The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1898-11-19
A HEROIC LITTLE BOY.
ALMOST INCREDIBLE PLUCK AND
NERVE OF A TENNESSEE LAD.

There recently appeared in the col =
nmns of the Chattanooga (Iehn. 7
Times a brief account of a waterspout 6
or landslide which occurred in the
mountains of Hawkins county a lew
days ago. The public, in hurrlediy
reading the account of this calamity
no doubt gave the matter but a pass
ing thought as an event of frequent
occurrence, and did not realize in any
sense, unless by actual experience
the devastation wrought, the sorrow
bought or the heroism frequently dis
PLAYED in calamity Of this kind.
A gentleman who resides in the
neighborhood visited by this death
dealing tornado related to me lew
DAYS past the destruction that was
wrought, the lives thatwere swept IN
to eternity and particularly the match
less bravery displayed by an eleven
year old boy during the scene OF de-
yastation and death:
But a short distance from Bays
mountain, Tenn, where the counties
of Sullivan, Washington, Hawkins ana
Greene corner, and upon the side OF
mountain known as Sandstone
Ridge. nestled the humble home OF
the Comptons. The house was
two-story log structure, and the lam
ily consisted of Roe Compton, ms
aged mother, Charity Compton, ms
wife, Frances, and nine children the
two eldest of whom were daughters
aged about IS and 20 years.
A short distance below the mouse
| in front was branch, which during
the dry seasons was perfectly dry
but during excessive rainy spells De
: came raging cataract.
d In the rear of the house the lane
!; sloped gently upward for short ais
e lance, when it began to rise abrupuy
Q and almost as far as the eye could SO 81
t this ridge or mountain rose granoi
d to the summit, where it lowered aboV
y the home of this sturdy mountaneel
ID Many times had he watched the storl
ID king beat fiercely against It's ctage
sides, as for the mastery, Whlle
8 sat in his humble house surrounae
or bv his loved ones in fancled sec"rlt
It. On the night of this fearful stor
le! the Compton family retired with
!e! thought of the impending caIamlt
he The husband, his mother and the "
Ter eldest daughters occupied one end
the home. while the wife and sew
Ter other children slept in the apartmel
of the other end.
lii During the night members OF
7ou family were awakened by the fury
the tempest. The thunder roared
g" cessantly and the vivid flashes OF lls
ming shot in at the partly screet
any windows of the house and llghtea
en- the interior almost as light as q
a Down in the ravine in front OF
in house the waters began to rise raj
". They seemed to come down II
the mountain sides and the vale
n. narfect waves and seethed and sur
tiled in their fury. The water was
II within a few feet of the house, W
ship far up on the mountain side IN
rear of the dwelling, huge bout
,red which probably had been anchl
me-. there for centuries, left Its moor
ncb and came crashing down the M
,arty tain side Here it would strike
'ol.S "nd nnroot il: there it would st
wood another rock and start it rolling,
%t ems together they swept down the inc
Tho Gathering strength, velocity and
h;nI d;tional destructive elements IN
,ourt onward sweep of death and dew
rain. ton. 7
, ,"' This death-dealing mass of d
ony struck that end of the building
n md pied by the husband, his aged M
-. ond and two eldest daughters. log
ID ba with the huge logs that went Int
~, ,uo ~ erection of the building, they
, nh;ef swept into the torrent OF wa
, '4 tNa front of the house and were
inst killed by the falling timbers or
o,,on. drowned outright.
y. " n';1 When the bodies of these 1o'
e olo NO. fortunate persons were foun
i If the next day miles below where
ro;nod home stood, they were mans
aa S and most beyond recognition.
VITO Of The mother and seven little
'N So who occupied the other END
;s hand building, Jared BETTER but !,
10 10, nI he. through an experience Of terrlt
ID" "o b b that few Of mankind are calle'
VS. sor n to endure. This part Of: the
en lIral was entirely wrecked also
attempt must haVe ooo 4 ~ the falling I
n,ror came crashing down upon he
-, n' th;a ones? Fortunately the fore
III 'A'' which the other end of the b
was struck threw this ell ain
Of the water, else, instead o
YOUR news item would have r
iooh 1, the death of twelve persons
are the When Jimmy Compton, aged
oisy ma u .hrown rouohly from his
oproach, "as o,' ' Inv the falling timl
I'M pipes a ava NJ haai, to CRY, as min,
al MINER | uiN III Loyo W NJ