Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1884-04-10

caught their wives and children, and,
throwing them into the water, jumped
after them. Women with babies in their
arms went about piteously begging some
one to save their children. and when
they were pushed or jumped into the
water held their infants high above their
heads. After they were drowned their
quilted skirts buoyed them up, and saw
babies actually trying with their little
hands to catch the dancing light of the
flames in the water.
''The ship grounded at daybreak in
about ten feet of water, little more
than half mile from shore. The water
all about the forward part of her was full
of drowned and drowning people. Many
good swimmers struck out for the shore,
but from all sides the poor drowning
Wretches would clutch them and drag
them down. 4
1.-THE flames drove me off at last. In
the water just beneath me was a strug-
Cling crowd of drowning creatures cling
ing to each ether. Suddenly a space of
about twenty feet cleared instantly by
their sinking out of sight. determined
to Jump, swim toward the stern Of the
boat until out of the reach of the drown
ing, and then make a detour for the
shore. Remembering how used to jump
into the water as a boy when learning to
swim, 1 put my feet closely together, my
arms straight by my side, and plunged
down like wedge to the bottom, with
my eyes wide open. For brief second
saw lying on the bed ofthe lake dead
bodies in all positions. On rising to the
surface l struck out, but to my horror
found my feet bound tightly together.
The band of my drawers had burst and
slipping to my feet had bound my ankles
as securely as if tied. Turning on my
back I carefully disentangled them from
each foot. These efforts greatly ex-
hausted me, but once free, I swan for
the stern ofthe boat until I was quite
clear of all distractions, and then struck
out for shore. One strong swimmer
passed me and spoke some encouraging
words 1 saw others who must have be-
come dazed, SWIMMING back into the
lake.
"I was not an experienced swimmer,
but I had passed, as had judged, nearly
half the distance to the shore when a
deathlike GOODNESS and numbness came
creeping over me. All the life I had
left seemed conferred in my head, which
felt like a ball of fire. I found that was
turning around and around in the water,
now catching glimpses of the burning
ship, to which even yet few human be-
ings were clinging, andnoW on the beach.
Could ever reach it2 Was it worth
while to struggle any longer? Every
chest and lungs. 1t seemed so easy to
die now.
st ceased all efforts and raised my eyes
for a last look at the sky. I was struck
by a peculiar golden haze to the atmOs-
shere, and the air seemed filed with hui
man forms lowering over the drowning.
The air was filed with them, and close
beside me [ recognized my father, broth
er and other friends who have died MANY
years before. They called me by name.
They pressed closely around me, telling
me to struggle on and they would aid me
that my work was not done-that [
could not be spared yet.
GA little strength came back to me. I
remembered that must be more than
half way to the shore. The water could
not be over five feet deep. let myself
down, and felt the sand under me. Aid
ed by my spirit friends, whose hands and
presence were as real to me as any hu-
man touch, 1 crept on my hands and
knees on the sand for some distance, ris-
ing often to breathe. Becoming too
weak for this, with my heavy head con-
stantly falling backward, 1 sank to the
bottom, and drew my body with my
arms nearer and nearer to the shore, ris-
ing to the surface as often as necessary.
A man was lying on the beach, one of
the few who ever reached it. When he
saw me feebly struggling, he crept down
tn the waters edge, and, reaching out
his hands, tried to aid me. 1 slowly
crept up little way out of the water, but
he was so weak that, falling backward, I
would lose my hold and sink again.
"At last was lying on the dry sand.
How good it seemed to lie there, if only
[ need never move again. My compan-
ion spoke roughly yet kindly to me, tell
ing me that it was sure death to remain
there l refused to move, but, being
much stronger, he compelled me to get
up, and, half supporting me in his arms,
dragged me unWillingly along. A farmer
met us and almost carried me across the
fields to low, twO-roOmed log cabin. In
the smaller room, containing two beds,
was at last permitted to lie down. The
long, black neck of bottle was inserted
between my lips, and I drank and drank
until 1t was gently removed. The draught
warmed me.
81 alternated between consciousness
and uncOnciOusness, but remembered
much that passed about me. A large
man with tall hat, blact satin vest, and
heavy gold chain came in and lay down
on the other bed. He certainly had not
been in the water, and wondered if he
had been saved in a boat. A man in the
next room was exclaiming:
Mine Colt! Mine Gott Mine mon
ish is all gone. Mine monish is all gone.
Mine wife is gone, mine son is gone. Oh,
mine Gott, mine monish is all gomez
"Again and again that mournful wall
went up. Then l heard the tall man call
out wrathfully:
Won't some one kill that Id
Dutchman?'
mThan dnzad off onnir, Nhon I