The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1882-01-19
CAPTAIN DAVID RHEA.
Drowned in Richland-His Body
Swept Away by the Floods.

The town was startled last Tues
day morning by a telegram from
Lynnville calling for help to search
for the body of Capt. David Rhea,
who it said was drowned in Rich
land the evening before whilc at
tempting to cross the high water at
the bridge over Richland near the
Alex. Black place, on the pike nine
miles north of Pulaski. Some
twelve or fifteen men at once started
for the scene ofthe terrible disaster,
and from all rumoFs we learn the
following facts; Monday morning
Capt. Rhea came to town in spring
wagon, driving mnl6. With a Grip
pied negro boy with him. He spent
the day IN town, buying a lot of
paints and a box Of glass. and
started home late in the afternoon.
1t was feared the incessant rains had
raised the creek and he was impor-
tuned to remain over night but
could not be induced to do so. He
stopped at Young's mill to get a
turn Of meal and it was then dark
enough to use lantern, and when
he got to the bridge it was quite
dark. Here all that is known is told
by the negro, whose fright has
caused him to vary his statement
two or three ways. FAey drove
across the bridge and found the
water rushing madly across the
pike on the other side. The boy
objected to attempting a passage
and tried to dissuade Capt. Rhea,
but he said here was 10 danger
and drove ahead. A few feet
brought them into swift water, when
he stopped the wagon and pulled off
his ovcrcQat and gum coat and laid
them in the wagon. The boy started
to pull off his coat but before he
did so the torrent overturned the
wagon and swept them down stream.
He cane ER pear the mule and
caught it by the ears in hopes it
would carry him out, but he soon
saw the mule was drowned. He
felt some bushes overhead and
grabbed and held On TO 8 thorn tree
about fifty yards below the bridge,
and letting down found the water
up to his chin. Just then he heard
Capt. Hhea say thsg Wgst save the
mule, and that was the last he heard
of him. The train whistled at Blu
ford's and he got the direction and
waded until he came to a fence and
finally got out with Capt. Rhea's
hat in his hand, and going at once
to Mr.. Buford's he told Of the acct
dent, and they immediately alarmed
the neighborhood and fastened to
the creek. They thought perhaps
he had sought refuge in a tree and
they went up and down the banks
with lanterns and halloed, but re-
ceived no response, until finally they
were forced to the conviction that
he was drowned. All day Tuesday
and yesterday men were searching
the banks and drifts for miles be-
low in canoes and skiffs, and late
Tuesday evening found the seat of
the wagon and the glass box on the
side of the creek in slough
some half mile down. Nothing else
had been found up to yesterday
evening. The creek is raging and
the rains still pouring will probably
prevent the finding of the body in
definitely. Capt. Rhea was one of
our foremost farmers and leaves a
wife and seven children. He was =
brother of Mrs. DIR. Sumpter and
Mr.. Will Rhea and married a sister
of Mr.. f. @. Buford. He was born
and raised in this county, was cap
tain in the 3rd Tennessee, and was
a progressive, wide awake farmer
and one of our best citizens. He
was aged about 45. 1t is said he
had upon his person about. 81 900 in
notes which he came to town to de-
post and forgot it. We delayed
writing this article to late last even
ing to get the latest facts but moth
ing more can be told. He was an
expert swimmer, muscular and dar-
ing, and it is thought he lost his life
in attempting to save the mule and
wagon. Words cannot depict the
terrible grief and suspense that
hangs over his family as they await
the pleasure of the relentless floods
to give up their dead. The news
was received with expressions of
deepest sympathy by the whole
country and hundreds of men were
on the search for his body. No
man ever enjoyed a more universal
esteem and the news here conveyed
will fall sadly upon friends who
knew and loved him all over the
country.
LArER.-A messenger late yester-
day evening says the mule and
wagon were found about two hun
bred yards below the bridge in very
deep water.
Buford's School House.