New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-08-23
TEN HOURS IN A RESERVOIR

They were talking about swimming matches,
and mans power OF endurance In the water. one had
inst told OF a race which he five hours in the water
without assistance aud the rest gazing ut him IN
reverent sort OF way when widoyed person near the
group caused all eyes 10 be turned toward Hun by dis
dainful exclamation: " That's nothing"
The group looked expccianty at the speaker ~ much
a. 10 say Can you give us anything bst'eri" The In
truder conscious OF this did notwa for afaIher invita-
T was once in the water for ten hours and not soul
near 10 oncr Inc hclp
"shipwreo.edl" suggested one
Feii oycrbOardF oDseryod nnOthor
"No It neither II was worse than both OF them
well III tell you one night In Aasast several years
ago. sauntering around In Central rars ENJOYING
found mysolf tho reservoir thought u would DO
good Idea 10 go ny and take seAI n ia Ine stone T1
do and soon found comic rtabe scat near the tower.
gt,ed apother' was contemplatvey watching the
smoke curl upward from IT, when my attention was at
traeted by bat hat New directly In mont OF my faco
| and crcled round tho tower near me: IL soon camo
back again however aud made Itself familiar with my
nee ~ N rcw within few feet OF IL IN each circle
closc did come that twice attempted 10 hit 10
with my hand but Of course failed to touch IT, last
hecame IN my ehdoay0rs 10 strike H. and taking
of nv at leaped upon the stone wil hnd walled for
favorable opportunity. 1t came am lae desperate
enort IN reach IL; but doing so lost my balance and
the ne n moment noundering la the rcsorvoir"
Her the speaker ceased for moment, and drew long
' saeniIcm.p" he then continued, "yol know how
@ cona moi climb up the almost perpendicular wall
that inclosed the water But rested myself against the
wall aud raised my voice 10 lts highest pltch called
police are familiar, but % no effect Then finding no
ciaacs of help from that quarter, com noncod swim
my Journey Pretty soon heard the sound OF rushing
| water aud knew that was near the GAM where the
water entered the reservoir Tnis seemed TO oner ray
OF hope to ne and | renewed my o1ertlons' 1 crept
bling sound the water made me SILVER with terror
reached The dan and Rs ws 81 1e co % for %s
preached the opening tae current or nn9wing wate
became too strong for strength ana carried Inc back
toward the middle o. ba ao With The last hone assoyea
soughf the walls again. was now indeed In hopeless
predlcament looked up at tue heavens. and watched
the stars gazing down at me so calmly ana peacefully
They scanned 10 mock as gaZcd AZ them, until act
uay became Indignant But Just then what should ny
over my head that bat tho cause OF al ny misery, or
| one az h mates Ny anger was unDounded and fet
ss IL wond Willingly stay In tho water all night II I
could bnt wiring that bats neck A II conscious OF my
thoughts 1t flew directly toward me, ana began 70 agra
NAMED perfectly quiet for long Time. Inc Dat seemed
more daring at this and approached nearer than
gave II sach fright thasit sweryed to tho right In a
careless way and dew directly against the stone wall
There was dull crushing sound, ana then ~ lash In the
water and the next moment a. had the ueiess Dody Oh
4 What xtl, exclaimed breathless listener.
swell, there wasn't much more SWAIN a. AROUND NO. ana
tall the hours and counted diligently the number OF
times IL struck My strength became nearly exhausted
morning. but %snsgsa 20 n anassr
| aWho rescued mei-why, nobody About hundred
feet from where two small boats were anchored
70 s so%sd Ss na the dark had
Ia just the opposite direction Oi conrse didn't let Y
take long get 10 them and got out OF that reservoir
sAnd now gentlemen, that's worse than being In
Ave hour race, tell you, for the terror that
perienoed that night has made me ton years Older"