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photo by Marcus Frazier
Approximately 24 cattle gather on a knoll near Carthage Point Thursday morning. A rescue attempt, by barge, was made but thwarted by trees and waters that weren’t maneuverable.
Attempted cow rescue unsuccessful
Published Friday, April 11, 2008
NATCHEZ — Early Thursday morning a barge left Vidalia Dock and Storage headed south down the Mississippi to save C.P. Wallace’s cows.
After hours of wrangling with almost every imaginable obstacle the cows could not be rescued from their dry holdout.
Earlier in the week as the river continued its rise Wallace’s cows, in a pasture off Carthage Point Road, moved onto one of the few remaining unsaturated parts of the field.
Photo by Marcus Frazier
Deckhand Adam Purdion stands on the would-be rescue barge. Trees block the path of the barge’s access to the knoll on which approximately 24 cows seek refuge from rising waters of the Mississippi River.
By Thursday morning the cows had massed together on little more than a knoll in an effort to stay out of the floodwaters.
Travis Morace, port captain at Vidalia Dock and Storage, unofficially spearheaded the effort to retrieve the herd.
“We just want to those cows out of there,” he said.
Wallace has been criticized for not moving his herd sooner, but on Thursday he said the Carthage Point Road spot was actually where he moved the cows to from their original location even further down river.
Once Sonny J., the tugboat, arrived at the cows holdout, a simple rescue plan was devised.
The tug was supposed to connect with a waiting barge, already near the cows, load the herd, then transport them to higher ground.
Photo by Marcus Frazier
Travis Morace and Elijah Johnson search the flooded tree line of the Mississippi River for a treeless and deep enough gap to get a barge to a group of stranded cattle Thursday morning.
Elijah Johnson, farmer and longtime friend of Wallace, said the barge was especially well suited for cattle loading since both ends had ramps for easy access.
However an exploratory trip in a flatboat revealed the plan would likely hit multiple snags.
The cows were located on a small patch of ground not far from the actual road.
However the land that normally divides the river from the pasture is covered in trees and not meant to act as a navigable waterway.
Once near the road the cows were easily in sight but not easily accessible.
A barbed-wire fence, under several feet of water lined both sides of Carthage, separating the cows from the barge.
Aside from problems posed by the fence, a utility pole and an enormous well also posed major obstacles.
But problems with the well, fence and pole were not enough to deter the boat’s pilot William Baxter.
The trees and shallow water were.
Baxter was able to successfully ram a couple of unhealthy trees with the tug to clear a path for the barge.
However as Baxter guided the barge into the newly opened clearing shallow water ultimately stopped the rescue efforts.
Morace said the water was simply to shallow for the tug to force the barge the rest of the way to the cows.
In a cruel twist of irony had the water been deeper the tug could have forced its way to the cows.
However it would have likely been to the detriment of the cows.
“We just can’t get to them,” Johnson said sitting in the flatboat as he watched the tug maneuver the barge.
Later Johnson and Morace were able to find a spot further down river where the barge would have likely been able to fit, however it was too far for the cows to swim to.
“The good Lord’s plan is about the only plan left,” Wallace said.
The trip back to the dock was a somber one. “It’s hard when you can see them right there but you can’t do anything,” Morace said.
Wallace said he will attempt to use a smaller boat from the Natchez Fire Department to retrieve the cows on Friday morning.
Comments
Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on April 11, 2008 at 12:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
That's so sad...poor cows....
Posted by bbuseck (anonymous) on April 11, 2008 at 4:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
So sad for the cows, but Mr. Wallace is at fault here not the cows. How can someone with as much experence as Mr. Wallace let the slowly rising river take him by surprise. I know for a fact that he has been moving his cows for years back and forth from below IP. Why all of a sudden he has been caught by surprise seems very strange to me.
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on April 11, 2008 at 4:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Give him a break. Sounds like he's getting along in years. I'm sure he's figured out his mistake by now. Besides, a couple of decent cow hands should be able to swim them out of there. Its on record of whole herds being pushed across the river (not at flood stage) so I'm sure they can be pushed to higher ground. It'll just taking some getting wet. I'm sure the man would appreciate some help and volunteers about now.
Posted by picture_music101 (anonymous) on April 11, 2008 at 6:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yall better save them cows! I guess we all better pray that God can help them! The cows are in my prayers.
Posted by GopherBaroque (anonymous) on April 11, 2008 at 6:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why would god help cows when he/she/it doesn't help starving children in africa?
Posted by flylo (anonymous) on April 11, 2008 at 6:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The price of cattle, No one wants to loose their herd,
It was just a mistake, The cows must have gotten cut off by water that moved around the back side of a ridge they had moved to on there own overnite or something. When you place cattle in a different surrounding they do tend to roam, and check things out so don't jump the gun and blame Mr. Wallace for this, he is in business to raise and sell cows, he doesn't want them to drowned either I am sure
Posted by SayItRight (anonymous) on April 11, 2008 at 7:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Mr. Morace & Mr. Johnson should be applauded for trying to help Mr. Wallace. That is an awful lot of trouble for them to go to and it shouldn't go unnoticed.
Posted by kpage (anonymous) on April 11, 2008 at 7:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm with you, SayItRight. HATS OFF TO ALL THOSE WHO ARE HELPING MR. WALLACE'S COWS.
Posted by redusmfan (anonymous) on April 11, 2008 at 7:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
How sad. I hope they find a way to save the cows so the farmer does not lose his livelyhood.
I hope he finds a wy to save the herd today.
Posted by firered (anonymous) on April 11, 2008 at 8:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree kpage and Sayitright! I am glad that there are people out there who are willing and able to help Mr. Wallace! Guys your efforts have not gone unnoticed! And I'm sure are well appreciated! Thanks for helping! Good luck trying to get them out today.
Posted by emp (anonymous) on April 11, 2008 at 8:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
At least the attempt was made. Now they are going back to try again. Thats great for them. I'm glad they don't work for FEMA.
Posted by frogprincenessntz (anonymous) on April 11, 2008 at 8:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Check out the videos on the WLBT web site. There is one about the rising waters and then you should see in a list on the left one about loose barges. The current, even in the backwaters, is tremendous. No swimming cows in this river or any of its flooded areas.
Kudos to all the men who participated in the attempted rescue.
Posted by lambchop (anonymous) on April 11, 2008 at 9:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I am in agreement here with most posts. The thing about Carthage Point is that it always floods and especially when you know that we would be having high water. Belwood Country Club always flooded too. I don't know much about the area other than that it floods. The high water of 1973 pointed out just how much that area floods. Even remember the old Coast Guard building deep in water. Have not ridden out in that area in many years.
I do feel compassion for Mr. Wallace but a seasoned veteran of raising cattle in that area should have been alert that there would be higher water than usual this season.
Koodos to the men who tried their best to rescue them. I would not want to see anyone try to swim the cattle out because of the underlying currents. Too many people underestimate the power of the Mississippi River current.
And God will be there with his cattle as they are part of his creation. Animals don't have the thinking capacity of us humans and it does state in the Good Book that there will always be those who are underprivileged. There will always be the poor. No one wants to see children starving but that is part of man's undoing - don't blame God. Most of the trials and tribulations of the world has been brought on by MAN or the HUMAN RACE for those who will pick at the use of the word Man. Humans are fault not God! God gives us the brain power and choice and we fail to use either correctly.
Posted by iamnobody (anonymous) on April 11, 2008 at 9:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
ok how bout building a raft like they used to when we had cows,,smaller float made with 55 gal barrels,,small enough to move through the trees, but strong enough to move the cows
Posted by obamayamama (anonymous) on April 11, 2008 at 9:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why do you talk about "God's creation" and "the good lords fate of these cows". Are you people THAT nieve. Look at why a farmer raises cattle. WE EAT THEM! Farmers take them to a butcher shop, they all get lined up, then they are slaughtered so we can barbeque ribeyes on Saturday night!
COME ON!! I mean, I feel bad for the cows in the picture too. But the old man should have considered their fate, he was responsible. If anything, someone should go in there, tie a rope around them, and pull them to higher ground. That would be better than just letting them die. IF they don't die in the process of trying to move them, then take them to where they would have originally wound up, a butcher shop.
Posted by Yeahuhuh (anonymous) on April 11, 2008 at 10:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Obama'smama is right. The cows were always destined for slaughter, most of them are , anyway. Some folks just let em reproduce and live a happy life captives in the field. But where would a free cow go for fun?
I do always wonder if God is going to answer prayers and save things from misfortune, then you gotta wonder what God was thinking when he opened the flood gates.
Then I never went for that idea that God made the earth and left us here to suffer and screw it up. I suspect the Earth and all it's happnins is the closest to God as we will get in our time here. Having compassion for the cows -- that's something else.
Posted by jack (anonymous) on April 11, 2008 at 11:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
keep trying guys no body is at fault the man just needs some help and anyone that can should offer their serivies that is what makes us the miss-lou good people
Posted by obamayamama (anonymous) on April 11, 2008 at 11:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yeah, the people giving their time and effort shows that this is a good community. I hope efforts go okay today, and everyone comes out okay (including the cattle).
Posted by cuzmommasaidso (anonymous) on April 11, 2008 at 12:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I heard that the Natchez Fire Dept. is on their way right now with their rescue equip. and boat to try to help save the cows.
Posted by obamayamama (anonymous) on April 11, 2008 at 12:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
That would be so great if true. Besides, what else do they have to do (when there is not a fire)?
Posted by babev1 (anonymous) on April 11, 2008 at 12:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
you people has a nasty attudite about the police dept and fire dept but I bet there is not one of yall that would have there jobs number is the pay is bad and number two it not all fun and games they but there lives on the line for yall everytime they get a call. As for as the cows go the owner of the cows knew the river was rising so why didn't he move the cow in plenty od time if the die because of the water the owner of the caows should be charged for not taking care of his animals because he knew what could happen to them if they where not moved before the water came up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by lambchop (anonymous) on April 11, 2008 at 12:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I wish I were more articulate in expressing my views. You guys have the perception of God and when your end time comes, you will have to pay for your own unbelief. I do, however, believe in God and the creation. The animals of the earth were each put here for reasons and some of you will never understand. This earth is billions of years old and man has only been on it a few thousand years. This earth has been through fire, ice, warming, freezing, floods, etc. and man has added to the floods. God said he would never send another flood to destroy the world after Noah. Man has cleared lands; built in flood plains, dredged, changed the natural course of rivers -- and we expect miracles to save us from ourselves. God made each race, each kind of vegetation, and all that the earth has to offer. He gave us the ability to think, to make choices, to agree/disagree with one another peaceably, but we seldom listen to him. Your conscious is your God talking to you, your heart listens and serves Him - your mind is yours to listen or reject.
Posted by obamayamama (anonymous) on April 11, 2008 at 12:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What do you mean "bad attitude"? Nobodyu has condemed the PD or the FD. Calm down Babev1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by obamayamama (anonymous) on April 11, 2008 at 12:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
lambchop, if you going to preach, do so on a religious site PLEASE. There is nothing more that I despise than someone trying to shove all this religious mumbo jumbo down my throat. Believe in what you want. But your beliefs in God simply revert to fear in the afterworld. You prove this by stating "You guys have the perception of God and when your end time comes, you will have to pay for your own unbelief".
To be religious is to be selfish. THAT is what I preach.
Posted by ntzslums (anonymous) on April 11, 2008 at 1:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Gopher and obama; be ever so careful of the words you use.....careful indeed.
Posted by rocketman (anonymous) on April 11, 2008 at 1:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Mr. Morace, Mr. Baxter and Mr. Johnson; I firmly believe in my heart that you have a place awaiting for you in heaven. Thank you for having such good hearts as to help those (man AND animal) that can't help themselves.
Posted by rocketman (anonymous) on April 11, 2008 at 1:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
P.S. and I also thank the NFD for their efforts today and everyday. You all risk your lives to help others keep theirs. You too, have a place awaiting you.
Posted by justthefactsman (anonymous) on April 11, 2008 at 1:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
May god be with you brave firemen out in the Mississippi river helping the cows. I hope everything works out and everyone comes home safe.
Posted by obamayamama (anonymous) on April 11, 2008 at 2:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am careful and I do believe in God, not some manmade rules and regulations (aka religion).
Keeping fingers crossed for the cows.
Posted by Hardcorps (anonymous) on April 11, 2008 at 3:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Is it too late to boat over there with a BBQ grill, and a tub full of cool ones? I'd like medium rare please.
Too many people are hugging trees and saving the whales to worry about some moo cows.
Maybe boxley can find an underground railroad for these hamburgers. FREE THE COWS. FREE THE COWS. GOOD GOD ALMIGHTY. FREE THE COWS.
Posted by justthefactsman (anonymous) on April 11, 2008 at 4:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Cows need lovin too!!!! I think the cows need to make the Front Page on Saturday. Although some steaks do sound good right about now. :)
Posted by BurningStar (anonymous) on April 11, 2008 at 4:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I like those cows (that I've never met) more than i like some of the people that live around here. I hope that GAWD SAVES THE COWS.
Posted by lowrider (anonymous) on April 11, 2008 at 4:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Someone say steak, where exaclty are these cows at anyway. lol
Posted by shedevil (anonymous) on April 11, 2008 at 4:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
i just heard the the rescue didnt go good today.the brave men with our fire dept couldnt make it to the cows...the water was too shallow for the boat to get too them...that is such sad news.....i was wondering if an air boat could make it to them.
Posted by brod (anonymous) on April 11, 2008 at 4:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Since the water is too shallow, put preservers around their necks and a ring in their noses and lead them out, THEY CAN SWIM. Please, Shoot them, or get them out, but, don't let them starve or drown.
Posted by babev1 (anonymous) on April 11, 2008 at 4:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
They would not be in this mess if the owner would have moved them in the first place
Posted by shedevil (anonymous) on April 11, 2008 at 4:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
im with you brod...if they cant get the cows out the only humane thing to do is to shoot the cows so they dont suffer anymore.....its not shallow all of the way to the boats...it is deep ditches between them
Posted by terrapin (anonymous) on April 11, 2008 at 6:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Why has no one thought of air lifting them out, possibly by our National Guard here?
Posted by brod (anonymous) on April 11, 2008 at 7:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What makes me sick about this situation is the fact that Mr. Wallace has been through this before. 1973 and 1997. He hears the news just like we do. Why did he not take the assistance when it was offered? He's lost cattle in previous floods and I guess he simply doesn't care. If you are going to raise cattle, horses, pigs, etc., you are obligated to take care of them and I feel he is guilty of being neglegent and inhumane.
Posted by VultureMouth (anonymous) on April 11, 2008 at 8:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Cows are stupid, Hideous, stinking, Snotty nosed, fly infested, giant pile of dung dropping, Methane gas belching, puke chewing, Disease carrying disgusting animals.
I hate Cows I hate Beef I hate Milk I hate Cheese I hate Butter I hate Leather. I don't understand why any human being would even consider drinking the disgusting juice from a cow's dirty teat. It makes me wanna puke to think that somewhere in the world people worship these filthy beasts. Cows are by far the most unintelligent and filthiest animals on the face of the planet!
HOWEVER, if I owned a cow, I would love it, and care for it, and cherish it, and brush it, and sing to it, and give it little treats everyday (Whatever kind of treats a cow would like), Pet it on its head and tell it what a good cow it was. I'd even give it a little birthday party every year, with hats balloons, and a Pinata full of yummy grains. I would name it after the most beautiful flower, if it were a girl. and after the most resilient metal, if it were male. But that's just my Thoughts on the subject.
Posted by shedevil (anonymous) on April 11, 2008 at 9:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
mr wallace should not be able to own livestock again if he cant give better care than this
Posted by runnim (anonymous) on April 11, 2008 at 11:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
To those of you so quick to pass judgement on Mr. C P I'll tell you this: I have known him since early childhood and he is a very caring person, for both his fellow man and animals, and to make comments otherwise is uncalled for.
Why not vent you time and offer help? A 2 ft rise on the Mississippi after it breaks over the banks can cover alot of flat land fast ,overnight even. Cattle are pushed to a high point and have no knowledge that they are not safe. It seems to me that the man involved tryed the safe way first, and knowing all of this men I feel sure they will get the cattle out if it is humanly possible. Blessing to each of them.
Posted by SayItRight (anonymous) on April 12, 2008 at 3:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Raising cattle is a great source of income for your family if done right and also fills up your freezer and those you care for with food that you know is safe. You can keep the same mama cow and she can have several calves in her lifetime, which some can be sold and the money put in the bank for children and grandchildren's education. Or the female calves grow up to have more babies so you build your herd and hopefully manage them correctly. After you've had some of them for a long time, you don't want to part with them because you love them! Those you keep as healthy as possible and care for them until they pass away. We had plenty of them that were born on our farm and never left until the day they died. And they are not all dumb creatures.
You get to know their habits, you see them have babies and you learn their personalities. Some of them are easy-going and some of them like to take the top row of your fence down with them when they don't want to stay where they are. You have to care for their feet if they are in mud alot, give them shots to keep them from getting sick, watch for signs of illness that can spread (pepto-bismol works good on them too when they have......well you know) and make sure they have proper nutrition. You also have to protect them from thieves and spotlighters. We had people kill some of ours in the middle of the night and cut off the hindquarters, leaving the rest for us and the vultures to find the next day. Somebody actually shot one of our horses between the eyes one night. We found her the next day after much suffering. She was a registered QH and had born 4 colts for us. The cruelty of that and the fact that someone would come onto your property and viciously take away or kill something that meant alot to you was eye opening for me.
When I was a child having the responsibility of taking care of those cattle correctly and getting to know them was good for me. It was hard sometimes to see them go to auction but that's part of the business side of it. And...we often ate venison instead of beef even though we had plenty to protect more of our investment and grow the herd. I'm sure we would have made more money on them if we had had less heart for them!
There's alot to raising cattle and it's not easy unless you have help. I hope Mr. Campbell gets the help he needs.
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