The weekly standard., 1870-07-06
From Death to Lifc-A Man ;SYashed
Overboard-Sixtecn Hours Floating on
a J0ist-Final Safety.

From Death to Lifc-A Man ,Washed
Overheard Hours Floating on
a Joist-Final Safety.
In a recent issue, says the Cleveland Hlr
dtd OF the 25th instant, we made note of
the supposed loss OF man from the lunl-
per barge Susan Ward, in tow with two
others, during the storm of Monday night
pearch having been made for him, the only
chance OF his being alire seemed TO be in
the possibility of his having been picked I'D
BY some passing vessel and carried to an
other port. The Surprise Of the crew can
well be imagined when the missing man
appeared to their Vision in the cabin of the
barge in this port they were atflinner on
Wednesday. Not s'oHg alter he favored our
sanctum with call, knowing we would,
from our interest in sailors, be glad to
know Of bis safety.
This is his narrative in brief: Between
one and two o'clock of Tuesday morning,
when about twenty five miles off this port,
during a heavy blow, portions of the deck
loads oflumber of the three barges in tow
OF the steamer Dubuque were washed over
board, and James Melcdy. one of the crew
OF the middle barge, Susan Ward, went over
with them. The darkness, the wind and
the heavy sea prevented exertions being
made to look for him at the time, He was
a swimmer, and made for the tow line of
the after barge, Merrimac, but the swashing
aboutof the foating lumber and the surging
of Tic line eoS1pelled him to let go and rely
upot ths iorissEte This, too, although IT.
afforded him support, compelled his being
jammed and knocked about to such de-
gree that if he had not been strong and
hardy he must have been obliged to let go
from sheer exhaustion. Happily he was
tough, and a swimmer beside. His expert
cnce and observation had taught him that a
broad board was harderto manage in sea
than small one, and he accordingly, as
soon as he could see, picked out a joist
about ten inches wide and twelve feet long.
With this he showed clear of the mass and
gave himself up to drifting. By this it Is
not to be supposed he had nothing to do
but to keep hold and float quietly along
upon the surface of the water. The sea
was, as We have said, heavy and broken;
the joist would roll, and his hands would
have to ply lively to enable him to keep
hold at these times it would rear itself up
liShC, anu again ucW SYSTEM Vi idCtlCS
had to be adopted, and so he struggled du-
ring the long hours from the time of his
gong overheard at 1 o'clock OF the morn
ing till of the afternoon, when he reached
shore The water was cold, and the risk Of
cramp was added to his perils He had the
foresight, as soon as he conld to get off his
heavy outer clothing and put himself in as
free condition for easy action as posi-
bic. About IL o'clock Tuesday forenoon
he got sight of land. He was then drifting
towards it, but in few moments the wind
changed and he commenced drifting away.
Again the tickle wind shifted and set him
towards the shore. This time he deter
mined not to be entirely at the mercy of the
wind and current, and by swimming availed
himself of the aid of the elements
He is much bruised, being, as he says,
stiff, and black and blue all over" The
escape from drowning is wonderful, and is
clearly owing to his strength, hardihood,
and his being able to swim. An ordinary
la an6Sua n would IN n OH tedlv ho un hoap Ioct