Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1859-08-30
g-Sl,inming the Rirer on a lrager.-.A mum

Scanning the Rirer on a 1rager.-A nun
n, t5rougk the city an Node1 4Irtist6 Cos
,. ,,, Wilmer, German, has been
o.. .-aing for some days at the Wharf House, on
, ,r',.r Street, with his wife and child. On
s VA. night he INDUCED his national propen-
s IT, IN the absorption of excessive quantities OF
:..,vi,,,ing beverages. Consequence: drunk.
w., offered TO bet dollar that he could
lin the river without drowning. One of sew
III u,es,s at the Wharf House, took the bet
~. ,ooder will remember that Sunday night
+ r raw and chilly, and that cold stream of
n,,er was not at all inviting. Wilmer Invested
h;,,.sf Of his clothes, even to the buff; scooped
IN handful OF water, shivercd little, plunged
II IKE frog and struck out Justify for the OPP
no,i,c shore. He made some wild plunges, and
t,.,nned the current with the ease and safety
n an ambitious animal until he reached the
middle Of the river, when those on shore heard
:, mu,.ered watery cry for help. Immediately,
boat nut out to the assistance Of the swimmer
In, as il did not reach him until he had almost
reached the other shore, the aquatic Tuetan
scorned the proposed assistance and .'paddlcd
his own canoe" TO the end of his destination.
The boat returned from whence it started and
then twas agreed that Winners clothes should
be r.tainel on this side in violation of the con
tract entered into before his departure Viii
utr sat down upon his launches, when he
reached the land and after waiting a reasonable
tine for the arrival of his harness, concluded
that rather than risk his life in the water again,
Or freeze to death, he had better brave public
indignation and come across the Suspension
Blitge Accordingly he clambcred up the
baak, Fu>hed on TO the bridge, shut his eyes
ard started for the other end. 1t was early in
tie evening and of course the sigh; of man in
pure state of nature, caused decided move
mcnt among the many promenadcrs through
vh.m he passed.
Reaching this end of the bridge, Wilmer,
having fully realized the extent of his offence
vas panic stricken. He started wildly down
Vain street. aud running about square lodged
ntO Eger's alley. Although it was about
shurch time, aud there were good many PEG.
pie on the sidewalk, Wilmer had wide berth.
His rapid progress was not impeded in the
slightest by anything like crinoline. Groom
aF the Leper, room ~ was the cry, and instant
5 the pavement was "all before him where to
choose" officer Scroggins hearing the excite
nent, followed the nude figure, and after a
SPIRITED chase, overlook and captured Wilmer
just before he got to where he had first plunged
into the river After undoing the knots in his
clothes, and arranging the different pieces pro.
petir on his person, lac was taken to Alderman
HHs1ss office, where he was fined ten dollars
.pd costs In default of payment he was con.
Ssasi to thirty days imprisonment in the
co2aty Jail. Wilmer failed to see the justice q
b. arrest and Imprisonment He referred tc
lie primitive state of ancient Adam as pre-
eedent, and thought it was h--ll of free
soahIry where man couldn't 80 naked wher
te had nothing to wear"