The Rock Island daily Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1872-1873, 1873-08-12
Chr 91silg Arsns,
A BRAVE ACT.
Kentucky Student at Heidelberg Saves a
Life and Wins Wife---she is
Countess and Rich
A BRAVE ACT.
From the Louisville courier-Journal.

From the Louisville Courier-Journal
At the gala regatta of the South German
boating association, at Mannheim, in
Baden. on the 18th of June, there took
place an event which shed considerable
lustre on American gallantry, and which
ended in a most romantic manner On
the aforementioned day the banks of the
Rhine were lined with spectators, among
which the South German aristocracv were
fully represented. just as the crews of
the four boating societies were speeding
past the last pillar of the new bridge. a
thrilling spectacle attracted all eyes. A
handsome young lady, most elegantly
dressed, suddenly lost her balance and fell
into the water, which was at least seventy
FIVE feet underneath. Two or three heart
rending shrieks burst from the lips of
those standing near, and then the thous-
ands of spectators, losing all interest In the
race, looked with breathless suspense for
the result of this terrible accident The
poor young lady struck the water heavily
and disappeared at once. The Rhine at
that place is deep and rapid, and when the
aged father of the unfortunate young lady.
in voice of agonizing grief, offered a
princely reward To whatsoever would save
his daughter, there was no response.
All at once a tall young man, in the Cos
tune of German student, and wearing
the gold Embroidered cap of the Vandal
Society of Heidelberg, rushed to the left
bank of the river and plunged boldly into
the stream-a leap of thirty feet There
was loud shout of applause, and then
again pause of GREATNESS silence All
eyes were riveted on the gallant swimmer
as he struggled against the rapid current
at the very spot where the lady disappear
ed He Owed down What a minute of
suspense But all at once a heavy burden
/ fell from all those oppressed hearts. The
swimmer emerged from the depth, and on
his arm held the senseless body Of the
young lady. Another shout Of applause
rang the welkin Now two boats rowed
rapidly toward the pair, and they did not
come any too soon, for the young swimmer
was visibly growing faint, and when he
with his fair burden, was drawn into the
boat, he sank down with utter exhaustion
When the boat reached the left bank, the
young hero was at once the object of fer
vent ovation. while the young woman
father took the latter in his arms and car
ried her. still in an unconscious state, into
a carriage.
The young hero was Kentuckian named
Clarence Goodwin, law student at the
University of Heidelberg The oldest ant
most experienced fisherman on the Rhine
pronounced his exploit truly heroic deed
and already, on the following morning, thu
Grand Duke Of Baden conferred on young
Goodwin, who is only nineteen years old
the large golden medal for deeds of daring
and devotion But still greater reward
awaited him. The young lady whose liti
he had saved, and who, notwithstandin.
the terrible shock she had suffered, hat
soon revived, was the only daughter of tn
Count of Reigera, one of the wealthies
South German noblemen Her fathe
went himself to the savior Of his daughter
and after thanking in the most touching
manner brought him to the young coun
tess The latter thanked young Goodwin
with tears in her eyes, and said that he
lifelong gratitude belonged to him Dur
ing the next few days the two were see
frequently together on the public promer
, ade, and everybody in Mannheim believe
t that they are engaged to be married