Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1850-06-26
The Great Swimmer,

'"~' "S"iu VI Itiu, VI u ti'fC s'u--u'u "-
e stance Of strength and endurance in a horse
than is evidenced in the following incident
!, furnished Us by our friend, Capt. WIN. A
Stephenson, Of this county. In January
last, Capt. Stephenson started South with
J n drove Of mules and horses, ard proceed.
ed with them as far as the junction of the
f Big Warrior and Little Warrior River,
where they form Black Warrior, in Bouni
county, Ala. Here he found the bridge
across Big Warrior-Ite usual crossing
, place-had been swept away by the high
waters, and the ferry boat entirely too
small and lrai! to carry his stock over in
safety. He at once determined to swim
them across as the only means left OF ena.
bling him to proceed with them promptly
to his determination. and hey were accord.
ingly driven into the current. and started
across the river. With great difficulty they
landed safe, with The exception Of large
chestnut sorrel, who probably entering the
stream too low. was swept graduily down
| by the force Of the current till its depth
and rapidly, and the deepness Of the river
bank rendered it impossible TO get him out.
Capt. Stephenson followed him along the
bank for several miles. from half pas: two
o'clock Monday afternoon. until late al
night, when it became TOO dark to see him,
the horse still swimming agains;the current,
and breasting It's whole force with the most
| determined resolution. On Tuesday, Capt.
! Stevenson offered a reward to any one
who would get him ou. alive number Of
the neIghoors watched the gallant swimmer,
but wi,hou, being able to make any Sue
cessfui at,emp, towards his rescue. Seve-
raj times he made towards the bank, but
lis rocky steepness prevented his getting a
fooihold and sent him back TO buffet vainly
against the sweeping current. At one time
heavy piece of floating drift wood struck
his back, and even with this heavy burden
on him, he struggled upward es bravely
bu, as Intellectually as before. The dark.
ness Of the night again hid him from
their view, and none believed thai he could
survive the long and chilling struggle. On
Wednesday morning. however, the watch
ers on the bank again found the noble AMI
NAL, some miles lower down still Nth his
head up stream, and h-avsly contending
with the cold and powerful curreut. Thro'
all that day he maintained his position
agains. the stream, though still carried fur
lher down every hour until towards night,
he neared a temporary island formed BY a
sluce running over the lower grounds ad-
joining it. At this point a worthy old far.
mer Of the neighborhood, Mr.. John Por-
ter, succeeded in turning him towards the
island which, with great difficulty, he sue.
ceeded in reaching. So soon as he saw
him safely landed. Mr.. Porter procured
halter. and at great personal hazard, about
S O'Clock Wednesday night, ,waded through
the sluce. supporting himself by the brush
and underground, until he reached the ISL
and, distance Of some 20 or 80 yards,
from whence he soon returned with the /
gallant "swi,nmer," safely and successful. !
ly, chilled, wearied, and worn down with /
the long struggle from Monday afternoon |
at .! O'Clock, ill Wednesday nigh, c, 8
o'coch: he was hardly able 10 walk, but
the kind care and attention Of Mr.. Porter,
in the course OF few weeks. has perfectly
restored him TO his won,ed energy and life.
Elfty.,hree hours constant struggling. night !
and day, agains: the swelling current OF
such a stream as Black Warrior. without !
food or rest, is an exhibition Of strength .
and endurance which we have never be-
fore known, and which williamson horse,
like Swimmer" we presume, could alone
perform. The fact tina, i, was done is in.
con,eslible.
Capt. Stephenson, the owner Of the
horse, is well known amongst US as gen. !
tleman OF correctness and integrity. whose
statements are both truthful and reliable. |
Resides this. the fact is still further con.
firmed by Mr.. Porter. dir. Alexander, Mr..
Goldsby, Esq. Eufstuttle. and number
Of other gentlemen Of that neighborhood,
all of the highest respec'ahii,y, and eye
witnesses 10 The scene. We challenge Ell !
,ter history or personal experience, else
where. to 5eat it. Capt. Stephenson rode
the horse en- his return home, swimming
several streams with him, and he is now
sound and well, and in as thriving condi-
ton as ever, though the mark Of the heavy
DRIFT wood on his back, and the scars on
his knees from his repeated efforts to climb
the river bank, still remain to prove his
power Of endurance, and rhark bis feat as
one unequaIled by his kind Franklin
Western Weekly Review.
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"A certain degree Of outward prosper
i,y is indispensable to moral culture. 1t
is vain TO expect that the hungry and the
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