Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1871-09-07
Presence Of Mind.

Very much has been written with re-
gard to this important trait Of character
yet adults, as we'll as children, are con-
tinually in every dangerous emergency,
found lamentably deficient. Accidents,
causing death and destruction of prop
erty, will ever occur; therefore, in calm
and tranquil moments we should fortify
ourselves for the hour of danger The
story of John Raynor" impressed upon
life many children apparently drowned.
1t was in the infancy of this periodical
that the account was given, and host of
our present readers Q were not then Its
patrons, therefore I hope to be pardoned
for giving transcript for publication; es-
pecially as it cannot fail to interest our
juvenile friends.
1t was duling the summer holidays of
1S-, said Mr.. Bowers, I had young
friend staying with me and my younger
brother Edward His name was John
Raynor; and how he came by so much in
formation as he seemed to have, I do not
remember that we troubled ourselves to
inquire; but my father, who liked John
exceedingly, said it was from his constant
habit of observation. He was then four
teen, only two years older than myself.
One evening" during the absence Of my
parents, we occupied ourselves with as
sisting our old gardener. The garden
sloped down to a broad river, which Joined
the sea at few miles distance / was
not so busy but looked up every now
and then to watch the beautiful sunset
that sparkled on the water, or the passage
OF boats, and country barges that g)ided
byat int rvals. Suddenly observed at a
short distance, something floating on the
water.
1t is the body of a boy! said John,
and in moment flung off his Jacket and
threw himself into the water. Fortunate
ly, he Was good swimmer and his cour-
age never left him tIn swan with all
his strength toward the floating body and
seizing with one hand the hair, with the
other directed his course back to the shore
We watched eagerly, and the moment he
came within reach assisted him in laying
the body on grass plot. My brother
Edward recognized him as the son of a
washerw0man, cxclaiming, as he burst in
to tears:
"Poor woman, she will never see her
boy again!"
John replied in a hurried tone:
'She may, if we lose no time, and use
the right means to recover him. Edward
run quickly for doctor; and as you pass
the Kitchen, tell Susan to have bed
warmed"
I'VE had better hold him up by the
hecls,' said the gardener, TO let the wa
ter run cut of his mo tn"
"No, no, no!' exclaimed John; "by 80
doing we shall kill him, ifh h. is not al
ready dead. We must handle him as
gently as possible"
When the body had been carried into
the house, the gardener urged John to
place the body near the kitchen fire; but
after little persuasion they yielded to
Johns entreaty, and the body was rubbed
dry, and placed on his right side between
hot blankets, on mattress. The head
was bound with flannel and PLACID high
on pillows, four bottles were filled with
hot water, wrapped in f1annels, and placed
was constantly rubbed with hot flannels
John then took the bellows, and having
blown out all the dust, directed me to close
the mouth and one nostril, while he, by
blowing in at the other, filled the chest
with air; lie then lai aside the bellows,
aud pressed the chest upwards to force
the air out This was done from twenty
to thirty times in q minute, to initiate
natural breathing. All this time the win
dows and doors were left wide open
Edward at length returned without the
doctor he was absent from home. The
use of friction with warm flannel, and ar
titicial breathing continued for one hour
and half and no signs Of life appeared.
John continued his efforts. Another half
hour passed, and to the inexpressible de-
light Of us all. the boy opened his eyes
and uttered u faint sigh.
What good thing it was for the moth
er of this poor boy that John Raynor
once read, ON a framed printed paper,
Rules of the Humane Society for Rtcov-
rring Persons Apparently Drowned"
Better still, that h" had taken pains to re-
member them Every item that we can
CLEAN, calculated to benefit the distressed,
should be treasured in memory's garner
for the hour of Exchange.
Fish have great tcnacity Of life. 1t is
bcliev, d that carp has attained an age of
$50 years, and the pike still greater age
A pike WAS caught in a lake in South Ger
many, in 1927, on which was found ring
bearing this inscription: Il ain the fish
which was first Of all put into this lake by
the hands Of the Governor Of the Universe,
Frederic II, the 5th of October, 1880" 1t
weighed $50 pounds, and was - feet long.