escape.
Their only hope now was in the house.
But before daylight the water was on
the Aoor, and by eight o'clock the building
was az least FIVE feet in water. The news
spread rapidly, and soon the banks were
threnged with people; but no one could
afford them relief. The helpless inmates
we're seen At the windows, piteously but
calmly, looking over at their friends on the
bank. and watching the drift that threat
ened at any moment to sweep them into
eternity. Not a shrek of despair was
heard from them, though certain death
seemed inevitable A light skif was pre-
pared, and by the time the river had fallen
sufficiently to render il possible to get to
them, two Young men with stout hearts
braved the angry current, and with great
danger safely reached the building, which
being undermined, was now in danger Of
falling. The family now felt relieved. The
water soon left the house, and keeping the
skiff in readiness, in case of further rain,
they remained with the wreck ill next
morning.
Mr.. Godsey, living on the same stream,
lost all his property, not having a single
article of fnrnimre len.