Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1881-02-21

| Mss French Cuoper, osughter of Richard
| Cooper, esq of this county, bal narrow es-
cape from drowning last Saturday. She lett
her home 10 the ID orniIg With her oousi0. Ta}-
lor Cooper, of Stafford. for lockwood" ford
| ed Great Run at Minter's Mill with safety, snd
| an hour later attempted the ford several miles
up the stream pear MIR. Richard Lakes ou
Waterloo pike where the run usually makes
letter 10 its crossings. The run had. how.
| ever, burst its banks and presented one un-
broken sheet there. The two rode iu. the
| soort to the right, to act ss q break water.
immediately after resohIng the bed Of the ruD,
but saddle skirt deep, the momentum OF the
| waters swept the feet from boih horses, and
partially immersed the riders. Al instant m ore
| and riders and horses we're 81 OF By the resist
les: food towards the pole which lately sup
ported water gate that was then only few
inches above the water level. To clutch the
| pole and avoid being unsested byi was the
inspiration of moment full of peril. Both
riders were successful 10 this, but neither was
able TO MAINTAIN hold. Tne forcs of the wat
or wtenohed loose their grasp and whisked
them away. Miss Cooper with admirable self.
possession, turned her fsc, upward aud main
tained the position of one sf vat. clutchlng on
right and left at eludine bushes for anchorage.
When she had descended the s!rsam more than
o hundred yards she succeeded 10 graspiug the
branch of tree. to which she clupg uutil help,
secured through timely notice given by Mr..
Herrall, the old mail carrier reschsd the soepe
from MIR. Lake's house, some $50 yirds dis
tant. Before help came her peril was made
greater by the upsided efforts OF her escort to
exsrcate ber, aud nothing bus puck aud that
presence of mind which bnde her bold her
breath Whcn sinking ard initiate her lungs on
risipg maintained life. Wnen Jscob Cropp
and Edward Lake arrived. followed soon after
by the two Misses Lake. Miss Cooper was still
grssplpg the brauch that grew % the farther
bank Of The stream, aud her face. (slone visi-
ble,) was rising and faIliog with the unduIating
tide. The fest effort (made by her direction
was to pass ner stick. She clu ched it, but it
slipped from her clilled hand. The x,
| to swim to her proved futile. The three men
as forlorn hope, tuen waded out and formed
| line in the water just below and as close to
ner as possible. When in position they ex.
| b horted her to let loose and foat TO them, but
sho could not be importuneu. She sank and
| rising heard them entrest her to let 90. She
would not and presently sank again Anxiety
wss on tanter. hooks. An instant more and a
heavy substance brushed the person of Mr.
Cropp. Plugging for it, he seiz d Miss 9. by
| the hair and lifted her head ab.vs the waters
ct LIST she WIS rescued, alter being in the water
2O lnutes. In a moment more she was borne
to the shore by he three men there piled with
wins BY the ladies, and then taken 10 the house
OF Mr. Lake where he fnrethC sht of the good
warmed iroas These were used ss good judg-
ment directed, and bsfore DR.. Chiffon arriv ID
| ian hour after the occurrenrp). Miss Corper WAS
almost herself sgan -Warrent)n IndeG.