The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-07-05
THE SENSATION OF DRowNINa.
A Mobile Gentleman Describes His Narrow
Escape.
Mobile Gala ) Register.

Mobile Gala Register.
The sad ending Of the life of young Ed Kelley
recalls to mind that Capt. P. F. Alba came as
near drowning off the Point as any man who
ever entered those waters and escaped to tell the
tale In conversation Captain Alba told his ex-
perience in the following words:
i was a great swimmer in my youth. In
fact was expert in all athletic exercises, and
swim Of the sort undertook at Point Clear was,
in my mind. but an easy pastime The waves
were rolling moderately high, and swan out to
ride them. was having quite an enjoyable ex-
perience when noticed a little hotiila of Jelly
fish, which sped toward me with great velocity.
knew they had very little movement of their
own, and was surprised that swept past them
so rapidly. The thought occurred to me that
perhaps was in current and concluded to
turn round and swim back to shore / turned
but at once saw that it was of no use, for made
no Roadway at all
g All said l. you are in for it, old man. You
have got out here, and now you are going to
have q struggle with the monster. AT first
did not feel concerned, but noticed that the
clouds were gathering and the wind was be-
coming stronger, driving the waves up higher
and, moreover, the night was coming on
Surely / will be picked up said, as / swan
leisurey along trying not to exert myself; but
| then, thought, 1 am not what used to be;
am older, and more ieShy, and out of practice
| True, can swim a long time; but not very long
| in such a sea- Then looked all around and
there was not a boat to the seward. / remem-
bered that in such weather boats usually sought
refuge, and could not expect assistance out in
the bay; besides, in these stormy hours sharks
| approach the shore in the hope of securing
something from wrecks, etc i guess / am in
| for it this time / said and could hear the
waters rattling the tune in my ears, saying,
You have come; you have come. We have got
! you at last
Il looked back to the shore and could see that
there was excitement at the hotei 1 held up
my hand every now and then | noticed that
the people were manning the boats, but
knew that only one boat, the large one near
the pier, could help me in the chop sea. Unfor-
tunately, that boat seemed to be manned by
people of little experience and confessed, with
q sinking heart, that it would not get to me in
time.
II continued to paddle about, and once in
o while was forced to gulp in some water. ]
felt exhausted but continued my fight ]
thought if could reach the spot where the
current and tide met might get foothold long
enough for the boat to reach me, and yet the
water ran so fast feared could not make
it At length sounded for bottom AS let
my feet sink 1T seemed as if something grabbed
them and pulled me down, slantwise like q
shot Down Iwent and was pulled and tossed
about under the surface As l went down
strangled and the most horrible pain ran
| up in my nose and concentrated between my
! eyes, just as you feel when water goes the
wrong way. | felt as if some blood vessel would
burst unless got air. was down there many
| seconds and tell you it was the most painful
moment of my life. Had lost my head at thai
/ moment would have drowned, without doubt
but / resolved to let the heart break rather thar
open my lungs. Finally just as my resolution
| was giving way, my head came again above the
surface, and l filed my lungs with air.
! Il was thoroughly worn out l could not
! stretch my arms, and could keep up only a fut
tering Of the hands. j hung slanting ii tht
| water and could barely keep afoat Just thei
! heard the sound of oars in the boatlocks, ani
saw the brave fellow approaching ia his Skin
He was rowing rapidly and slilfuliy, and man
aged to swing the stern Of the boa
around just in time for me Il
lay hold Of it. attempted 10 climb IN, bu
he, Captain Jet Howard, said: Don't Try that