St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1912-12-14
IN SHADOW
OF7H[vALLEY'
OF DEATH.
Two Prominent Young Bust
nessmen Of Covington,
Have Strenuous Time in Cold
Waters of the River.
Horse Drowned and Lives
Are Barely Saved.
Finally Reach the Shore and
Arrive Home Safely.
Two Prominent Young Bust
nessmen of Covington,

I y
Had not kind providence planted
tree in the ford near the Blackwell
mill. on the Bogue Falaya River, the
festivities of the coming holidays
| would have been cast aside, in Coz,
ington, in mournful remembrance OF
| the loss of two of her foremost young
businessmen, both popular in the
younger married circles, for both
would have been sacrificed to the
swirling waters of the angry Bogue
Falaya River, which is always danger.
ousous after heavy rains, had not this
tree stood exactly where 1t did to aid
them in their escape from a watery
grave.
Mr.. Edmund B. Stern and Mr..
Archie r. Smith went ON hunting
trip last Sunday. They have been
companions on many hunting and
fishing expeditions as we'll as IN the
field of sports. when the old Coving-s
ton baseball nine upheld the pride
Of Covington by defeating everything
that was sent over from New Ol.
leans and elsewhere to conquel.
them. Stern was catcher and SMITH
was q crackajack second baseman,
who could generally be, counted upon
for sure run when 1t the bat. In
those days the old diamond Of tht
Covington baseball park was the
scene OF much roofing for the home
team and the megaphone was also
put to good use by the imported
ro0ters Of visiting teams. But play
ing ball and fighting for your life
in deep and angry water, with over
coats and guns and cartridge belts
and hunting boots helping to drag
you down, Is quite a different thing,
and while q home run in such . hx
a. this is much more to be desired,
|it Is also much more di1icult Of ac-
complishment.
When they left Folsom. Stern and
Smith were directed to take the road
near the hill, but Understood their
informant to say, take the road by
the mill" In consequence. about
ten minutes after six O'clock
in the evening they found themselves
at q ford on the river bank. Look
ing across the river they could see the
road as 1t emerged from the ford
directly opposite, and they drove In.
remembering the lesson learned Al
school, that straight line IL the
shortest distance between two points
They applied this lesson to the pres
ent emergency and concluded that
the shortest ford was a straight line.
1t was getting quite dark, but the
could still see enough to make tho
crossing. But unfortunately. instea,
of being straight the ford made
curve and the horse, = big black one
belonging to the Smith Hardware Co..
stepped from comparatively shallow
water into hole said to have beer
about fifteen feet deep at that time
There was no chance for the horse.
1t went down Immediately. Mr.
Smith hung to the buggy seat, which
became detached and drifted on tho
water. He then made his way by 1t.
support to the tree to which Mr..
Stern had swum upon finding him
self in the water, and to which he
was clinging. From this pos:ticr
they took their bearings and managed
to swim to shallow water, finally
reaching shore. safe but water-soaket
and cold, they struck out in trc
for Mr.. Blackwell's house, shor-
distance away, trusting to the cxer
else to keep the blood in circulation
The coffee Mr.. Blackwell served the,r
probably tasted better than coffee
ever tasted before. BY half pa:t
eight O'Clock they were in dry clothes
and on their way to Onville, which
they reached by $40. Thanking
Mr. Blackwell for his kindness they
then phoned to Mr.. Wallace Poole
In CovinE.on, who sent a convey
ance for them, and they were 500,
again safe and sound at home. with
no regrets. save for the faithful
old horse that had lost his life n
service and obedience.
The safe return of these genlemen
is remarkable In consideration Of the
very heavy clothing worn by them
for their protection from the weather
Mr.. Smith wore heavey overcoat
and Mr.. Stern . hunting coat and
sweater. Each had on heavy hunt
ing boots and cartridge belts and car
ried guns. The guns are still at the
bottom of the river, unless very late
~ recovered.