Elder John D. Holliday's narrow escape from drowning in Bloody River
Published October 5, 2026 at 5:47 AM
Contributed by
Millennial Star Research
While on a mission in Tennessee, Elder John D. Holliday had to cross Bloody River because of heavy rains. His horse became entangled in a tree top in the water, and he was almost drowned, but he succeeded in getting the horse to the shore. They both survived the ordeal and continued the journey.
In Their Own Words
“I had to cross Bloody River, which I had to swim in consequence of heavy rains. While crossing, my horse became entangled in a tree top, and I was almost drowned; but I succeeded in getting him out. We swam to the shore separately. He got to the shore first, and waited till I came out. I got into the saddle, and went on my way in good spirits, and had a safe journey. — Millennial Star 43:26”
Sources & References
The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star (Manchester, later Liverpool, England, May 1840–1970), 27 June 1881 (Vol. 43, No. 26). https://archive.org/details/per_utah-and-the-mormons_the-latter-day-saints-millennial-star_1881-06-27_43_26 (account extracted verbatim from the issue's Internet Archive OCR text; research confidence: high)
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