The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-08-24

river was in flood and the current
very swift, but we pushed off, the
negro padding and my friend watch
ing the rather risky voyage. We got
along very well, except that we drift
ed down stream considerably, until
we reached point within forty yards
Of the farther shore. I noticed that
my end Of the boat was getting too
high out of the water, but all my at
tention was centered on the SWIM
ming mare and the effort to keep her
away from the boat. AS we swept
into an eddy 1 heard an exclamation
from the negro, and, looking round,
saw his end Of the boat slowly sink
ing, while my end stuck up more un-
| pleasantly than ever / saw that the
boat was preparing to slide out from
under u.s. and I turned the mare loose
with her head towards the shore. I
said: "Old man, can you swim?"
He said: "No, massa, I can't swim
a lick"
I said: Look out for yourself.
Catch hold of the boat as I get out
and don't let go. You can't drown
as long as you hold to the boat, and
the current will sweep you ashore
further down."
There was no time for more.
leaped into the water with all my
clothing on, my pistol and my boots
and struck out for the nearest tree.
When I got there 1 looked 10 see
what had become of the negro. Tha
boat had turned completely over and
lie was elm nying to the bottom. The
that grew out horizontally from the
bank and overhung the water and
he contrived to work himself and the
boat to the shore by slow degrees. I
then turned my attention to getting
out of the bitterly cold water 1 saw
the mare just ahead Of me. She had
swum between two trees, or two
trunks Of one tree, V-shaped, and
there she stuck. I worked my way
from tree to tree until I got to her,
caught the reins and jerked her until
she backed out, and then putting
her head to the shore, caught hold
of her tail and let her tow me out,
which she did without difficulty. The
negro, having got ashore, was per-
suaded by another five-dollar bill to
return for my friend, but he stipu-
lated that the friends horse should
not be brought over. He came across
safely with my saddle, leaving his
own horse on the town side, and we
rode double the rest of the way.
When we were returning we went TO
another ferry lower down, and |
rode on to the fiat near it's front
There twelve or fourteen mules on
board also. When we showed off
from the shore and got we'll into the
stream some of the mules began to
back, and soon there was an epidemic
Of backing, with the result that every
single mule backed overheard. If ]
had not been mounted and we'll to
the front of the fiat 1 would surely
have been trodden down or else have
gone again into the river. Men OH
the shore whistled for the mules and
they all swan out without injury
This flood, or freshet, as it is called
in that section was a noted one, or,
as we would say now, a record break
er But one freshet since that time
has been known to equal it, and a
Sherman freshet is the synonym for
the highest sort of a river. The one
most noted before it went by the
name of "the Hocott fresh" from the
circumstance that a man of that
name, essaying to cross the river
during very high water, had his boat
turned over and found himself COM
PEELED to take to a tree for a day
and a night before he was rescued.
(To be continued.)