The Possum Cop Chronicles
The Texas Navy
In the summer of 1980, as the floodwaters from Hurricane Allen rose, Game Wardens Adolph Catillo and Mitchell Pawlik were called out to a trailer park in Jim Wells County to assist with a rescue. Numerous first responders were already at the scene when the wardens arrived around three that morning. The trailer park was on the other side of the Chiltipin Creek, and the water was too deep to cross with anything but a boat.
Adolph and Mitchell launched a small aluminum skiff off Highway 281 amid concern that the water would soon overtake the bridge. Mitchell was operating the 9.9 horsepower tiller-drive motor at the stern of the boat and Adolph was at the bow. The current was more than they bargained for, and they soon found themselves in a bind.
As they made their way across the creek, the current took hold of the boat and pushed it up against the bridge, crushing the boat. Someone grabbed Mitchell and pulled him out of the boat before it was pulled under. Adolph wasn’t so lucky.
Sucked into the tunnel of raging water beneath the bridge, Adolph was first met by something violently smashing into the side of his head. Tumbling in the water with few options, he submitted to the mercy of the current and tried not to gasp. He thought it was over.
To his surprise, Adolph came out the other side and hit a barbed- wire fence. Holding onto the top wire as the barbs dug into his skin, he took a moment to catch his breath in the raging water and darkness. He didn’t have the strength to hold on indefinitely, so he let go. Swept away immediately, he fought to keep his head above water as he looked for a way out of the current. He hit another fence, but didn’t catch. Finally, he slammed into a tree and held on. Exhausted, he climbed up to a fork in the tree and waited. None of the others knew where he was. They searched downstream. Someone finally spotted Adolph clinging to the tree, but there was no easy way to get to him. Calling in a helicopter or a ladder truck were options discussed and dismissed. The water was still rising. There wasn’t enough time.
A DPS Trooper tied a life jacket to one end of a series of ropes and handed the other end to some men on shore. He then launched himself into the water and made his way down to the first fence. He shouted to Adolph, “OK, partner. We’re gonna get you out of here.” Adolph wasn’t so sure.
After the third throw, the lifejacket drifted down within Adolph’s reach. Adolph grabbed onto it and was pulled to safety. He was taken to a hospital where he spent three days before coming out relatively none the worse for the wear._ In just about every clip of national or local news covering the recent floods in the Texas Hill Country, you’ll see Texas Game Wardens. And just as Adolph and Mitchell did back in 1980, wherever there is a flood or other natural disaster, they will come and work to help in any way they can, at great risk in any conditions for as long as it takes. They share that commitment with all other first responders. What sets game wardens apart is that they are the preeminent law enforcement agency in the state when it comes their access to, and operation of, boats. They are the modern- day Texas Navy.
Horrific things can happen in an instant, and sometimes there are just no words. Pray for those who lost their lives this past weekend; the friends and family they left behind, and all those affected by this tragedy.
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