From Days Gone By, Jan. 31,1925

 January 31,1925.

    The worst flood in Georgia causes more than $100,000 damage to roads, bridges and property owners. Some deaths we're reported and the town of Newton was completely desserted with the exception of the sheriff and post-mistress. Johnson's loss is probably around $10,000. Six bridges were washed away, four of them on main streams. Capt. Wright's gang is rebuilding them as fast as he can.

    Aunt Kizia Thomas, one of the few colored servants of the civil War days, died early Sunday. She was 75 and lived in or near Wrightsville all her life. For 47 years she was the servant of Mrs. J. W. Brinson, Sr. and also a servant for the Headlight. She was considered one of the most faithful colored servants known around here.

    Cold blood oozed out of two fresh wounds on the streets of Wrightville about 5 pm Saturday when two white men opened up fire on each other from not more than 30 steps apart. The deadly pistols, twin sisters, played the game of duel to a close shave on both sides and it was miraculous that with 9 shots fired that only 2 took flesh. The guns were silver 32 Specials.

    Ernest Rich got a pistol ball in the right leg near the hip and was carried to Sandersville hospital. This was the only wound he received. Deotis Heath got a ball hole through the left hand near the little finger, although a bullet went through his overcoat collar and one into his overall jacket, glancing off when it struck a brass button on the jacket.

    Rich is the Sawyer for the Rowland Lumber Co. Heath also works there and they had not been on good terms for weeks. No words had been spoken between them till the shooting began. They met, somebody pulled his pistol first and fired. The other retailated. When hit Rich says he fell in the ditch on his head and emptied his pistol at Heath. Heath says he shot 3 times but not until Rich shot at him 2 or 3 times.

    Rich denies this and says when Heath came up the street from the Rowland Co. office that Heath pulled his gun and fired first. Heath denies this and says Rich shot first. There were eye witnesses if it goes to trial but that is unlikely to happen.

    This all happened across the street from the Crawford blacksmith shops. Rich is a married man. Heath is single. So far no warrants have been issued and the facts are hard to obtain.