Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1849-01-04
THE MAN IN THE RESERVOIR,
BY CHARLES r. HOFFMAN, ESQ.

SnAAAAS e HUFFMAN ES0s
You may see some of the best society
in New York on the top Of the Distribut.
ing Reservoir, any OF these fine October
mornings. There were two or three car
riages in waiting, and half dozen senate
rial looking mothers with young children,
pacing the parapet, as we basked there
the other day in the sunshine watch
ing the pickerel that glide along the lucid
edges Of the black pool within, and now
looking off upon the scene Of rich and
wonderous variety that spreads along the
two rivers on either side.
"They may talk of Alpheus and Are
thnsa," murmured an idling sophomore,
who had found his way thither during re-
citation hours, "but the Croton in passing
over an arm Of the sea at Spuyten devil,
and bursting to sight again in this trunca.-
ed pyramid, beats it all hollow. By
George, too,the bayyon Ter looks as blue as
ever the Hsgean Sea to .Byron's eve, gaz-
ing from the Acropolis! BY the painted
foliage on those crags!-the Greeks must
have dreamed Of such vegetable phe-
nomenon in the midst oftheir grayish olive
groves, orthey never would have supplied
the want of it in their landscape BY en-
broidering their marble temple with gray
colors. Did you see that pike break STRIP
81 did not.''
"Iounds! his silver FIN flashed upon the
black Acheron, like restless soul that
hope yet to mount from the pool"
"Ihe place seems suggestive of fancies
to you?" we observed in reply to the rat
tlepate.
ut is, indeed, for l have done up good
deal of anxious thinking within circle Of
few yards where that fish broke just
now"
"A singular place for meditation-the
middle OF the reservoir.
"You look incredulous. sir-but it's a
fact. fellow can never tell until he is
tried, in what situation his most earnest
meditations may be concentrated. l am
boring you, thought"
"Not at all. But you seem so familiar
with the spot, l wish you could tell me
whythat ladder leading down to the water
is dashed against the stone work in yon-
der corner?''
THAT ladder" said the young man,
frightening at the question, "why, the
position, perhaps the very existence of that
ladder, resulted from my medita,ions in
the reservoir, at which you smiled Just
now. Shall tell you all about them?''
spray do.''
swell. you have seen the notice forbid
ding any one to fish in the reservoir? Now,
J when read that warning, the spirit of the
thlng struck me at once, as inferring moth
ing more than that one should not sully
the temperance rotations flour citizens by
sleeping bait in it, Of any kind; but yol,
probably know the common way of taking
pike with slip moose Of delicate wire.
was determined to have touch at the fell
lows with this kind of tackle.
chose moonlight night; and an hour
before the ediiice was closed to visitors,
secreted myselfwithin the walls ,determin-
ed to pass the night OH top. All went as
! could wish it. The night proved cloudy,
but It was only variable drift of broker
clouds which obscured the moon. had
walking cane rod with me which would
reach to the margin Of the water, and sew
eral feet beyond, If necessary. To this
was attached the wire, about fifteen inches
in length.
Il prowled along the parapet, for con.
siderable time, but not single fish could
| see. The clouds made Pickering light
and shade, that wholly foiled my steadias,
gaze. was convinced that should they
come up thicker my whole nights adven.
ture would be thrown away. Why should
l not descend the sloping wall and get
nearer on level with the fish, for thus
alone can | hope to see one? The ques-
ton hardly shaped itself in my mind be-
lore had one over the iron railing.
II you look around yon will see now
that there are some hall dozen " eeds grow
Ing here and there, amid the assures Of
The solid masonry. In one of the fis-
sures from whence these spring, l plan
ted foot, and began my descent. The
reservoir, was fuller than it is now, and
a few strides would have carried me TO the
margin.o Of the water. Holding on TO the
cleft above, | felt round with one foot for
place to plant il below me. sa.
In that moment the flap Of pound pike
made me look around, and the roots Of the
weed upon which partially depended
gave way, as was in the act of turning.
SIHone's sensations are sharpened in dead
| y peril; as live now, distinctly heard
the bells Of Trinity Ginning midnight, as l
rose TO the surface the next instant. i'm
mersed in the stone cauldron, where
must swim for my life heaven only could
tell how long. ts
am capital swimmer; and this natu-
rally gave me degree Of lf-possession.
Falling as had, OF course had pitched
out some distance from the sloping para
pet. A few strokes brought me to the
edge: really was not yet certain but
that could Chamber up the face of the
wall anywhere. hoped tina. could.
felt certain at least there was some spot
where might get hold with my hands, If
| did not ultimately ascend it.
Tried the nearest spot. The inclination
Of the wall was SO vertical that did not
even rest me 10 lean against it. I felt
within hands and with my feet. Surely,
thought, there must be some assures like