Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-06-01
MIRACULOUS ESCAPE.

The Fish. Nan, Professor Clarke, Run
Over BY q Steamer and Five
Barges He SWims for
the Shore.
Where is he2 where is that local edi-
tori show him to me; let me see him
and let him see me" we're the words that
cane from the lips OF an earnest face
and a moderately goodlOoking individ-
ual who this morning invaded the sacred
precincts Of the LEDGER editorial room.
That local editor" was duly presented
to the visitor who. after a pause, said:
My dear sir, ] am not drowned; l as.
sure you that l am alive and in good
health, prepared to give one more per.
Torrance at Memphis; eat, smoke, drink
a mint julep or even swallow six pounds
of Madame Vinceut's raviola under wa.
ter in the Mississippi river; it was a
wonderful escape" Thus spake the Wis.
ltor, and the timid writer replied: Are
you really alive, or is this your ghost2
and If so, whose ghost, aud whence
came thy spirit2' Really and serious.
y, now, without any joking, l am alive.
| am not a ghost, and | am alive. You
know / was knocked of the bsat, and
made a miraculous escape. The New
Orleans Times has doubtless been in.
formed that | was drowned" The visitor
was here interrupted, aud then be gave
the following story, which will be read
with interest: my name is Professor ].
G. Clarke, generally known as the man
fish, whose feats under water you have
doubtless heard and read of. Being out
Of money 10 st. Louis, | was too proud
to beg, and determined to do something
in order to gain q support. According.
ly | shipped as laborer on the tow boat
John Porter for New Orleans. Between
l and 2 o'clock this morning, aud just
after the gale that swept over us,
| was aroused from my slumbers
and ordered forward on watch. In
going forward l went too far,
and being somewhat stupid from
sleep stepped overheard. l fell with q
splash, but the cold water made me in.
stsntly realize my condition, although it
was impossible to get from the range Of
the five barges which were in the steam.
er's tow. | however, held my breath and
could feel the muddy bottom Of the
bsrges which were above me. The or.
deal was q terrible one. l had to hold
my breath, and this / did, but not with.
out serious inconvenience. The barges
slowly we're passing above me and | i'm.
agined that the suction was holding me
directly under the barges aud would not
let me get out. Finally the stern Of the
steamer struck my left arm, as you can
see by the scar, and / was then swift
ly carried back. Then the horrible
splash of the wheel reached my
ear and l feared l would be struck
by the arms and stunned, which would
have been equivalent to death. Fortu.
nately this did not occur, for in a few
seconds | arose to the surface aud IN the
wake OF the steamer. | was under the
barges and boat about thirty seconds, as
| counted my pulse or breathing, all ths
time holding my breath. When l arose
at the stern of the boat, l was almost
exhausted, for | had held my breath all
the time, and now was being dashed in
the trough of the waves made by the
wheel. However, l laid on my side and
managed with one hand 10 make what is
known as the life.stroke. l then swan
for a light on the shore, for l knew we
were in sight of Memphis, the lights
from which | could see in the distance.
| made for a light on the Tennessee side,
under the Fort Pickering bluffs. l
landed on a log raft a hundred yards be.
low, and began to cry for help, which
was finally answered by a boat. l was
taken into the skif aud carried to the
boat which belongs to the government
envoy party and anchored there. The
captain treated me with unusual kind.
ness, giving me a suit Of clothing and
showing unusual attention to a destitute
mar. | wal in the water forty minutes,
and had died with cold and exhaustion
had it not been for his timely aid in res.
cuing me from my dreary perch on the
log raft"
This is the account as given by Mr..
Clarke, who was reported to have been
drowned. We assure the public that
this gentleman is alive, and hope the
fact will be duly ehronicled by the New
Orleans papers.
n.nmI W- m I'LL.