The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1901-06-13
Baby and Cradle Borne on the Flood.

One of the most remarkable finds in
the drift of therecent devastating food,
one suggestive Of the story of ''Moses
and bull-rushes, " aud one which rivals
Frances Hodgson Burnett's story of
the "De Willoughby Claim, is report
ed from Fall Branch. Washington
county in letter received recently by
W, A. J. Moore from his parents who
live some eight miles from the Hols-
ton river at the point where Neither
lands Island divides the river for a
distance of fifty miles. This island,
by the way, was almost washed out of
existence, and though once fertile
stretch for farming, is now a barren
waste. When the food began to man.
ifest itself, people began to assemble
ON the banks of the mighty river,
watching the houses, barns, dead cat
tie, parts of bridges, fences and other
debris come down with the rushing
tide. In the long sluice between the
island and the bank most of the drift
took its course. All of the watchers on
the bank saw some object coming down
that looked very much like cradle, in
the distance. One of them, James
Light, was sitting in his boat anchor
ed on the bank and saw the cradle at
the same time as the others. At the
risk of his life, and to satisfy his curl
osity and with the hope that he might
be instrumental in saving a life, he
showed his boat out into the mad cur
rent and was skillfully guiding his boat
ont Of the way Of the swiftly running
drift, towards the little cradle, rocked
on the bosom Of the storm swept river.
With great difficulty he reached the
cradle and to his JOY and horror, he
found in the cradle, with her big eyes
wide opeu, little girl babe, unframed
by the flood. 1t was Joy to find the
infant and be given the opportunity tC
rescue her from certain death. 1t wal
a horror to realize the responsibility o.
saving her life that then rested upor
him. With prayer to One who calm
ed the sea and who guided the food
and was watching over the little ont
drifting in the cradle, James Light
disregarding the risk to his own life
swung his boat alongside the cradle
and lifted the little one, cradle and all
into his boat. Now was the dangerous
time, to get the boat back to shore. III,
worked manfully, and though the tasl
ct times seemed impossible of accom-
plishment, he was finally successful
reaching the bank far down the stream
from where he had left the waters edg,
on his perilous mission.
The watchers on the shore had seel
his every move and had early guessed
the nature of his find and in their inter
est had followed on shore to the plac,
where light made landing. Profus,
were the congratulations he received
great was the wonder mystery that sur
rounded the little child, which was ly
\ ing in its cradle, cooling in its childish
glee, now that smiling, if tear stained
faces were bending over the cradle
James Light was the proudest man il
Washington county. He carried tn,
infant to his home, where he has be
come very fond Of the little girl. Their,
were no marks Of Identification on Ell
ther the cradle or the child's clothin;
by which it might be identified. Jas
Light has decided to advertise his find
but declares $1,000 couldn't buy tn
child from him, even though he is
poor man, made poorer by losses il
the food. OF course he will turn tn
child over to its parents, if they cal
ha foun6 Tonw,,o1 onJ Tr;h,no