The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1921-04-20
MISSED DROWNING
BY A CLOSE SHAVE
Loring Smith Washed OFF Road
in vehicle-MuIe Drowned
Suith Rescued.

Mr.. Loring H. Smith came about
as near losing his life by drowning
Saturday morning at 1890 as any
man ever comes who is still alive
and able to tell about it,. Mr.. Smith
did lose a fine mule by drowning at
the same time he came near succum-
bing himself, the buggy in which he
was riding at the time being wash
ed off into the woods along the road
side near the iron bridge on the
Caseyville road three miles west of
Brookhaven. 1t was only through
the prompt assistance rendered by
people at the time of the accident
that saved Smiths life.
Mr.. Smith now lives on the old
Henry Smith place just this side of
the creek and had an appointment
Saturday to go to Red Star to a hold
| ing of Justices court. Notwithstand-
the storm and downpour of the early
morning, and undaunted by the tre-
mendous rush of waters in the swamp
and creek, which he could easily
hear from his home, Mr. Smith
hitched up and made the start to his
destination.
He was undaunted even when he
got to the bottom of the hill where
the water was swirling over the
road, and where crowd of travellers
some Is in number, were debating
whether it would be safe to make
the attempt through the road en-
tirely obliterated by water, and in
some places four and fve feet deep.
He did not even stop to compare
notes with these travellers, but
drove right on into the, water. After
proceeding about so feet and when
| just east of the wooden bridge across
one of the bayous, the mule was seen
to be washed off his feet, dragging
the buggy off with him in the strong
current. Mr.. Smith attempted to
get him Strengthened out to where
he thought the road was, but he on
ly sank and swerved the buggy. Mr..
Smith was thrown into the water
and current, the water being ten to
fifteen feet along the roadside.
Grasping at small willow, tree
with loud cries for help, Mr.. Smith
held on while those near by prepared
to rescue him: Mr. J. c. Wilson, a
near neighbor of Mr. Smith, ran to
his house and secured a rope, while
several of the party waded into the
water, following the road as near as
possible. 1t was slow progress on
account of the heavy current lapp-
ing over the road-bed. the water be-
ing sometimes four feet deep. Steps
of only six inches at time could be
Emade by the rescuing party to avoid
being washed off their feet. Mean
] time Smith was becoming more and
more exhausted from the hold he had
on the sapling willow and the con.
I tinual washing over him of the cold
water. He released his hold on one
occasion so strong was the swish OF
the current and his strength falling
but luckily for him, as he was car.
ried away in the strong current, he
-grasped another small tree, from
which he was pulled at last by g
rope thrown to him by j. C. viii.
son, aided by others Of the party
standing in the road.
Mr.. Smith was almost exhausted
when finally extricated from his
critical condition. but speedily re.
covered afterward when he reached
home and changed his cold and drip.
ping clothes, altho his mind sadly
reverted to his dauntless mule that
was no more live one.