The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1873-12-19
a S0MNAMBULISrS ADVENTURE.
A Providence Policeman Rescues
Woman Mired on the Flats.

How brsyeIy Police Officer Tall
man, OF Providence, R. l., rescued
/ wcmsn from death, early on Thursday
morning, is thus described by the
Journal OF that city: "About 2
O'clock yesterday morning, as Officer
Augustus Il. Tallman, Of the Fifth
Police District, was on his way home,
sitter his seven hours beat, he heard
cries of distress in q Woman's voice.
Although technically of duty, he
followed the sound as rapidly as he
could, which led him to the foc OF
Henderson street. Stopping here he
stiu heard the cries Of woman in
distress somewhere out IN the mud
flat=, but could see nothing in the
darkness. Twas time for prompt
action, so lot knowing what he was to
encounter, he sounded his whistle as
sigma! for help in case he should
need it, hastily took off his clothes,
with the exception of his shirt and
hat anu rolled them up in bundle
and laid them on the shore, and, roll
ing his shirt up under his arms,
plunged intO the mGd sud the dark
ness Think OF an excursion in the
cold mud on 3 dark night in Decem-
ber, with no clothes OD, you who
lightly value he services OF the police
msu, or who erjoy so heartily any
stage satire on them. Guided by the
sounds only, which were growing
tsinter, and occasionally shouting as
an encouragement 20 whoever might
he there, the officer kept on his Wsy,
the mud growing deeper and deeper,
and stickier snd stickier, till he found
himself up 10 his waist, his progress
all tne time growing more difficult
and dangerous, ut times causing him
to fea. his own life was In danger.
He could hy ibis time hear the tread
of the officers coming to his aid, In
resp~n nse 10 his whistle; but that was
little encouragement just at that hme-
Finally, after wading long distance,
ne reached woman's head and arms
lying on the flats, her body being
entirely submerged in the mud. He
didn't stop 10 ask questions then, but
cheering her as well as he could, he
succeeded IN letting her out OF the
depths, and the two started shore
ward. The return was at first even
more hazardous than had been his
trip out, Tor now he had two to look
after, hut as the mud grew more
shallow her courage grew stronger,
and their progress easier, and IN due
course OF time both arrived on terra
firms. Here other officers were IN
waiting, vino carried her to the Rich
mond Street Station, where she was
clesned, dried, and warmed. She
gave her name as Mary Quinn, said
she was stopping at the house OF
Michael Kelly, on PIaine street, and
that she went to bed as usual Wednes-
iay night, and the next thing she was
aware of she wss floundering In the
mud, and all her efforts TO get out
oniy served to lead her in deeper.
She thinks she must have got up in
her sleep, put on dress, and walked
out there, waking only when he mud
began 10 chill her through and make
require great effort When
he officers took the woman to the
station they left officer Tallman in
shirt and hat, covered to his waist
with a thick coating OF dock mud,
and his clothes rolled up IN bundle.
His clothes were sll right, but how
would they be it he got into them in
hat condition He would need
new suit sure, which was not to be
thought of in these hard times. His
house wss half mile or so away, SO
ne took his clothes under his arm,
md started for home as he wac
Imagine a stout policeman beating
along the street under close-reeted
top sails, 80 early in the morning.
Aside from the discomforts attending
the situation, there was danger even
in that. Who whOuld recognize hin
in that plight, or believe he was
Police officer? Such q dodging UP
lanes snd Dy-says as he wens
through, when he heard footsteps
(and he did meet sew
eral persons, even at that early hOur)
must have given him some idea of the
feelings o' wroog doers when he gets
after them, so perhaps be can sympa
thizs a little With such in future.
However, az last be arrived home in
safety, and yesterday he suffered no
i'll effects lrOm his adventure.