Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1877-12-13
A Noble Negro.

Rock Hill Herald of the scenes and Incidents
Of the recent railroad accident near that place,
We copy the following account of tho noble
conduct Of q oolored man who rescued two
of tho wreckod passengers from watory
graves:
IIorculoan efforts had been made BY those
on tho South side Of tho stream, aud two Of
tho sufferers had boon carried to land. ono of
whom had been rescued from the very jaws of
death. Tho bonefactor in these two casos
was negro mnn. named Aeck Miller, who
residcs not far from South Fork trestle, and
whose namo will over live in connection with
this tragic event. 1t occurred to Alcck to
try his mule rs means Of accomplishing
what seemed otherwise impossible. Accord
ingly knowing the bottom we'll, he mounted
the animal and wandered far into tho water.
finally getting within farty or fifty feet Of one
of the anxious and suffering mon.
Further approach could not be made, and
Aeck insisted that no must abandon the
tree and swim to him, and he would save him.
At length this WAS done, aud Aleck equal TO
ha faith. soon added ono more to the list Of
the saved This done he immediately set out
for another. lilo rode in water up to tho
mules back, npd after much difficulty got
within twonty or thirty feet Of Mr.. Frank w.
Eldridgo, Of Now York. This wretohed
man had received several injuries in the back
from tile timbors of tho treslo, and was
almost too feeble to hold longer to tho tree
The anxious and sympathzing negro was
now in water levol with the mules back and
oould proceed no further, as he was edging
tho channel and the irresistible current. He
entreated the suffering stranger to turn loose
the tree and come to him. Although the
space between thom was narrow, yet it was
full OF danger and the consciousness Of OK
hausted strength deferred the man fyr awhile
from leaving the friond!y oak which had
prolonged his life through hours of agonizing
solicitude. Aleck appealed and tho stranger
demonstrated his inability, but increasing
n":ns ard growing weakness udnnnished him
thnt choice of expedents would be denied
him, and, at last, in II moment when hope and
despair were battling with alternating ascen.
dency, the dreaded plunge was made. A few
strokes with his arms aud legs told the cor
rectness Of his fears. lie was exhausted and
could only appeal to the negro to save him.
A moment before Aleck could not daro to
proceed another step. but DOW the sight Of the
struggling man dispeled his sense OF Danger,
and. reckless Of his own life. he urged The
mule forward into the deepest and swi(test of
the angry waters, and. as the animal swan
within three feet Of the almost breathless
man, lie seized him by The collar of the cont.
turned the mule, and in less than minute
succeeded in r"gaining the bottom whore the
water was quiet. The stranger. thus rescued
was snon placed upon land and enrricd to q
house near by where his immediate wants
were quickly ministercd to and relieved
This was perhaps the noblest and most heroic
achievement of the many daring acts nn that
dismal night. Mr.. Eldrdgc speaks in terms
Of highest admiration Of his dcliverer, and
doubtless feels that to this brave colored man
he owes whatever balance Of life hc may be
permitted to c"jy.
New ORLEANS, LA. Decsnber 3--The
Louis, with IL cargo Of | 81 bales Of cotton
and 525 sncks nf cotton seed. from Red River,
for New Orleans, having reached IL point or
po3itc Waterloo, was discovered by the engin
Ger t" be on fire in the gangway at the aft
end the boilers. An alarm was immediately
given tn the pilot, who headed the bunt to tho
shore. but ~ rapid was the progress of the
flames that the lower deck was invelnpet, the
steam pipe bnrsted and the boat becoming
manageable SWING around in the middle
of the rivcr. The passengers and the crew
were forced To jump into tho river to escape
burning. The stage plamks and iacksinff
were thrown overheard, and were the means
Of saving many lives. The steamboat Willie
was fortunately within sight coming up the
river. whistle was signal for help blown
bv the Lotus, which was promptly responded
to. Had il not been Tor this circumstance,
the clerk thinks that but few persons would
have been snvcd. The weather was extreme
~ cold, and the presence of the Willie pre-
served the lives of many who escaped being
burned, bnt who were in mmincnt danger IF
being frozen or drowned The cook was
burned to death while holding t" the stern of
the boat Peter Seagrccn, "a deck hand, was
also burned to death. and Mrs. Henry Leper
the chambernaid and eight ronStabOu,s were
drowned. There were fifteen passengers not
one nf whom were lost, though Mrs Massey,
Of New Or cans while escaping through n
windnw over the wheel. WIS badly cut and
bruised. The books, papers, money and
United States mail were nIl destroyed; nlsn
the entire baggage aud cinshiDg of the passcn.
gers and crew. Captain Daniels was severely
$corchcd. as were mnst of the saved. The
clerk. Mr.. Devinncy. and several others were
rescued by means IF life boats thrown over
board from the Willie The Lotus was val
ned at S25 900; insurance. $4,000. ono half
Of which was ~ New Orleans and tho other
In Ci ,cinnati.
BEEcMER on TIE SoUTH Henry Ward
Beechcr, in his SERMON. on the late Thanks.
giving Day. spoke Of the South in manner
that shows hc is rcpcn,ant on one point at
least. Ifc suid tho Sou,hcrncrs were @ great
people," ruined, as he thought, by slavery,
which, it might be added. was forced upon
them. to great extent by the British govern
mcnt; ''but now" he exclaimed, my heart
turns to them with zeal and admira ion I"
lIc added: II love them; their noble conduct
since the war more, infinitely more, than
wipes out everything that hnprcned before
Loud and prolonged appau e.} Some mon
said III contravencs human experience to
hny in A
anything more than number of proyincos
oil Au trui nd.