[Untitled story describing a near-drowning incident]. (ca. 1854). In Early 1800s [Folder]. Valdosta State University Community Archives: Bennett Collection (CA-05), Box 1, Folder 1. Valdosta, Georgia. Retrieved from https://vtext.valdosta.edu/xmlui/handle/10428/7015. 

Description:

Portion of a letter from John Stevens, approximately March 1854. Stevens recounts a "miraculous escape from drowning" while on a boat with Oliver W. Stevens, his son Eddie, and two African Americans, Primus and Alfred, in the area of St. Catherine's Sound, Bryan County, Georgia. Also includes a brief anecdote of Judge [Colonel John] Dooly, namesake of Dooly County, Georgia.

Subject Headings:

Brooks County (Ga.); Quitman (Ga.); Dooly County (Ga.); Georgia; Letters; Family histories; Genealogy; Atlantic Ocean--Saint Catherines Sound
Dooly County (Ga.)

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Transcript:

A most miraculous escape from drowning _Upsetting of a boat.

It was in the month of March 1854[?]. That in company with Mr. Oliver W. Stevens, his son Eddie with Two negroes, Primus[?] and boy Alfred, we left [Palmyra?] in a batteau for [blank space] creek in search of oysters. We took the pains to have the most well [wedged?] to keep it steady, and then hoisted our main sail, which contained canvass in it for a boat double her size, a gentle breeze [?] blowing from S. W. We had no occasion to alter the sail, until we got to the mouth of [Dickenson?] creek where it emptied into Sunbury River; when the wind threw the sail on the other side, which caused the batteau to turn over on its side, and precipitate us all into the river. I caught hold of the boys, and got them to hold on to a small reel on the stern of the boat. Mr. Stevens then by great exertion got the mast out, thinking by so doing she would right, but instead of that she came bottom up; we all got then on the bottom, and a strong ebb tide at the time [running?] out, we were going rapidly down to St Catherines Sound. Mr S. and myself could have easily swam to the shore, as the marsh was not more than twenty yards distant, but had we done so the others would undoubtedly have perished. Mr. S. observed to me, suppose we all jump off and try to right her, we did so, and to my astonishment succeeded, but we might as well had been still on the bottom, as she was full of water, we all got in however and an oar [turning up?], Mr S got a stride of the [boys?], and commenced paddling, I was up on the stern with Eddie and acted as a kind of sail. The two negroes were on a seat in the [Centre?]. We made very little progress, the mast with the Sail we could perceive going down to the Sound, also some boxes that we had along, to put oysters in. When the boat capsized a very [valuable gun?] worth forty dollars 
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went to the bottom, it was owned by Mr O W Stevens. About two hundred yards from the marsh, the boy Alfred observed [Mas?] Oliver the anchor has never [been taken?] in since the boat upset. Mr. Stevens then drew it up, just after saying so, the boy Alfred gave three screams and went into fits, frothing at the mouth. I reached forward and drew him to me, he took hold of my leg and Eddie had hold of the other, I had the use of my body however, and whenever I saw a large wave coming down the [back?] river, I would throw my weight on that side and break its force. We were in this perilous situation for four hours, not knowing what moment the boat would turn over. I threw my beaver hat to [Primus?] and told him to bail her, but he might as well had attempted to have bailed the ocean, as the water was running [entirely?] across her. I never saw my hat again. As we neared [Harts?] Creek over in Bryan County, the boat upset again, but fortunately this time on a bed of [maroon?] oysters,  [scratched out text], I had to set on the bottom of the boat and hold Alfred who had not recovered. Mr S. then proposed to walk up to Mr [Harts?], for assistance, but I dissuaded him, we had tried to raise the boat, but being sucked in, it cracked our oar in the attempt, so soon however as the water [ran?] out so that we could [discover?] the banks we got her turned over and the large tin pan containing our dinner, having been caught under the seat, we soon emptied the contents on the seat and bailed her out in short order, It was very cold, and we had been wet ever since we upset.

On starting back for home we could discover all of the [sandbars?] in the river. Alfred on our way back discovered the [victuals?] on the seat, and asked for some meat, I knew then that had recovered. We stopped where the boat capsized and dragged for the gun
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but never found it. The boat we left at Seabrook landing that night, with a load of oysters that we had taken in at the mouth of the creek. All went home as wet as drowned rats. 

J. Stevens

Of whom was a crusty old [bachelor?], he beg'd her to stop playing, she said she would not unless I desired it, she also wanted the curtains raised whilst it was pouring down rain, I told her she could play a little, but to put the curtain down, whatever became of the poor creature afterwards I never learnt _ _ John Stevens

The late Judge Dooly after the county bearing his name was called, was as much distinguished for his wit as for his legal love, he was at the head of the [Clarke party?] of this State when [?] was his opponent _ Some one remarking one day that [?] was mad the Judge observed he wished the same dog that bit [?] would bite him. He had a difficulty with Judge Tate which was to be settled by a duel, as his opponent had a wooden leg he [mentioned?] to his "second that would fight him only on equal terms & must go & look up a hollow [?] to encase one of his legs in. This was told to Tate & so amused him that a laugh settled the difficulty. One other occasion be a man of [proverbial?] [?] _ declined a challenger when told that he would be published in the newspapers as a coward he said, "that he would rather fill [any?] newspaper in the state than one coffin." He was right for [scratched through text] moral courage is the only true courage.  JS.
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