Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-09-17

FJT ai"stisd8 !
From the St. Paul GlOse.l = |
Alexander May rs the son Of |
Commodore May, Of Excelsior, the |
owner and commander Of two or
three steamers on Minetonka. Hell
is bright, courageous little fellow
Of eleven years Of age, and well 1
known to all the regular patrons Of
the May line of steamers, o'iu
Saturday night the steamer Saucy
Kate made her final trip from ES-
celsior to Wyzata-a distance of
SIX miles-ahd little Alexander
slipped aboard without the knowl-
edge Of his father, the Commodore.
A little before shutdown the Kate
started back for Excelsior, and AL
exsnder kept at the rear Of the
boat, out of the direct runway of
the old gentleman. at the rear of
the Kate is a small gate made of
Stats about three feet SQUARE. at
tached to the safety railway. This
gate can be lifted out, and evident
ly had been, and then set back IN
its place without having been se-
cured. Alexander was gazing at
the beauties OF the sunset with one
eye sternward, and casting thootber
forward occasionally to See if the
old gentleman was coming, and
carelessly leaned against the inse-
curely fastened gate. In a moment
the little fellow vas in the lakew
his gate for support and company,
: while the boat was steaming away
: toward Excelsior with might and
main. He raised his voice but there
! was no response. lie had fallen
, out about half way across from
; Wayzata to Spirit Knob, and hence
was not far from one mile from
shore. The evening was unusually
chilly, while stiff breeze swept the
: bay from the east, rolling up the
white caps in abundance. This
was the situation-the air cold,
waves three or four feet high roll
: ing up their white, featbery spray,
+ the sun sinking below the horizon,
r and an eleven -year-old boy in the
/ middle of the lake with nothing
/ but plenty Of boyish courage and
GOODNESS, and five OF six po3nds Of
J wood between bin and eternity.
d Alexander didn't like to drown but
J. the water grew terribly cold, aAd
d his teeth ohattered. Meantime
darkness was coming on, and It was
> getting terribly lonesome. Tie
/, steamer passed Spirit Knob a9d
l. disappeared from sight Alexan-
i der was a good swimmer, and
o thought he would Leave his frail
= raft and swim for the shore at Spirit
: Knob. lie tried the experiment
/ but his heavy boots aud thick cloth.
/ ing were too much for him, He
7, turned and swan back to bis little
!. ark OF safety, and exercised his weak
: boy voice iii calling for help, No
= body came. The twilight grew ID.
If to darkness; the stars rcrept out in.
y to the sky; the minutes grew into
k an hour. But the shore line melted
4 into the horizon, and still Alexan.
= der was ont in the lake.
= Pretty soon there is the STEADY
3 stroke Of an oar heard in the dis
d tauce, a moment later The voice, O
p man and women, Alexander es
). sayed another eifort-raissd on,
. little hand as high as possible ano
4 shouted for help. The little sailor
l. was safe. DR., Hatch, with a part,
re of ladies, was onroute. for. his cot
" tage near Guile's Grove, and picked
10 + up the little fellow, wrapped hin
!, in warm clothes, and carried hin
~ to his home mile further on
r. aWhy did you not take your heavy
T. boots off, Alex.:7 said the Doctor
NJ eTried to, sir, but every time th'
- gate would let me under" "Well
y why did you not take off your heay.
x coat?" 'Not muohI There was
n dollar in that pocketl" q lf H9a
to "Alex's grit" will long beoth
,b story of the lake, and Alexis memo
!. ry will probably embalm his horri
= Die hours experience Of sixty min
er utes in the middle Of the lake
er But the boy showed good courage
lie, and GOODNESS, and Judgment, didh'
W he? r8~ "a bea
H. a hsper N0sPilaIgH Inl
od San Francisco Bulletin.l e,s t..f...
A resolution was adopted in tn
NJ Board Of Supervisors last evening