Sequatchie River
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| Sequatchie River | |
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 A stream gage along the Sequatchie River near Whitwell, Tennessee |
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| Origin | Devilstep Hollow Cave in Cumberland County, Tennessee |
| Mouth | Tennessee River in Marion County, Tennessee |
| Basin countries | USA |
| Source elevation | 1080 ft (329 m) |
| Mouth elevation | 595 ft (181 m) |
The Sequatchie River is a 116-mile-long (187 km)[1] waterway that drains the Sequatchie Valley, a large valley in the Cumberland Plateau in Middle Tennessee.
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[edit] Hydrography
The Sequatchie River's source is a massive spring which flows out of Head of Sequatchie Spring. It receives the drainage of Grassy Cove, a pastoral limestone region several miles to the north from which the drainage has no surface outlet, through a spectacular series of underground passages. This cave is located in the southeastern portion of Cumberland County, and the water flowing from it is augmented by that of other sizeable springs and small streams, at least one of which provided enough flow for an early textile industry. The stream crosses into Bledsoe County and is at the floor of a valley that trends generally southwestward and is several miles wide. Natives of the area tend to call the portion of the Cumberland Plateau to the west of the valley the "Cumberland Mountains" or "the Plateau" and that to the east of it Walden's Ridge. The Sequatchie Valley is traversed throughout much its length by U.S. Highway 127. The first sizeable town on the Sequatchie is Pikeville. State Route 30, which descends Walden's Ridge into the Valley and then climbs the escarpment back onto the plateau, crosses here.
Crossing into Sequatchie County, the stream flows into Dunlap. Just north of Dunlap, U.S. 127 turns southeastward, beginning the ascent onto Walden Ridge and eventually down into Chattanooga. A set of railroad tracks previously ran along the river from this point, testament to heavy underground coal extraction in years past. For almost the rest of its length the Sequatchie is paralleled by State Route 28. State Route 283 also runs along the base of the Walden's Ridge escarpment for several miles. The river then enters Marion County. The town of Whitwell is just a few miles into Marion County. Below Whitwell at the small community of Sequatchie (also known as Sequachee) the Sequatchie receives the flow of the Little Sequatchie River. At Jasper, which is slightly west of the river, is a railroad junction. East of town is the crossing of U.S. Highway 41 by Tennessee 28, and the bridge over the river. Shortly south of the Interstate 24 bridge is the mouth of the Sequatchie into the Guntersville Lake impoundment of the Tennessee River.
[edit] History
The body of Clfford Carden, Jr. was found under Pickett's Bridge in the lower section of the Sequatchie County region of the Sequatchie River length in 2011. A man looking for cans found a foot which in turn led to the discovery of a corpse later identified as Clifford Carden, Jr. Carden's Chevy Monte Carlo was found completely burned miles away from where his body was found in the Sequatchie River. Reports show Susan Lynette Baker and Thomas Bryan Bettis went on a shopping spree after the murder at the Dunlap WalMart, buying at least $400 worth of items with $100 bills. Reports say Bettis was seen in the WalMart with mud on his boots, which could tie him to the muddy banks of the Sequatchie River. Investigators said Baker and Bettis were also seen inside a Kangaroo convenience store about 2:00 a.m. Thursday with Bettis' clothes soiled with mud. Reports also show that the duo used cash to pay for a room at the Mountain Valley Inn for a three day stay. Once investigators closed in on the couple they went to the motel and collected even more evidence, including a bloody prescription medicine bottle belonging to Carden. Motel owner Mike Patel said Baker and Bettis acted like any other happy couple and he was shocked to learn they are accused of murder.File:SequatchieRiver MU.jpeg[2]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "The National Map". U.S. Geological Survey. http://viewer.nationalmap.gov/viewer/. Retrieved Feb. 16, 2011.
- ^ Apparent Murder Victim Found in Sequatchie River
