The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-09-28
Humble HerOism.

Negroes frequently exhibit won
derfuI degree of heroism in times of
danger. An instance of this l wit
messed in the spring of 1885, when
freshet In the Alabama River caused
the country on each side to be over
flowed by water for many miles.
The negroes were the greatest suf-
ferers. Their cabins would be under
water almost before they knew that
danger threatened them, and hun
dreds 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
rescue them. These consisted of one
or more boats, manned by expert
oarsmen and swimmers. and filled
with cooked provisions, blankets.
etc. One day the news came that
the negroes on a certain plantation
had sought refuge upon corn crib.
around which the water was rapidly
rising. and so rendering their condi-
ton exceedingly precarious. Two
boats started out at once to their as
sistance. In one of these I went. &C.
companied by another white man.
and negro.
An amusing occurrence took place
not long after our starting. In the
middle of submerged field. about
100 yards to our right, we saw little
woolly black head. with frightened
back face beneath 1t, projecting from
the water. We rowed hastily to-
wards it and drew out of the muddy
water a negro boy about 8 years old.
perfectly naked and held him up
among US.
"Here. Moses" cries one, holding
a tin cup with whisky in 1t to his
mouth. "here. take a drink"
"Take bite of this bread, Noses"
cried another, trying to crowd the
bread into his mouth.
mo let Moses have some of this
fried bacon. It'll do him most good"
said the negro oarsman.
But Moses shook his head and
turned aside from all the offered food.
"I'se erbleeged to yer, marsters."
he said. while his white teeth shone
and his eyes rolled wildly. "I'se
erbleeged to yer, but I hain't sot
down in two days, er trying to keep
my head out'n de watah. an all I
wants, eff yer please, is to set down."
He was promptly wrapped in
blanket and set down, where for an
hour he sat without moving, enjoy.
Ing tile perfect rest of his new posi-
ton. AT the end of that time he be-
gan to eat. I draw veil over his
performance in this line, I feared we
had rescued him from watery grave
to kill him with corn bread and ba-
con, although the negro oarsman in
sisted that he had never heard of
niggah bein' hurt by too much to
eat" Meeting returning boat soon
after. we put Moses in it and sent
him to town. / never heard of him
again, but presume he survived both
his unusual bath and banquet.
We resumed our journey. and just
before dark sighted the corn-crib,
upon which a mass of black human.
ity clustered like swarm of bees. A
heavy rain was now falling, and day.
light beginning to fade away, their
condition became most distressing, as
they sat in perfect silence watching
our approach.
But we did not approach their ex-
treme peril until as the boat struck
against the frail log house. which was
in the water to the edges of the roof.
1t vissibly shook and tottered. The
poor creatures began to Chamber hur-
Yiedly down to the boat.
"Stop I" I cried. 1.-THE women and
children first"
The men obediently resumed their
seats. We took in first the children
and then the women, getting them
all In safely, and were about to push
off, telling the men we would hurry
back for them as quickly as possible
or send the first boat we met. when
a very old woman II noticed she was
the last to get In the boat and had
done so relunctantly) seized the cor.
ner of the house, and looking anx-
iously into my face, said:
"Marster. amt you gwine take my
ole man T'
"No, auntie." I answered. 1.-THE
boat is too full now. He must wait
till we come back"
The words were hardly out of my