The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-07-10

the time when he scared above the
clouds, hanging to trapeze that took
the place of the balloon basket, and put
on clothes over his tights and spangles,
amid the darkness and cold ''up where
the thunder sleeps" Was it custom
hardening. or was it absence of knowl-
edge OF fear? / love better to recall
him as type of absolute physical
courage. reassuring his more or less
nervous comrades with his absolute
collectedness and self-poise.
One other illustration. When Paul
Boyton, during his solitary VOYAGE from
the ice-gorged Allegheny to the mouth
of the mississippi. was about to enter
the latter river at Cairo. went to the
waters edge to bid him God-speed. OF
all the tens of thousands assembled on
the shores l was perhaps the only one
he could call personal friend, another
accompanying correspondent having
hurried ahead to greet him at port
further south. The intrepid Cap
tains of the Western rivers, who
one and all admired him with that uni
versal appreciation which Americans
have for pluck" had, without excep-
ton. warned him against entering
1.-The Father of Waters" Whirlpools.
malaria, mighty flows" of empty
barges stretching almost from shore to
shore, and other dangers, were empha-
sized in their pleadings. Those whose
skilled eyes had for weeks of solicitude
watched nightly for the tiny signal
light said: "You have proven yourself
You have voyaged the length of the
Ohio. Tempt not the Mississippi.
Therefore | looked. and looked in vain,
for evidence of hesitation. There was
no change. Possibly the farewell grasp
of the hand was warmer than it was
wont to be. but it was only the clasp of
good-felIowship tor longer parting
than usual That evening | overlook
''the voyaGer" on a steamer. The boat
''slowed up" just ut dark, and the col
ored deck hands. to whom he was an
awe-inspiring. mysterious being, hand
ed him provisions He rested on his
paddles and looked. as we left him in
the cleaning. like one of the drift logs
tina: surrounded him. Everywhere was
waste of yellow waters, with low,
marshy banks. and naked trees stand
ing out against bleak sky-no sign of
human life anywhere within his sight or
knowledge except upon the boat whose
disappearing lights he saluted with
bugle blast "a CHEEKY as if he did not
present, as the night closed in around
him. as lonely picture as ever was
seen by mortal eye.
Now again this nerve might have
been the creation of habit, one of the
mightiest factors of human life, and
the limits of whose forces have never
vet been measured. if indeed they are
measurable: but, as in DonaldsOn's
case, the record meets this claim. and
witnesses tell us of a more striking
though it was his first adventure at sea
and he was yet lad. Board ng an out
bound steamer from New York, he was
about to Jump overheard to test his
rubber suit, at a point twenty miles
from the coast, when he was halted and
ordered below by the commander. Dur
ing the outward voyage Bovton's
pleadings and arguments overcame the
shippers scruples and he pledged a
sailors word that the young adventurer
would be allowed to go overheard when
"Castinet Light " was sighted, eighteen
miles from the shore of Ireland. When
the eventful night came the sea was
sobb ng with coming storm The COM
mander endeavored to dissuade the
young American from his purpose, only
to be reminded of the sailors word
that had been given. The steamer lay to.
and after ii farewell to all, amid cheers.
1.-THE man in the rubber suit spranG
into the ocean. A signal light he was
to flash to prove that he had safely
cleared the ship failed him. but he cried:
'.All right, go ahead" and soon lost
the sound OF the departing paddles amid
the quickly rising gale.
In that nights memorable storm
many gallant vessel went down, but
a man without physical fear and with
settled purpose in his heart, armed
with frail paddle, and clad in life
saving armor, reached the rocky coast
of Ireland, exhausted but alive it was
a twelve hours struggle amid
monster waves that ut tines
concealed all things but the zenith, and
against whose fury merchant
navy was helpless. The strong arms
did much. but heart to which fear or
despair was stranger did more. Such
hearts sent men from dizzy heights at
last to their deaths; down TO their graves
through the whirlpool rapids. and the
world cries out upon ''foolhardiness."
while in secret it applauds, for tho
deeds are those of the same splendid
physical courage that sent Donaldson
and poor Grimwood upon the bosom of
the storm: up into the awful region
.'where the thunder sleeps."" Louis
u ShnnnLnosslt IN (Micnnn E,r,r.,,lf