The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1869-09-02
Nearly Drowned by a Water Dog.

THE following curious story is told by 4
correspondent Of Lind and Water, Lon
don magazine:
"The following adventure may serve as
a warning to others Last Saturday took
my first bath of the season i'm the beautiful
and retired pool below the Weir at Odnev,
near Cockham. This pool, like most of
the pools on the Thames, is known to be
dangerous when much water is coming
down, as the undcrcurrants are very
strong, flowing directly back beneath the
upper-down current until they reach the
boarding, which extensively undermined.
AS the water was low, no danger was APP
pretended on this score, even by poor
swimmer out of practice like myself l
had with me q young retriever of very
large breed, a famous swimmer,
whom, unheeding, l left upon the
bank united. While swimming on nv
back, and splashing with my feet, friend
Roilo, thinking doubtless, his master was
in bad way, hastened with all speed to-
wards me; having turned on my breast, |
was then swimming leisurcly away to
about the middle of the pool, which is fif-
teen feet deep. When | felt the dog close
upon me | struck out hard, but could not
get away, his claws scratching my back,
and bobbing my nose under water repeat
edly, till he sent me right under by putting
his paws on my shoulders. When | came
up out of breath and with mouth full of
water at his side, yelled ont as well as |
could, Quiet, Rollor This was heard
above the noise Of the waterfall, and at
tractcd the attention of some gentlemen
near the bridge; bat it failed in its effect
on my poor dog, who, delighted to see
me above water again, began fondling,
and again putting his paws on my shoul-
derS and head, sent me down under water
ever so far. Thinking my only chance
was to dive from him under water, turned
under the water and struck out as fast as
possible, and as long rs could keep un-
der. The bOatman tells me he had seen or
heard none Of this, swimming towards the
other side Of the pool, when turning
round at this moment, neither [ nor the
dog were in sight, and he got alarmed, as
| kept so very long under water. He SAYS
the dog must have dived after me. When
| came up, greatly spent and out of breath,
to my horror the dog was close to me.
Again and again he was upon me. When
| came up the last time, gaSping and eX-
haustcd, hit the dog with all my might
hard on the tender part of his nose, driving
MIN '""y hIiOO vi ioul ydluS. tlcI
struck out for the shore with all my
strength-a race for dear lice-my faithful
dog close at my heels. | touched the
ground with my knees, and with an utter
exhaustion | staggered the two PAGES to
the bank, and fell down with heavng
chest and gasping breath, unable to move,
while my poor dog licked me all over to
show his gladness at my having got out
safe. Having had so narrow an escape of
life, for most likely the dog would have
prevented those from diving after M who
were ready to help me (and whom [ now
beg most sincerely to thank), L think II
my duty to warn others, as few know what
dangerous companion a dog is in the
water, unless, indeed, it is specially broken
in, or swimming with those who, unlike
the writer, are perfectly at home in the
midst of the deep