News article:"Henry Lemons Dies From Exposure After Being Stranded in Flood"/Bossier Parish/LA
Source: The Ouachita Telegraph 
Submitted by: Lora Peppers 
Date: May 2000


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The Ouachita Telegraph
Saturday, February 25, 1882
Page 1, Column 6

DIED IN A TREE.
 We learn from Mr. J.B. O’Neal yesterday the facts concerning a case where a
colored man, named Henry Lemons, died in a tree, on the night of the 3rd
inst.  It seems that Mr. O’Neal and the colored man were returning to their
houses in Bossier Point on the night named, and after dark they reached a
stream known as Fox Skin, which they attempted to ford, little thinking the
rains had raised it so high as to make it dangerous.  The colored man was
ahead riding a mule and leading a horse, and in crossing the stream the mule
he was riding commenced to swim.  In a few moments he called to Mr. O’Neal
that the mule was sinking and that gentleman told him to catch to a tree,
which he did, and climbed into it.  It was impossible for Mr. O’Neal to get
to where he was, and he went back to Mr. N.B. Muriff’s house and reported
the accident, and Mr. Muriff and some of his hands went to the place to
render assistance, but it was impossible to reach the man, although they
could converse with him from where they were standing.  Some colored men
also gathered on the opposite side of the stream, built fires and
constructed a raft to try and rescue him, but did not succeed.  In the
morning some colored men went up to where he as and found him dead, hanging
to the limbs of the tree.  It is supposed he became chilled and died from
the effects.  The only way they could get him to the raft was to place a
rope around the body, which they did.  He was afterwards buried by his wife
and friends.  Mr. O’Neal informs us he was a good and industrious colored
man, and his untimely death is much regretted by his friends in the Point.
The mule he was riding and the horse he was leading both reached the shore,
and were recovered. – Shreveport Standard, 18th.

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