The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1866-02-06
Remarkable Escapes of Eminent Men.

an overruline Providence
Some years ago young man holding
subordinate position in the East India
Compauy's service, twice attempted to
deprive himself of life, by swapping
loaded pistol at his head. Each time The
pistol missed fire. a friend entering his
room shortly after wards, he requested him
to FIRE it out the window ii then went of
without any difficulty. Satisfied thus that
the weapon had been duly primed and
loaded, this young man sprang up, ex-
claiming, II must be reserved, for some
thing great" aud from that moment gave
up the idea of suicide, which for some time
previously had been uppermost in his
thoughts. That young man afterwards
became Lord Give.
Two friends were on one occasion walk
ing together, when a violent storm of
thunder and lightning overlook them
Oae was struck dead on the spot,the other
was spared; else would the name of Mar
tin Luther, have been unknown to man
kind.
The holy st Augustine, having to preach
at distant town took with him guide,
who, by some unaccountable means, mis-
took the usual road and fell into a by path
He afterwards discovered that bis enemies
having heard Of his movements, had placed
themselves in the proper road with de-
signs of numbering him.
Bacon, the sculptor, when tender boy
of FIVE years old, fell into pit of a soap
boiler, and must have perished, had not a
workman, just enteringthe yard, observed
the top of his head, and Immediately de-
livered him.
When Oliver Cromwell was an infant,a a
monkey snatched him from his cradle,
leaped with him through garret window
and ran along the leads of the house. The
utmost alarm was excited amongst the
inmates, and various were the devices used
to rescue the child from the guardianship
of his newly found protector. All were
unavailing his would.be rsscuers had
lost courage, and were in despair of ever
seeing the baby alive again, when the
monkey quietly retraced its steps aud de-
posted its burden safely on the bed. On
subsequent occasion the waters had well
nigh quenched his Unsuitable ambition
He fell into deep pond, from drowning
in which clergyman named Johnson was
the sole instrument of his rescue
At the siege of Leicester, young SOL
dier, about seventeen years of age, was
drawn out for sentry duty. One of his
comrades was very anxious to take his
place No objection was made, and the
man went He was shot dead while on
guard The young man first drawn af.
forwards became the anthor of Pilgrim E
Progress" .....
Doddrige, when born, was go weakly an
infant he was believed to be dead, A
nurse standing by, fancied she saw some
signs Of vitality. Thus the feeble spark
of life was saved from being extinguished
and an eminent author and consistent
Christian preserved to the world
John Wesley when child, was only
just preserved from fire. Almost the mo-
ment after he was rescued, the roof of the
house where he had been, fell in.
Of Philip Henry, similar instance is
recorded.
John Kuoz, the renowned Scotch Re.
former was always wont to sit at the bead
of table, with bis back to the window.
On one particular evening, without,
however, being able to account for it be
would neither himself sit in the chair, nor
permit any one else to occupy his place.
That very night bullet wes shot in at
the window, ,purposely to kill him,it grazed
the chair in which by usually sat, and
made hole in the foot of a candlestick on
the table.
Many years have now elapsed since three
young subalterns might have been seen
struggling in the water, off St. Helena !;
one of them peculiarly helpless, was fast
succumbing. He was saved to live as
Arthur Wellesley, Duke Of Wellington.
The life of John Newton is but the
history of series of marvellous deliver.
auces. AS youth, he had agreed to &C.
company some friends on board of a mau-
of-war He arrived too late to go; the
boat in which bis friends had gone was
capsized, and all its occupants drowned
Oman other occasion, when tide surveyor
in the Port ofLiverpool, some business had
detained him, SO that he came to his boat
much later than usual, to the great sur.
prise of those who were in the habit of
observing his then undertaking puuctual-
ity. He went cut in the boat as hereto
fore 20 inspect q ship, which blew up just
before he reached her. Had he left the
shore few minutes sooner,h he must have
perished with the rest on board
Nor FRIGHTENED-In storm at sea
when the sailors were all at prayers, ex-
pecting every moment TO go TO the bot |
tom, passenger appeared quite uncou-
cerDed. The eaptaia asked him how he !