The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-09-01
Tales about HEhe FniIa.n

Of escapes, there are one or two mar.
row almost beyond belief, and which
involve stories of skill and bravery we'll
worth telling. Not many years ago a
painter was at work OH Second Sisters
Island, when he fell into the water.
lie was old and weak, and while his
| position was not very dangerous ut first
he soon tioated down and toward mid
stream, when, just as he seemed hover
| ing on the brink, and exactly 30 feet
from 1T, ii contemporary records are to
be believed, lie caught on u rock. How
long would his muscles endure the
| strain? And who would rescue him,
and how? The crowd was helpless u.
til guide appeared with coil of rope.
One end ne left in trusty hands and
WIN Che other he plunged into the boiling
tide. When he reached the poor pain
TOR the OLD mali still held in his hani
the putty knife with which he had been
working. Lie shifted the knife to his
pocket, tied the painter to the rope, and
they reached the shore safely. In lno.
ther case u boatman was crossing the
rver above the falls, when u fop
suddenly came up. lie lost his bear
ings and knew he was drifting to death.
Ills cries alarmed the village, and bells
were rung for him to row toward them
Then al oar broke. His only hope then
lay III paltry little anchor, and a COM
mon rope, Which was, moreover, much
worn. lie examined every foot, nav.
every inch, Of it; he tugged at the knots
at each end. Time and space were
precious, but he could not afford to
make Il mistake. Then he threw it
over. 1t bumped along the stones, and
his heart beat each time it failed TO
catch grip. At last it caught and
brought The boat up standing, while the
tense string throbbeu like tho bass gut
OF harp. For Tie moment it held.
lIow soon would it part? lie shrank
from feeling along tile strands. lie
WAS more afraid not to lest he should
reau Ills fate III the twlne tense and
t"anglng under the current. Inch by
men Ills fingers Travelled to his arms
length. So long rs it held there he WAS
sale. lime and time again through
The long night he did this, but never,
he sad, without heart like lead and
hands qulvering like Il leaf. When
morning uawneu, aS at last it did, he
was easily saved. In another case the
danger to lie, though considerable, was
not lmniAent. ~ tug was towing three
ScoWS, Wnen one went aurIft. With
admirable prompCneSs and address the
Captain OF the lug cut loose The rest of
Ills low and steamed ahead of the drift
ing barge. There he held it by steam
power, and when the others came along
line was passet', the throttle was
thrown dead open, and it was sought
10 make way up stream. But they mad
urltCed fairly within the grasp OF tue
spirit OF the waters, and for a time it
seelle0 he wou.d not lot go his own.
Finally foot was gained, in a few
minutes another, and then the tug of
war was virtually over. AN '.escape'
OF another SORT was that of u murderer.
The Sheriff was behind INN, the river
III front, and only the wires OF the old
| bridge III Lewiston to help him across
Hand over hand he began the passage.
Ills hands quickly blisLered, and tined
they bled. Again and again he rested
his ;,rlIls by ilanylng by his legs. AT
last he reached the opposite bank and
lay painting full all hour before he con-
tlnueu his light. rne feat was cor
talnly Il remarkable one for an amateur