The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-02-28
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FLoTsAM AND JETsAM.
The Strange Story of the Disappearance
of a Pony and Her Return.

The Strange Story of the Disappearance
of Pony and Her Return.
In the spring of 1898 Henry Spears.
living some miles below Shreveport,
La, had the misfortune to lose, during
the big overflow which at that time al
most desolated the whole Red river
valley, besides his entire cotton crop
and a few COWS which he had been too
busy to convey to the hills for safety, a
fine young bay mare named Flotsam, of
which he was very fond. Mr.. Spears
made every effort possible to save his
levee, and though he had removed his
family to the high lands at the first rise
in the river he remained himself upon
the plantation. keeping the hands at
work day and night raising the embank-
ment. As Flotsam was his favorite rid
ing animal, Mr.. Spears kept her with
him and was on her back almost con-
stantly.
When the worst came, however, it
came very suddenly, and Mr.. Spears
was standing in the barn door directing
the hands who were inside collecting
sacks which they were to fill with sand
to strengthen the levee. Poor Flotsam,
though, had been left just outside the
lot gate with the bride across her neck,
and what was Mr.. Spears dismay when
he heard the crash of the levee to see
the mare turn upon her heels and run
toward the river as if to meet the in
rushing water. Of course she was soon
lost in the food. Every inch of the levee
seemed to have given way at once, so
sudden was the overflow, and for a
IL
men were prisoners in the barn. Finally
a relief boat from Shreveport picked
them up. but nothing was seen or heard
of Flotsam.
A whole year passed. The return of
spring brought another rise in the riv-
er, and Mr.. Spears. like the rest of the
gallant planters, strained every nerve
to avert the terrible destruction. One OF
two places above him had gone under
early, thus relieving the strain upon his
own levee, and one day as he stood
upon the top Of the big embankment
looking at the whiriing, mad waters
which meant death to so many helpless
creatures, his attention was attracted by
an object floating down stream very
near tbs shore. 1t was nothing strange
to see tossed about in midstream bit
of housetop, wagon body, bed or
a mattress, dead mule, or now and
then lifeless human form.
The object appeared to be alive, but
it was quite close to Spears before he
discovered that it was not one floating
object, but two, and proved to be moth
ing less than bay mare with young
colt clinging to her tail with its mouth.
The mare gave a short whinny and a
toss of her head when she drew quite
up to the lands edge, and when she be-
gan to scramble up the bank, the colt
struggling after, what was Mr.. Spears
surprise to recognize his own long lost
Flotsam coming back to him, bringing
her first foal along. Mr.. Spears named
the colt Jetsam and felt that, after all,
the waters had been good to him.
The most plausible explanation to
this strange occurrence seems to be that,
in floating down stream in the flood of
1898, the mare was washed ashore at
some point where she was we'll cared
for. Later on she was taken overland
up the river and most probably sold to
planter above Shreveport, where she
awaited the water of another overflow
to bear her back to her old home again.
Mr.. Spears made repeated inquiries,
but nothing definite was ever ascertain
ed.-Philadelphia Times.