SAD ACCIDENT.
BROTHER AND SISTER DROWNED.
HEROIC CONDUCT OF A BOY

The recent rains that caused the “big rise” in the rivers and creeks in North Georgia, flooded Rome and washed away fences and mill dams and caused two creeks near Rockmart, in Polk county, to overrun their banks and sweep off all before the surging stream.  The two creeks united.  Near the junction, on the farm of Col. Seaborn Jones, was a small wooden house inhabited by Mrs. Moore, a widow lady, and her children.  The house was situated near the bank of the creek.  In rear, and between the house and a neighbor’s, was an old slough, made by some former rise in the creeks, but passable on all ordinary occasions.

The water above the confluence of the two streams carried away several mill dams, and came down in a huge wave at night.  The noise made by the mad, roaring, foaming current aroused Mrs. Moore.  On going to the door, to her astonishment she found the water in the yard, and apparently rising with great rapidity.  Not pausing to think, but dreading being carried away, in the house, down stream, she sought safety in flight.  But the slough was filled with a stream of water, pouring down with great velocity.  Over on the other shore was the house of a neighbor. If she could reach that, she would be safe.  Her oldest boy, a lad of some 13 or 14 years of age, being an expert swimmer, thought he would swim across and secure assistance for his terror stricken mother and children.  He made the effort, but his little sister, who did not wish to be left behind, clung to him.  The brave boy essayed the bold and dangerous task of trying to cross with his sister clinging to him.  A gentleman on the other side shouted to him to go back, that assistance would be rendered.  But the din of clashing waves and roar of turbulent waters prevented the heroic boy from hearing the shouts.  The current bore him down with frightful velocity, and in a few moments the spirits of brother and sister emerged from their earthly caskets though to them “death’s cold flood” – to rise upborne on angel wings to that “Land of Pure Delight” where floods and droughts are unknown.  The grief-stricken mother remained, the waters soon subsided, and the bodies of the brother and sister were found on the banks clinging together.  As the drop of dew upwards flies from out the morning blossom, when touched by the early sunlight, so these two souls passed to the glory of the skies.

“They will think that they sank to slumber
On a beautiful balmy even,
To wake on a lovelier morning.
To find that the earth was Heaven.”

While Affection and Devotion and intrepid Courage are canonized, the brave conduct and heroism of this widow’s son will live in history. –Atlanta Constitution.