Merry Christmas From
Eddie Trapp "On the River"

 

 

. Merry Christmas. The Cooper Review takes a week vacation each year at this time. There may be some readers that want to have some On The River to read so I am sending you some stories from 1990. As dry as it is maybe they will not forget there is such a thing as a flood. Or at least, used to be. Since the articles were short back then I sent two of them.

 

MAY 3, 1990--HIGH WATER

 

                  The flooding this past week has been very bad. Newscasts told of many homes underwater. Water went over the spillway at Lake Texhoma and 271 was closed at Red River. In many areas the water was higher than anyone remembers. In Delta County however, this flood was not as bad as either one of two in 1971.

                  According to my ledger, on October 19, 1971 there was an overflow larger than anyone could remember. Water was over the highway 24 bridge on North Sulphur as well as crossing 24 north of Gray’s store. Jay Gentry went to check his cattle north of Pacio. Mr. And Mrs. Lacek from Paris were also checking cattle a little closer to the channel when a 3 or 4 foot high wall of water came across the pastures. Jay and Mr. Lacek climbed trees while Mrs. Lacek floated off in an inner tube.

                  As word spread of Jay’s disappearance, I got my boat and motor. Amos Iglehart and I launched the boat in his pastures to search. A baby calf was about drowned when we pulled it into the boat. We carried it to a nearby mound where cattle were standing in water up to their knees. Amos said his daddy told him water had never been over that mound. We received word that Butch Burns had found Jay and the Laceks and brought them out.

     Another place to compare the 71 and 90 floods is at Bluff Bank south of Charleston. Water has never run over the high bank, but in ‘71, water ran around the north side. Dean Houchins and I went through there in a boat. The water needed to have been about two feet higher this year to have cut around the hill.

     Even when times are hard people must still try to laugh, realizing that life must go on.  Billy Joe Lile was at the Charleston Store Saturday about noon and reported that Eagle Mountain Lake in the Metroplex was so high you could see under it. I had to leave half a cheeseburger a few minutes until I got my breath back.

 

 

 

104              MAY 31, 1990--SNAPPER’S FIRST PHONE CALL

 

         It finally had to happen. 22 pound, year old, rat terrier Snapper. Dog of many talents. Specializing in back packing, camping, catching armadillos, squirrels, terrapins, hogs, ticks and fleas. Rider of canoe, pickup, and three wheeler. Tangler of fishing line – he got a phone call.

                  Friday, Jean and I went to Hawkins to see the Cooper Bulldogs advance further in the playoffs than any Cooper baseball team ever. We almost carried Snapper with us. Tatum’s left handed pitcher was 17 – 0 for the year as well as batting over 500. When the smoke cleared however, Coach Koesel and the Bulldogs had beaten Tatum 2 – 0 and captured the area championship.

                  We thought we had all the excitement we could stand but when we pulled in home at midnight, Bret and his friend, Michael “Boog” Worden, fired us up more with their adventure. They were getting ready to go to the Winnsboro rodeo Friday afternoon when a lady a few miles away called to see if Snapper was home and could they bring him over. Hay baling in the river bottom had uncovered several wild hogs in their meadow. Ty Brumfield and Keith Latimer from Sulphur Springs had just shot one with their bow. While the trail was hot they wanted Snapper, Bubba and Roonie to come find the rest.

                  Bubba is still recuperating from his worst ever cut from a big boar about three weeks ago but was ready to go. They got to the edge of the meadow and started to hunt. When they jumped the hogs, all they could see was the chest high grass moving like a big wave in water. The hog broke loose after being caught the first time at the edge of the field. It chased Bret around a tree when he approached to shoot. Finally the bulldogs each got an ear, Snapper got a hind leg, and Bret shot the hog with my model 19, Smith and Wesson, 357 magnum revolver. It field dressed around 200 pounds and was carried to a locker in Sulphur Springs. If Snapper gets to wanting his own private phone line that will be too much.

                  Saturday night after Bret’s graduation, I may head to northwest Georgia to do a few more miles on the Appalachian Trail. Rain kept me from crossing Blood Mountain last June but when I return, there will be stories of this historic place.

 

 

 

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