Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1875-09-25
THE VICTIM OF WATER
LILIES.
Horrible Situation of Mr..
Frank Wade. of Indianap-
oils. Indiana.
From the Forest and Stream.l

from the Forest and Stream.
An incident which recently be-
fel one of our esteemed contribu-
tors. Mr.. Frank Wade. of Indian
apolis, involved some experiences
of such a remarkable character
that it is deemed worth narrating.
Mr.. Wade is the General Passen-
ger and Ticket Agent of the Indi-
annapolis, Peru and Chicago Rail-
road. He is about 80 years old,
unmarried, good looking, genial,
and popular.
A short time ago, in company
with few friends, he went up tc
Lake Maxincuckee, a small, but
beautiful body of water in Mar
shall county, Ind, on fishing ex-
cursion. He had noticed some
magnificent water lilies in full
bloom along the southern shore OF
the Lake, and one day he conclud-
ed to gather few. Taking row
boat, he had proceeded short dis
lance up the lake shore when he
came to little rivulet not more
than four feet wide. There had
been a heavy rain the day before,
and the inflated rivulet had left
quite a deposit of sand and light
debris along its sides, partially
concealing the character of the
ground, and making smooth and
apparently solid surface.
On the opposite side Of the rivu-
let, a little above where he stood,
there hIoUmed huge water lily
perfect marvel OF beauty. His
lFrank's) soul went out toward it
with true inwardness. Selecting
what appeared to be good land
ing place on the other side of the
little stream, he cleared at a leap
The moment he struck the earth
he felt it giving way beneath him,
and in less than second he was
up to his thighs in q soft mud
His first impulse, of course, was to
get out, but he found he could not
move his legs. Worse than this,
he found that every movement he
made sunk him deeper.
Then the horrible truth burst on
him that he was in a.quicksand. -
The sensation was dreadful. The
mud grasped him like vice. His
legs were helpless, and his feet
seemed to be treading on nothing.
And still he sank. His cries were
heard by two companions, Messrs.
Elliott and Gall, about quarter
of a mile distant on the lake, and
by some instinct they at once took
in the situation. BY this time he
was up to his armpits. The mud
and sand seemed to press him from
all directions. Respiration was
difficult, and his breathing was
growing shorter.
Each breath was drawn with a
distinct effort. He graspei at a
little bunch of grass and held to it
like a drowning man TO life pre-
server. With the other he man
aged to get hoIi Of a small piece
of an old barrel stave, which lay
within reach, and worked that I'M
der his arm. Both these stays
soon failed him, and he continued
to descend. The approaching res
cuers struck bar. In an instant
they jumped out and were drag
ing the skiff over it. 1t was hard
work, but soon done. The life of
Frank Ward was at stake.
In deeper water again, they
rowed to him like athletes. The
boat strikes the land. They leap
out and run TO Frank, bringing an
oar with them. When they got
to him the mud was within an
inch of his mouth. His head was
thrown back, and the back pant of
it imbedded in mud. He was pale
and helpless. With all possible
haste an oar was extended TO him.
He was too weak to grasp it firm
ly, but managed to get it under
his arms, and thus sustained him
SELF Then hope revived. After
few minutes of rest he worked
the oar into such position that he
could seize it with both hands,
and ,hen then the work Of extri-
cation began. Little by little he
managed to loosen his body,
though he could not move it.
Then the boys would work him
back and forth with the oar.
Without describing this process
in detail suffice to say that after
about half an hour OF hard work
he was finally dragged out, leav-
ing his rubber boots behind, the
most exhausted and most beslimed
man ever seen, Pale, weak and
sore, he submitted himself to his
friends, who hastily stripped of
his othes and put on dry ones.
Two or three stiff drinks of good
brandy revived his strength and