Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1890-02-04
HUMBLE HER0IS.a.
An Incldont of tho Flood in the
Alabama River.

tNCBIOoo "
derful degree OF heroism In times OF
danger. An instance OF this l wit
messed in the spring OF 1886, whom
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 n soaking rain. Fortunately, the
weather was not cold.
Many relief expeditions we're 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, etc. One
day the news came that the negroes on
q 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 | 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
little, woolly black head, with
black face beneath it, pro-
jectlng from the water. We
rowed hastily towards 1t and drew
out Of the muddy water a negro boy
about eight years old, perfectly naked.
and he'd him up among us.
Here, Moses" cried ono. holding a
lin 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
"No; let Moses have some OF this
'ried bacon. It'll do him the most
good" said the negro oarsman.
Bat Moses shook his head and turned
isido from all the offered food.
Use erbleeged to yer, marsters,"
he said, while his white teeth shone
and his eyes rolled wildly. Use
srbleeged ter yer, but hain't sot down
in two days, by tryin' to keep my head
put n dc watah, an all l wants, ef yer
please. is to set down"
He was promptly wrapped in q
blanket and set down. whore for an
hour he sat without moving. enjoying
she perfect rest Of his new position.
At the end OF that time he began to
vat / draw vail over his perform
lnce In this line. We feared we had
rescued him from a watery grave to
kill him with corn bread and bacon.
although the negro oarsman insisted
hat he never heard OF 'niggah bein'
hurt by too much to eat" Meeting a
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 hu-
manity clustered like swarm OF
bees. A heavy rain was now falling.
and daylight beginning to fade away,
their condition become most distress
ing, as they sat in perfect silence
our approach.
But we did not appreciate 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 visibly shook and tottered. The
poor creatures began to Chamber hur-
riedly down to the boat
"Stopr' / cried. The women and
first"
The men obediently resumed their
,eats. We took in first the children
md then the women. getting them all
n safely. and were about to push of,
elling the men we would hurry back
or them as quickly as possible or send
he first boat we met. when very old
woman I noticed she was the last to
ret in the boat and had done SO re-
seized the corner OF the
house, and, looking anxiously Into my
lace. said:
"Marster, amt you gwinc take my
ole manP"
mo, auntic," / answered, ''tho boat
Is too full now. lie must wait till we
come back"
The words were hardly out OF my
mouth when with sudden spring she
was up and on the roof again. II
shook rs sho scrambled on all fours
upon 1t and took her scat by little.
withered old blnck man, whose hand
she seized and held as II sho was afraid
we would tear her away from him.
"Come. mntic." ! cried, "this
won d. We cant leave you here.
and we can wit uny longer on you"
Go on. marster. she answered
II thanks yer. en- / pray dc good
Lawd TO fetch you all safe homo; but /
gwine stay hyah wild my ole man. Ell
Simon got to git drownded, Lyddy
gwine git drownded, too. We dun bin
Iogedder too long to part now.''
And We had to leave her, after
throwing them some blankets and a
ot Of provisions.
As wc rode of IN the rain and night !