Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1885-03-18
Sensation Of Drowning.

In conversation yesterday. Captain
Alba told his experience in the follow
ing words:
81 was . great swimmer in my youth.
In fact, was expert in all athletic ex-
ercises, and swim Of that sort / I'M
dertook at Point Clear was, in my
mind, but an easy pastime. The waves
were rolling moderately high, and l
swan out TO ride them. was having
quite an enjoyable experience when 1
noticed q little fotilla of ielly-fish,
which sped toward mo with great We
locity. knew they had a Very little
movement OF their own and was sur
prised that swept past them so rapid
ly. The thought occurred to me that
perhaps was in the current, and
concluded to turn around and swim
back to shore. l turned, but ut oncs
saw that it was of no use, for made no
Roadway ut all.
".Ah,' said ], you are in for 1t, old
man. You have got out here, and now
you are going to have a 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 L swan leisurely
along, trying not TO exert myself but
then, l thought, Il am not what used
to be; am older and more fieshy, and
out of practice. True, 1 can swim q
long time, but not very long in such q
sea- Then looked all around, and
there was not boat to the seward. l
remembered that in such weather boats
usually sought refuge, and | could not
expect assistance out in the bay; be-
sides. in these stormy hours sharks ap-
preached the shore in hope Of securing
something from wrecks, etc. Il guess
/ am in for it this time said, and
could hear the waters rafting the tune
in my ears. saying. You have come,
you have come. We have got you at
last
81 looked back to the shore and could
see that there was excitement at tho
hotel. held up my hand every now
and then. 1 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.
Unfortunately, that boat seemed to be
manned by people of little experience,
and l confessed, with sinking heart,
that it would not get to me in time.
~ continued to paddle about. and
once in while was forced to gulp in
some water. felt exhausted. but con-
tinued 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 run so fast j feared l
could not make it. At length sounded
for lotion. AS l felt my feet sink it
seemed as If something grabbed them
and pulled me down, slant-wise like a
shot. Down l went and was pulled
and tossed about under the surface. As
L went down l 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. l felt as if some blood-vcssel
would burst unless / got air. / was
down there many seconds. and l tell
you 1T was the most painful moment of
my life. Had / lost my head at that
moment would have drowned without
doubt, but resolved to let the heart
break rather than open my lungs.
JuoI 90 AOoOiubioh W 90 =
way, my head camo again above the
surface, and filled my lungs with air.
al was thoroughly worn out. l
could not stretch my arms, and could
keep up only fluttering of the hands.
l hung slanting in the water and could
barely keep afloat. Just then / heard
the sound of oars in the boat-locks and
saw the brave fellow approaching in
his skiff. lie was rowing rapidly and
skilfully, and managed to swing the
stern of the boat around just in timo
for ME to lay hold of it. attempted
TO climb in. but he, Captain Jet How
ard, said: Don't try that or you will
swamp me. The boat can hardly keep
alive as it is. / replied that l could
not hold on long enough to BIO towed
in. L asked him to tie my wrist to the
boat. He said he could not come to
the stern, for the boat would lose its
head and tbe swamped, and we would
both drown. Then said L. get in
the bow. and will try to climb In. II
l see she Is swapping, will give you
my word of honor, l will let CO. With
that he got on the bow and cleverly
balanced the boat, and 1 slowly, clum-
silly crawled over the stern. l fell for
ward into the bottom of the boat; he
seized the oars and pulled at once for
the shore. 1t was narrow escape.
Captain Howard says I am the only
man who has been in that sink and es-
uIs L.