The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1912-05-04
DoNALDsoNvILLE La, SATURDAY. NAY 4 1917
RISK LIVES For NEGROES.
Prominent Citizens Rescue Blacks
from Fiood-Heroism Displayed
ny Men Of Louisiana and Missjs-
sfppI,

from Fiood-Heroism DispIaye
ny Men Of Louisiana and Missj
sIppI.
Whlte men, men of high socif
standing, rich and influential citizen
rlsked their lives again and agai
without hesitation in the work :
fesculng negroes imperiled by floo
waters from the Salem creVasse. sal
John NJ. Parker, of New Orleans
VINO TOOK a prominent part in thi
disastrous drama of the Delta coun
Try More than 5000 persons, nearl,
all of them negroes, were put II
Jeopardy by the flood and not a life
was lost, thanks to the heroism O,
Cnese men of Louisiana and Missis
| slppl. Mr.. Parker returned SATURDAY.
Irom Washington, where he spent
most Of last week working for q
large levee appropriation.
| The people of the state owe a
lastlng debt of gratitude to the peo.
| PIE of Vicksburg, who immediately
responded, in every way within their
! power, TO the calls fea, assistance, ,,
Mr. Parker said, speaking of the res
cue work.
Men of the highest social stand
ing promptly and cheerfully, at the
rlsk OF their own lives, went to the
rescue OF those imperiled, while
The Vlcksburg Board of Trade rem
dered all the assistance possible.
and stood responsible for all bills in
Cured. -'>'
1T is difficult to single out indiyid-
uals who performed marked acts OF
nerolsm, because there were so many.
put some Of these men certainly de-
serve Carnegie medals for having
raced almost certain death to rescue
negroes from dangerous positions.
Conspicuous Case.
One of the most conspicuoTs
cases was the rescue of sPappy'
Jones, an old one-legged, negro. and
MS wife, by J. Martin Hamley, rep
fesentatlVe-elect from East Carroll,
and Chris. McGinnis, jailer at Lake
providence. The cabin of the old ne
groes stood directly in the path of |
the water as it rushed from the ere
vase at Salem. The force of the |
flood lifted the cabin up and carried |
t inland some distance until it final-I
y lodged against tree. In the
meantime the old man was helDed |
ikss IL & he house his
N.iIeya 40 l1e.i Il turn had pulled the
DID negress up. They then had cut
through the roof and climbed out on
Top By yelling, the old couple had
attracted numerous rescue parties,
md attempt after attempt had been
made to reach them The current
vas too powerful at the point, how
ever, and no boat was able to get
% near the crevasse. Finally the
'oof of the house broke loose from
he remainder, swung into the cur
'ent and floated inland, with the
Wo negroes aboard.
.Ham1ey and McGinnis were near
" in a motor boat The situation
vas extremely dangerous; in fact,
t seemed almost folly to give chase
Q the drifting roof. Yet without a
aoment's hesitation they went after
{ and succeeded in getting both ne
roes aboard the boat and safely to
and
Bring Many to- Safety. +
Llnzey McGee and Alexander Fitz-
ugh Of Vicksburg were others who |.
rought many negro women and chill
rem to safety, repeatedly facing
cath. These men were towing a
kiff containing fifteen negro women
nd children whom they had rescued
rom dangerous positions when a II
ense fog came, making it impos-
lble to see more than 90 feet ahead
t them. Under this handicap they
OF caught in the grip of the cur
ent from the crevasse, and wave
ash, dashing spray over their en-
inc, killed the batteries. This
topped the engine and left the
rotor boat helpless The boat and its
kiff were swept rapidly inland, and
1e occupants of the skiff, realizing
aeir peril, began to pray frantically
nd yell wildly for help. The motor
oat was provided with fresh bat
'ries, however, and within a few
llnutes the young men had her work Z
lg again. Once again on their way | !
} safety, the negroes who had been
raying burst into laughter at the
Tiers calling for rescue.
Theodore Helgason, a rich and In !
uentlal citizen of Vicksburg, was ] ,