Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1879-06-19
SWIMMING FOR LIFE.
A Thrilling Episode on the MO
nongahela River.

strong, but not the vigorous man l
was at the time of the events de-
scribed in this story. 1 was reared
OH the Monongahela river. My ear
liest employment was on that stream.
i was a ferrymsn, fisherman,
boatman, a raftsman, and certainly
u swimmer-evel ythlng that did not
call me away from the river. When
the United States declared war
against Mexico / enlisted at Pitts
burg in the Second Pennsylvania
Regiment, and went. l passed
through General Scott's campaign
with hut one slight wound, and it
was an adventure l had near the
City Of Mexico after the lighting
was oyer, that resulted, strange as
it may seem, in big swim in the
Monongahela two years afterward.
One day, while we were quartered at
Buycan, seven miles from the con-
Quei ed capital. /, being a sergeant,
was ordered to take q file of men
and pursue a recA less character,
named M'Cutchin, who had escaped
from the guard house and fed to-
ward the city. He was one of the
worst men in the regim, MT, and had
lately been confined in the guard
house to await trial by court mar
.tial on a charge of murderous as
sanlt OH a superior officer. We
caught sight of the fugitive before
we had gone half the distance to the
city, and he Immediately left the
road ard plunged into adense thick
ct of square mile in extent. We
Immediately scattered through the
bushes in pursuit, and FIVE minutes
later came upon him hiding in a
very thick clump of the chaparal. 1
expected he would run for it on
Geilg discovered, but to my surprise
he sprang out aid rushed upon me
like tiger, fourishirg large knife.
had barely time to club my musk
ct when he was within two feet of
me, and had he been one second
sooner he certainly would have stab
bed me. But with one blow from
the butt of my musket l fellt d him,
and Immediately called for my COM
lanions. They were both within
hearing, and soon at the spot.
''Here he is, boys" said. 1.-THE
rascal made an assault on me with
his knife, and l knocked him down.
Watcn him. Where is that knifeP"
Here it is" said one of the boys,
picking it up.
M'Cutchin had now got upon his
feet ard was rubbing hls head, eve
ry now and then scowling upon me
in a very terrible manner.
''Oh, I'll pay you for this ~ he
finally said.
"M'Cutchin," said I, Sin arrest
ing you, l simply obeyed orders, and
in knocking you down / simply act
ed in self-defense. You know you
attempted to kill me with that knife.
Now / want none of your threats,
or Ill make your case worse than it
is. March him to camp, boys"
We proceeded TO camp, the despe-
rate prisoner all the while glaring
upon me like demon, and repeat
ing muttered threats. He was a
very wicked and revengeful man.
He was soon after court-martialed
and sentenced to wear ball and
chain about his ankle for one month
AID after that to be dismissed from
the army in disgrace, forfeiting all
his back pay. So two months later
he was put on board a transport at
Vera Cruz and sent to New Orl ans.
During the second summer after
my return to tie United States I
was employed as mate of a steam.
boat on the MonoDgahela. She was
a light draught boat called the
Merry, and as the water did not
usually fall low till late in August,
we piled between Pittsburg and
New Geneva nearly all summer-the
distance being one hundred miles.
Occasionally. when there was any
considerable rise in the river, we
ran up to Worgantown, w. Va,
twenty miles above New Geneva.
One rainy evening, when we ar.
rived at New Geneva, we found the
water high enough for a venture to
Morgantown, and the captain decid-
ed to run up.
Just before we left the landing a
Strange man came aboard, stating TO
the cleik that he wished to take a
deck passage to Pittsburg, and ask
ing permission to remain on the
boat while running up to Morgan
town and back, that he might at
once "turn in" and have an un-
broken nights sleep, to which the |
clerk aSSented, the passenger paying
is fare 10 2i.tsbrrg.