The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1889-09-25
HUMBLE HEROISM.
An Incident Of the Flood in the
Alabama River.


Alabama River.
Negroes frequently exhibit won
derful degree of heroism in times of
danger. An instance of this l wit
messed in the sbring of 1886, when a
fresket in the Alabama river caused
the country on each side to be over
flowed by water for many miles.
The negroes on the river planta-
tions were the greatest sufferers.
Their cabins would be under water
almost befcrethey knew that danger
threatened them, and hundreds of
them were sometimes found huddled
together upon some knoll sufficiently
elevated to be above the water. There
they often remained two or three days
and nights without food and exposed
to soaking rain. Fortunately, the
weather was not cold.
Many relief expeditions were sent
out from the neighboring towns to res.
cue them. These consisted of one or
more boats, manned by expert oars
men and swimmers, and filed with
cooked provisions, blankets, eto One
day the news came that the negroes on
certain plantation had sought refuge
upon corn crib. around which the
water was rapidly rising, and so rem
dering their condition exceedingly
precarious. Two boats started out at
once to their assistance. In one of
these l went, accompanied by another
white man and negro
An amusing occurrence took place
not long after our starting. In the
middle of submerged field, about one
hundred yards to our right we saw a
little, woolly black head, with a
frightened black face beneath it, pro-
jectlng from the water. We
rowed hastily towards it and drew
out of the muddy water a negro boy
about eight years old, perfectly naked,
and held him up among us.
Here, Moses" cried one, holding a
tin cup with whisky in it to his mouth,
'''here, take drink. -
"Take bite of this bread, Noses"
cried another, trying to crowd the
bread into his mouth.
"No; let Moses have some of this
fried bacon. It'll do him the most
good" said the negro oarsman.
But Moses shook his head and turned
aside from all the offered food.
Use erbleeged to yer, marsters,'
he said, while his white teeth shone
and his eyes rolled wildly. "Tse
erhleeged ter yer, but hain't sot dowr
in two days, by tryin' to keep my head
out n de watah, an all wants. ef ys,
please. is to set down."
He was promptly wrapped in 6
blanket and set down, where for az
hour he sat without moving, enjoying
the perfect rest Of his new position
At the end of that time he began tt
eat. l draw vail over his perform
ance in this line. We feared we hat
rescued him from a watery grave tt
kill him with corn bread and bacon
although the negro Oarsman insisted
that he never heard of ''niggah bein
hurt by too much to eat" Meeting
returning boat soon after, we pu
Moses in it and sent him to town.
never heard of him again, but presume
he survived both his unusual bath an,
banquet.
We resumed our journey, and jus
before dark sighted the corn crib
upon which a mass OF black hu
mainly clustered like 4 swarm Q
bees. A heavy rain was now falling
and daylight beginning to fade away
I their condition become most distress
ing, as they sat in perfect silenc
watching our approach. H
But we did not appreciate their Q,
treme peril until, as the boat struc
against the frail Lighthouse, which wa
in the water to the edges of the roo
it visibly shook and tottered. tn
poor creatures began to Chamber hui
riedly down to the boat.
s s.Stopr' l cried. The women an
children first
The men obediently resumed the
seats. We took in first the childre
and then the women, getting them a
in safely. and were about to push OF
telling the men we would hurry bac
for them as quickly as possible or ser
the first boat we met, when g ssry o
woman q noticed she was the last
get in the boat and had done so r
luctantly) seized the corner of II
house, and, looking anxiousiy into n
face, said;
..Marster, amt you gwine take n
ole man?"