The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-09-06
HE SAVED THE LEVEE.
AN INCIDENT OF A FLOOD III THE
MISSISSIPPI.

| lLB ATOIn w ll10o u * IL IL 01CL
in the Bank-Util zing His own Body
TO FIJI the Crevlce, He "Holds the
Fort" Till Effectual Aid Arrives.
From the PhiiadelDhia Times.
For days the river had been rising. The
leveeS above were gone for miles and miles
and the mad waters had swept over tbs
banks, carrying fortunes and even lives be-
fore them. On one of the big plantations
opposite Shreveport every effort was being
made to withstand the flood. Hands were
collected from every cabin and recruited
from all the adjoining places TO strengthen
the water-soaked levees, which shook on the
pressure OF mans foot.
1t was almost dusk, but the men who bad
not rested for days worked with the strength
of fresh vigor as the voice of Tom Aiken,
the planter. directed them and cheered
them to the task which seemed so hopeless,
as the water crept steadily and steadily
higher. But for the fact that every one was
busy with his work, a little negro boy, who
suddenly dropped his spade and stole away
betwixt the wheels of the big sand wagon.
| might have been seen as he scurried- away
around the curve in the embankment.
He ran quickly along for full quarter
of a mile without looking back, down the
narrow, Slippery read that was left between
the cotton rows and the levee The boy
slackened his pace when he became con-
WINGED that no one was in pursuit of him,
and as he did so he heard the loud CHEEKY
voice of Tom Aiken back at the break: "All
work together, boysp
Huh! All work together the boy said.
"YesSir, but you bet dis here niger done
tired er workin togedder. Ise gwine 20
sleep, is. ] an shet my eyes fur two whole
days an nights, an gwine round the pint
to Aun' why's an 60 to sleep"
In his eagerness to reach the coveted goal
the little negro quickened his pace again. 1t
was now almost dark, but his eyes had
grown accustomed to the gloom. He could
see the curving line of the levee, which
seemed to tremole with q premonition of it's
own inadequacy. He could see all the
water pools IN the road. His little legs had
measured, perhaps, a mile more when the
ominous roar of the river made him stop
and peer over the levee at the rushing
waters.
As he scrambled up the slippery bank clod
of loosened earth fell heavily into the road
below, and through the oriflce which it left
a little stream CT muddy water trickled.
Tho boy caught his breath quickly when
the water run over his hand.
"LordyW no exclaimed. "Dere's gwine
to be a break right here. "Lordy Lordy
what Rwine do"
He stopped to reconsider. There was
| still another mile before he could reach the
| Point, and he knew there were only few
old women in the cabins there, and he
could get no help from that source. It was
more than a mile back to where the men
| were working, and he was afraid TO show
himself there after having run away. Be-
| sides there was not a moment to lose what
| was to be done must be done at once. The
| boy knew that a great responsibility rested
upon him. II the little opening we're not
stopped Immediately it was only question
Of few moments before the whole levee
would be swept away.
He stood up and looked about him. There
was no one in sight. He thought he might
find a bag Of sand dropped by a passing
wagon, but there was none. with sudden
purpose he turned and sat down over the
little crevice through which the water came.
The soft earth yielded to his weight. and
with his hands and feet he pressed it about
him, patting 1t to make 1t firm.
The difficulty had been solved without
his volltion almost. 1t was only after IL was
done that he thought of the consequences.
He calculated in his unreasoning way that
it was o'clock How long would he have
to remain therel For aught he knew until
morning He began TO suffer by and by
from his cramped position, but he dared not
move even tie least bit lest the crevasse
would open again.
| He could not tell how time passed. Every
minute seemed an hour. He could not hear
the shouts of the men below. There was
only now and then the boot of an owl rising
above the roar of the water, or the swish
as clod Of earth was sucked into the mad
current. He wished he had not run away
from his work.
He began to get drowsy; bis limbs were
almost numb He wondered what would
become of him If he should 20 to sleep. If
the waters should rise up over the levee
drown him and ruin the cotton, would it
make any difference then that be had tried
to save It'll He was inadequate to the prob
| lem, the like Of which has puzzled graver
| heads than his. The hooting OF the owl
| grew less and less frequent, the swishing of
the waters fainter aud fainter, the pain in
| his hack easier.
He must have slept some time. Suddenly
he was awakened by the gallop of a horse
on the road below. He was too weak to
move. His voice was almost gone. but as
| the horse and rider approached he cried out
with all the strength he could summon:
"Marse Toni"
| Mr. Aiken drew rein quickly and turned
his big lantern in the direction of the
voice.
"Who is it and where are youg" he asked,
dismouuting.
Its me, boss, - answered the boy.
"What the mischief are you doing here,
Peteg" inquired Aiken. peeriDg into the
boys begrimed face. why, you are al
most buried aliveN
II ruined away from back yonder," the
boy answered. 81 seed the levee or breakin'
here. 80 | stopped"
why, bless the boy" said Aiken, "you
must be nearly dead. What is TO be donel
| Can you stand it till / ride back and get
help to fill the breakl 1t will open as soon
as you move"
''Yessir; but hurry, boss" answered the
boy.
| As Aiken turned TO remount he heard
| the sound of boat wheels around the curve
and the whistle sounded out hoarsely.
"By Georgew exclaimed Aiken, there's
boat, and three more inches of water will
top the levee here and then all is lost"
| In a few moments the boat rounded the
curve and the lights shone out across the
water. ..
THE Marsden," Aiken said, as he saw the
two smoke stacks, with Morton at the
wheel; | shall have to fight for it."
So saying, be picked up his gun from
where he had dropped 1t when he dis
mounted. and strobe on a few PAGES up
stream to meet the boat.
"Steer for the other sidel" he called out
when the boat was in hailiDg distance.
| "pm running this machine" responded
! the coarse voice Of Morton, land | guess
/ the river is free"
Aiken could see the little tongues of
water as they overlapped the bank above.
| IL the boat did not turn she would send the
water over the levee lower down where the