Bienville Families: 11-Year-Old Boy Rescues Parents From Wate
Submitted by
Donna Sutton
ladyhawke1214@hotmail.com


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“11-Year-Old Boy Rescues Parents From Water”

(Source: Bossier Banner, a small local newspaper, 1951, during Easter holildays.)

Jerry Sutton, eleven-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. G.C. Sutton, Route 3, Benton, displayed real courage and self possession last Monday afternoon 
when he was instrumental in helping to rescue his mother and father and a friend from a possible watery grave, the latter having been left adrift after
 their bateau, from which they were fishing, struck a cypress knee in Bodcau, about one mile north of Montgomery Camp, and capsized.

Mr. and Mrs. Sutton, with a friend, Ted Boddie, of Shreveport, had left about one p.m. and at 6, when they had not returned, young Sutton, 
becoming alarmed, went to the stream to investigate the cause of their tardiness. When he arrived in the vicinity of where he thought he would 
find them, he heard them calling. The lad showed excellent judgment at this juncture by hurrying two miles to the home of Mr. Dickson Oliver and summonsing help.

According to Jerry’s account, the three composing the fishing party, after clinging to the capsized boat, Mrs. Sutton also to a limb, finally 
reached the point where they were able to wade to a small island, at which place they were when their alarm cry was heard. The men had
 employed presence of mind enough to keep their matches above water and accordingly when they reached land they kindled a fire, kept 
warm and dried their clothes.

It was about 11:45 before the rescue was completed by the use of a motor boat. Had the young lad not summonsed help it is likely that 
the party would have tried to reach land through the treacherous water, with possible drowning facing them.

Jerry is a sixth grade pupil of the Benton school, Mrs. Leslie DeMoss’ room. His heroism is certainly to be commended.

[NOTE: G.C. Sutton was the son of G.C. Sutton, Sr., of Bear Creek; Margaret Stewart Sutton is the daughter of Roger Hayden Stewart of 
Bryceland. Ted Boddie was a cousin.]