A Young Hero of the Sound
While canoeing near Tacoma, a young boy risks his life to rescue his brother and a friend from drowning in the icy waters of the Sound.
Israel Elliott, who lives with his parents near Brown's Point, showed great grit and heroism today by preventing his brother John and Glen Cranshet, both aged 9 years, from drowning. Israel is the only one of the three who can swim a stroke. They had put out into the Sound from 'Top' Elliott's fruit ranch in a canoe. Fifty yards from the shore, they fished a plank out of the water to tow. Israel cautioned the others to be quiet and sit still, but Glen got restive and turned the canoe over. John clutched the overturned boat and crawled on top of it. Israel's clothes and heavy shoes were pulling him down, but he refrained from endangering his brother's life by taking hold of the boat. Glen had disappeared, so Israel swam ashore to call for help, but then heard John shout that Glen was surfacing. Israel stripped off his heavy clothing and swam back to the drowning boy, catching him as he went down for the last time. With Glen’s dead weight on his arm, Israel swam back to shore. He carried the limp body of his unconscious companion up a steep embankment to Mrs. Cranshet's door, where, after an hour of resuscitation, the boy regained consciousness.
“Israel then pulled off his shoes and heavy clothes and swam quickly back to rescue the drowning boy. He caught him as he was going down for the last time.”
This harrowing rescue takes place near Brown's Point, an area that has transformed from rural fruit ranches to a bustling residential suburb of Tacoma. The courage of a child navigating the dangers of the Puget Sound remains a timeless theme in the region's history.
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