Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1889-10-03
HUMBLE HEROISM.
An Incident of the Flood in the
Alabama River.

Negroes frequently exhibit won
derful degree of heroism in times of
danger. An instance of this | wat
messed in the spring OF 1886, when a
freshet 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 before they 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 filled with
cooked provisions, blankets, etc. One
day the news came that the negroes on
certain plantation had sought refuge
upon a 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 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 a drink. !"
Take bite of this bread, Moses, "
cried another, trying to crowd the
bread into his mouth.
mo; let Moses have some of this
fried bacon. It'll do him the most
good" said tho 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. Use
erbleeged ter yer, but hain't sot down
in two days, by tryin' to keep my head
out n de watah, an all wants, Ell yel
please, is to set down"
He was promptly wrapped In
blanket and set down, where Tor al
hour he sat without moving, enjoying
the perfect rest of his new position
At the end of that time he began u
eat draw vail over his perform
ance in this line. We feared we hat
rescued him from watery grave u
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 CRU
upon which a mass OF black NJ
manity clustered like u swarm
bees A heavy rain was now falling
and daylight beginning to fade away
their condition become most distress
ing. as they sat in perfect silenc
watching our approach.
But we did not appreciate their e1
treme peril until, as tho boat struc
against the frail Lighthouse, which wa
in the water to the edges OF the roo
It visibly shook and tottered. In
poor creatures began to CHAMBER hu
riedly down to the boat.
''Stopr' l cried. The women oil
children first.
The men obediently resumed tne
seats. We took in first the cniiuie
and then the women, getting them q
in safely. and were about 10 push =,
telling the men we would hurry oae
for them as quickly as possible OF ser
the first boat we met, when a very .
woman Il noticed she was the las'
get in the boat and had done 20
luctantly) seized the corner OF "
house, aud. looking anxioasiy 'h'0 IL
face, said:
"Marster, amt you gwine take Y
ole mani"