The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1874-12-24
THE MAN IN the RESERVOIR.
BY CHARLES FENNo HOFFMAN.

You may see some of the best sOciet,
in New. York on the top of the distrib
uting reservoir any of these fine Octobe
mornings. There were two or three car
riages In waiting and half dozen Sena
torial-looking mothers with young chill
dren pacing the parapet as we basket
there the other day in the sunshine-nov
watching the pickerel that glide alon,
the lucid edges of the black pool withir
and now looking of upon the scene O.
rich and wondrous variety that spread.
along the two rivers on either side.
"They may talk Of Alpheus and Are
thusa," murmured an idling sophomore
who had found his way thither during
recitation hours, "but the Croton il
passing over an arm of the sea at Spuy
ten-Duyvil, and bursting to sight again
in this truncated pyramid, beats it all
hollow. By George, too, the bay yondel
looks as blue as ever the Egean Sea to
Byron's eyes, gazing from the Acrop.
oils! But the painted foliage on these
crags! The Greeks must have dreamed
of such vegetable phenomenon in the
midst Of their grayish olive groves, OF
they never would have supplied the want
Of it in their landscape by embroidering
their marble temples with gay colors
Did you see that pike break, sir?"
Il did not"
"Zounds! his silver fin flashed upon
the black Acheron like a restless soul
that hoped to mount from the pool"
"The place seems suggestive of fan
cies to you!" we observed, in reply to the
rattlepate.
cit is, indeed, for ! have done up a
good deal of anxious thinking within a
circle of few yards from where that
fish broke just now "
"A singular place for meditation-the
middle Of the reservoir"
"You look incrcdulous, sir; but it's a
fact A follow can never tell, until he is
tried, in what situation his most earnest
meditations may be concentrated. ! am
boring you, thought"
"Not at all But, you seem to be so
familiar with the spot, wish you could
tell me why that ladder leading down to
the water is lashed against the stone
work in yonder corner?"
"That ladder" said the young man.
Frightening at the question; why, the
position, perhaps the very existence, OF
that ladder resulted from my medita
tIons in the reservoir, at which you
smiled lust now. Shall ] tell you all
about them?"
pray do
"Well, you have seen the notice for
bidding any one to fish in the reservoir
Now, when | read that warning, the
spirit Of the thing struck me at once as
inferring nothing more than that one
should not sully the temperance pota
tions of our citizens by sleeping bait IN
it of any kind; but you probably know
the common way of taking pike with
slip-noose of delicate wire. l was de-
termined to have touch at the fellows
with this kind of tackle.
IL chose a moonlight night; and al
hour before the edifice was closed to Wis
itors l secrcted myself within the walls
determined 70 pass the night on the top
All went as could wish it. The nigh
proved cloudy, but it was only variable
drift Of broken clouds which Obscurct
the moon. l had walking-cane roc
with me which would reach to the mar
gin of the water, and several feet be
yond if necessary. To this was at
tached the wire, about fifteen inches il
length.
81 prowled along the parapet for
considerable time, but not a single hsl
could see. The clouds made flicker
ing light and shade that wholly foilet
nv steadfast gaze. l was convinced
that should they come up thicker m.
whole nights adventure would b
thrown away. Why should ! not &C
scend the sloping wall and get neare
on a level with the fish, for thus alon
can hope to see one?' The question
had hardly shaped itself in my min
before had one leg over the iron rail
ing.
"If you look around you will see no,
that there are some half-dozen weed
growing here and there amid the I'll
sures of solid masonry. In one Of the I'll
sures from whence these spring plant
ed foot and began my descent Tn
reservoir was fuller than it is now, an
a few strides would have carried me
the margin of the water. Holding on
the cleft above, / felt round with tn
one foot for place to plant belo'
me.
"At that moment the flap Of poun
pike made me look round, and the roo1
Of the weed upon which partially d
pended gave way as | was in the act
turning. Sir, ones senses are sharpene
in deadly peril; as I live now, ! di
tinctly heard the bells of Trinity chin
ing midnight as l rose to the surfat
the next instant, immersed in the stor
caldron. where I must swim for my lii
Heaven only could tell how long!
liam q capital swimmer; and tn
naturally gave me degree of self-po
, session. Falling as had, of cour'
had pitched out some distance from Il
J sloping parapet. A few strokes brougl
me to the edge. ! really was not yet &c
tain but that could Chamber UP the f.
of the wall anywhere. I hoped that
could. felt certain at least there VI
some spot where might get hold vii
nv hands, ever If / did not ultimate
ascend it.
~ tried the nearest spot. The inc
nation of the wall was 20 vertical that
did not even rest me to lean against
/ felt with my hands and with my fe'
Surely, thought, there must be son
f,ssure like that in which that ill-omen'
weed had found place for It, root!