The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-02-15
"FLOTsAM' AND 0JETsAM..
The Strange story Of the Disappear
ance of a Pony ana Her Return.
From the PhiIadelnhia rIrnnn


From. the Philadelphia Times.
Shreveport, La, Jan. SO.--In the spring
Of 1898 Henry Spears, living some miles
below this city, had the misfortune to
lose, during the big overflow which at
that time almost desolated the whole Red
river valley, besides his entire cotton crop
and few cows which he had been too
busy 20. convey to the hills for safety. a.
hne young bay mare named Flotsann. of
which he was very fond MIR. Spears
made every effart possible to save his
levee, and, though he had removed his
family to the highlands at the first rise
IN the river, he remained himself upon
the plantation, keeping the hands at work
day and night raising the embankment
As Flotsam was his favorite riding animal
Mr.. Spears kept her with him and was on
her back almost constantly,
When the worst came, however il came
very suddenly, and Mr.. spears was stand
ing 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
lert 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 inrushing water. OF course. she
was soon lost in the flood. Every inch of
the levee seemed to have given away at
ence, so sudden was the overflow and for
whole day and night Mr.. Spears and the
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 river.
and Mr.. Spears, like the rest of the gallant
planters, strained every nerve to avert
the terrible destruction. One or 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 embankfnent looking at the whirl-
ing mad waters, which meant death TO
so many helpless creatures, his attention
was attracted by an object floating down
stream very near the shore. 1t was moth
ing strange 10 see tossed about in mid
stream bit of a housetop, a wagon body,
q bed or a mattress, dead mule, or now
and then lifeless human form.
The object appeared to be alive, but 1t
was quite close to Spear before he discov-
cred that 1t was not one floating object
but two, and proved to be nothing less
than a bay mare with young colt cling
ing to her tail with It's mouth. Inc mare
gave a short whinny and a toss of her
head when she drew quite up to the lands
edge, and when she began to scramble up
the bank, the colt struggling after, what
was Mr.. Spears surprise to recognize
his own long-lost Foltsam coming back
to him, bringing her first foal along Mr..
Spears named the cold 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 well 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 repeat
ed Inquiries, but nothing definite was ever
ascertained. In the mean time Flotsam
and little Jetsam' are the prides Of the
plantation.
Watts-So you don't believe that the
good die young.
Potts-That used to worry me good
deal when ] was a boy, but know better
now.--American Review.
Sunday School Teacher-Is there any
account of an arrest in the Blbles
rested the un.-Philadelphia Inquirer.