Speaking of the Arkansas Egners........this just came through the PML service. THis is an interesting story about the one brother. --Celia :o) ----- Original Message ----- From: Kathryn Langston <klangston@juno.com> > Source: ARIZARD-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: [ARIZARD-L] Sams chapter 46 > > > Chapter 46 > > Old Joe Egner's Ship Wreck > > In the year 1834 Old Joe Egner was doing a mercantile > business in the town of Batesville, in the county of > Independence, and Territory of Arkansas. He was one of the first > settlers of that place. > > In the fall of that year he made at trip to New Orleans in a > flat boat to bring back a load of dry goods and groceries. On > his way back, two days back up the Mississippi River, on dark > night, the boat struck a snag, and in two or three minutes all > was under water and gone. What few of them who could swim went > at it, and them that could not, went under. Out of about thirty > passengers and crew twenty one got out. > > Old Joe said when the water came to him it was all over him > at once, and that he went off with the tide, swimming, not > knowing which way to go, as it was so dark he could not see > anything. He thought he would keeo himself up and try and keep > from drowning as long as he could. > > All at once he strikes a loose stage plank and he grabbed it > fast and held on to it and went on floating down the river, in a > little while he felt someone grab the other end of the plank. He > told hiim for Gods sake to not get on the plank, only just hold > to it, which they both done, and they floated down the river for > some five miles, and at last floated down to the shore and a bush > scratched Old Joe's face; he grabbed it and the other man struck > the shore. They both then crawled out on shore and was so numb > they could hardly get up on the bank. Fortunately there was a > house close by which they went to and stayed until morning. > > The next morning a steam boat come along which they hailed. > It landed and took them on and carried them to the mouth of White > River, where they got off. They, then, had to walk home two > hundred miles, as no steam boat would venture up White River, in > them days. > > He had about a thousand dollars worth of goods on his boat > when it sunk, which was fully insured, however. He had his > duplicate and four hundred dollars in notes on different banks > all safe belted around him next to his hide. > > He arrived home safe and sound and got his insurance money > all right. But, he told me that would be his last trip on the > water, and it was. Uncle Joe has gone to the world unknown, > whence no traveler returns. > > I don't suppose there are but few living who ever heard him > tell this, and that is the reason I have written it.