The Washingtonian., 1845-06-21

"From grave to gay, from lively TO severe"
From the Southern Literary Messenger.
ANDERSON HEPBURN.

in the steamer Pocahontas, which plies on the
Potomac between Washington and Aqua creek,
the point where they are transferred from the
steamer to the cars for Richmond, should they
observe the persons on the wharf at Alexandria,
where the beat stops for about three minutes,
will generally sec tall man, six feet three
inches high, Of muscular proportions, mulatto,
who has something to do with the transfer of
the way-mail. At other times he may be seen
with his horse and cart, ready to serve those
who have occasion for the conveyance Of heavy
articles from one point to another A person
casually noticing him would not perceive any
thing to distinguish him from other cartmen
that might happen to be engaged in their hum
BILE employment about the wharves, unless,
indeed, his unusual height should attract a
passing glance. But there is no man in that
whole region like him. Many men work as
hard, many make more money, some men are
as tall az he, many may be as good natured in
temper and as benevolent in feeling, but no
man can compare notes with him in the matter
Of saving human life in one Of the most alarming
ertremities aOhich falls to The lot Of naan-that
Of drowning. If he be not, by his first nature,
amphibious, he has appended that quality to it
SO completely as to cause it to deserve the
appellation of second nature. The water and
the land, the sea and the shore, are to him the
same for all practical purposes. He can stand
in water, walk in it, lie upon it as calmly as an
infant in the cradle, with his face towards the
clue arch above or towards the green depths
beneath can swim in any position and in any
direction; can plunge deeper into the aquatic
abyss, and live longer in the neither element,
than any other man. If fany other man doubts
this, let him make the attempt with him. His
name is ANDERSON HEPBURN.
When Anderson was boy, on certain oc.
casion he started to go into the country; coming
10 a bridge that spanned sheet of water Of
considerable width, the toll for crossing which
was, think, four cents for foot passengers, he
suddenly recollected that his pockets were des-
titute of money. Being resolute, he instantly
determined to overcome the obstacle by draw
ing, like others in difficult exigences, upon the
resources Of his own genius. Disrobing his
person and consolidating his garments in one
compact bundle, he lashed them with his sus-
penders to his head, and, plunging into the
creek, was soon on the opposite side, much to
the amusement Of the gate-keeper. Having
accomplished his business he returned and
recrossed the water in the same way. Such
are the triumphs Of genius Byron might
write better poetry than Anderson, but with
all his Tablespoonful achievements he must
have yielded the palm to him in swimming.
The Hellespont would be but an inconsiderable
bathing tub for such swimmer when his boy
sh limbs had expanded into the stalwart pro-
portions of a six-footer. Then, all fearless,
could he lay his hand on oceans "mane" and
listen to its roar, as one. overjoyed with such
majestic music. What would not Napoleon
have given for few regiments Of such men in
his German campaigns!
Expert swimmers have prided themselves
much on the skill and power with which they
have sported with the "yesty waves" but
where are the trophies of their art! To sit
like the swan on the crystal lake, or sail like
the nautilus on the tempestuous deep, "trust-
ing to the bllows and wantoning with the
breakers" may be a graceful and enviable dis
tinction, but confers on no man the character
of utilitarian. A fine distinction it is, and
something to boast of. but with our hero these
qualifications are not, as with your fancy SWIM
mer, an end, but only means to an end. That
end is the salvation of human life. Anderson
Hepburn has rescued nineteen human beings
from drowning!
Happy is that man or boy on whose person
his vgllant eye alghts amid the perils of the
submerging process. With the instinct Of a
noble humanity he plunges into the water, no
matter how deep or how gusty, and snatches
the scared, screaming, painting, trembling VIC
tim from the grasp of the destroyer. He never
pauses to deliberate, to consult probabilities, to
hold "parley with unmanly fears;" he forgets
there is such being as himself; imagines no
dangers, and seems to take it for granted he
has commission TO save all who need this
particular kind of help. How few can give it !
1t must be instant relief or none; and he is
the man for instant action. How many fond
hearts has he filed with gratitude to overflow.
ing Who can forget such deliverer? On