Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-09-08
Mrs. Burnett's Courageous Act.

HEROINE IN FACT.
From the New York Times
Mrs. Frank Hodgson Burnett, the
we'll known novelist, appeared in new
character at Long Beach, on Friday,
when she saved the life of Mr.. Larz
Anderson, the executor of the Long
worth estate in Cincinnati. The story
OF this brave act cannot be better given
than in the words of the heroine her
self. who thus told it to reporter yes.
terday:
"Mr. Anderson and his wife came to
the hotel on Thursday. ! did not know
them very we'll before, but when That
Lass o. I.owrie's' was Yublished Mr.. An.
ederson wrote me a most kind letter,
one that was very pleasant to get.
During the day Mr.. Anderson, his wife
and myself were together almost all the
time and we became great friends. |
had not been we'll for some days and
Mr.. Anderson proposed that we should
take bath before breakfast, as he
thought one would give us an appetite.
Accordingly on Friday morning Mr..
and Mrs. Anderson and went down to
the bathing houses. 1t was so early
that the bath men were not there, and
and we could see no one except our.
selves upon the beach. Mrs. Anderson
did not intend to bathe, and when
came out ready for the water | saw Mr..
Anderson coming at the same time
down towards the bridge over the
creek. The water at this creek is some.
times quite deep and sometimes quite
shallow. Ii varies with the tide, you
know. Mr.. Anderson went out on the
bridge and dived Off | have always
been nervous when | see people diving,
because some years ago some of my
friends lost a brother who broke his
neck plunging into shallow water, and
| have never got over the eifec: which
their grief had on me. To this day,
when | see n gentleman dive | almost
hold my breath until see him come
up. Well, when Mr.. Anderson dove
oil the little bridge, his wife and were
standing on the shore. He did not
come up for a moment, and when he
did his face only came out of the water
as far as his chin. lie said in q horrible
tone, oh, God 2 and his wife called out,
what is the matter, Larz; are you
hurtT He made no answer, but began
TO sink again. Mrs. Anderson started
of at once, screaming for help; but
there was no one there. Then | ran
into the water and pulled him on shore.
The water was not deep; not more than
three feet | should think, and | did
not know what else to do except to get
him out of the water as quick as posi-.
BILE. He looked horrible, his head hung
over, and was afraid he was dead. |
carried him up on the shore and laid
him down, and then Mrs. Anderson
came with some men she had found
and they carried him up to the hotel
"Mr. Anderson tells me that he was
perfectly conscious all of the time and
knew what he should do, although he
was utterly unable to do anything. 1t
must have been horrible for him TO
realize that he was sinking and not able
to step the few feet necessary to make
him safe. The only thing | am sur
prised at is my being able to carry him,
for he il a heavy man and ! am not
very strong. DR.. Morton attended him,
and to-day. am glad to say, he is much
better. His arms and shoulders hurt
him, but ne can move them, although
with some pain. II is a wonderful thing
that he is not more hurt than he il,
and we are all very thankful that it has
not turned out to be a very bad acci.
dent"
Mrs. Burnett, who is Of rather slight
figure and does not enjoy robust health,
hardly seemed to realize in telling this
story that she had done anything at all
out of the ordinary run.
Dr. Morton, the physician in charge OF
Mr. Anderson, said, when asked about
the case "Mr. Anderson is suffering
from slight wrench OF the spine and
q severe strain OF the cords and muscles
OF the neck and shoulders. When he
struck. the head was thrown violently
forward, the neck being bent very sud.
denly. This is the origin Of the strain.
There are no symptoms OF paralysis,
nor do | anticipate any trouble of that
kind. He is much better to-day, and
hope to see him out in few days.
The water in which he dove could not
have been more than three feet deep,
and it is wonderful thing that he did
NOT break his neck -