Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1873-08-28
A BRAVE ACT.
A Kentucky Student at Heidelberg Saves
Life and Wins Wife-She is a COun-
tess and Rich.

A Kentucky student at Heidelberg Saves
Life and Wins a Vife-She is a COun-
tess and Rich.
At the gala regatta of the South Ger
man Boating Association at Mannheim,
in Baden, on the 18th of June, there
took place an event which shed consid-
erable luster on American gallantry and
which ended in most romantic man.
ner. On the aforementioned day the
banks of the Rhine were lined with
spectators, among which the South
German aristocracy was fully repre-
sented. just as the crews of four boat
ing societies were speeding past the last
pillar of the new bridge a thrilling
spectacle attracted all eyes. A hand
some young lady, most elegantly
dressed, who had been leaning over the
low railing of the bridge, suddenly lost
her balance and fell into the water,
which was at least seventy-fve feet un-
derneath. Two or three heart-rending
standing near, and then the thousands
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 unfor-
tunate lady, in a voice of agonizing
grief, offered princely reward to who
soever would save his daughter, there
was no response.
ALI at once a tall young man, in the
costume of German student, and wear
ing the gold embroidered cap of the
Vaudal Society, of Heidelberg, rushed
plunged boldly into the water-a leap of
thirty feet. There was loud shout of
applause, and then again a pause of
breathless silence. All eyes were rivet-
ed on the gallant swimmer as he strug-
gled against the rapid current at the
very spot where the lady disappeared.
He -dived down. What a minute of
suspense But all at once heavy bur-
den fell from all those oppressed hearts.
The swimmer emerged from the depth,
and on his arm held the senseless body
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 bur-
den, was drawn into the boats, 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's IS
father took the latter in his arms and
carried her, still in an unconscious state,
! into carriage.
The young hero was Kentuckian
named Clarence Goodwin, law student
at the University of Heidelberg. The
Oldest and most experienced fisherman
on the Rhine pronounced his exploit q
truly heroic deed, and already on the
following morning the Grand Duke OF
Baden conferred on young Goodwin,
who is only nineteen years old, the large
golden medal for deeds of courage and
devotion. But still a greater reward
awaited him. The young lady whose
life he had saved, and who, notwith
standing the terrible shock she had suf
fered, had soon revived, was the only
daughter of the Count of Reigera, one
of the wealthiest South German noble
men. Her father went himself to the
savior of his daughter, and after thank.
ing him in the most touching manner
brought him to the young Countess
The latter thanked young Goodwin witt
tears in her eyes, and said that her life
long gratitude belonged to him. Dur
ing the next few days the two were seer
frequently together on the public prom
enade, and everybody in Mannheim be
ieves that they are engaged to be mar
ried. Courier Journal.