Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-08-29

From the N. Y. Tribune.
They were talking about swimming matches,
and mans power Of endurance in the water.
One had just told of race in which he was five
hours in the water without assistance, and the
rest were gazing ut him In q reverent sort OF
way, when wild-eyed person near the group
caused all eyes to be turned toward him by a
disdainfnl exclamation: ''That's nothing"
The group looked expectantly at the speaker,
better" The intruder, conscious of this, did
II was once in the water for ten hours, and
not soul near to offer me help"
"Shipwrecked?" suggested one.
"Felf overboard?'' Observed another.
"No, 1t was neither. 1t was worse than both
what was ite' chorused two or three.
wen, LII tell yOu One night in August
several years ago, was sauntering around in
Central Park enjoying the cool of The evening
the when
good idea to go up and take seat on the Stone
wall and enjoy quiet half hours rest. This /
seat near the tower. I smoked the cigar up
that had in my mouth and soon lighted an
other l was contemplatively Watching the
was attracted by q bat that flew directly in
front of my face and circled round the tower
near ea me: 1t t soon came back again, however,
New within few feet of it in each circle. So
close did 1t come that once or twice attempted
touch it. At last became excited in nv en-.
beavers to strike 1t, and taking off nv hat
leaped upon the stone wall, and waited for a
desperate effort to reach it; but in doing so lost
my balance, and the next moment was fioun-
dering In the reservoir"
Here the speaker ceased tor q moment and
drew a long breath of relief
"Gentlemen, he then continued, "you know
how hopeless my case must have been. swan
to the edge, but could not climb up the almost
perpendicular wall that inclosed the water
But rested myself against the wall, and raised
ifnI. ia Al. IL.
murder and all the other names with which
the police are familiar, but to no effect. Then
finding nd no che chance of help from that quarter,
commenced swimming around the reservoir
Pretty soon I heard the sound of rushing
where the water entered the re ear ohe Ths
seemed to offer ray Of hope to me, and 1 re-
t newed ID, my exertion | crept along closely to
sound of the water made me shiver with terror.
reached the dam, and then leaving the wall
ma1fully breasted the stream. But is was of no
good, tor as l approached near the opening the
current OF inflowing water became too strong
for my strength and carried me back toward
peated the effort, and th naee Wits With the he
last hope dissolved 1 sought the walls
again; | was now indeed in hopeless predic-
the stars gazing down at me SO calmly and
peacefully. They seemed to mock me as l
gazed at them, until actually became indig-
nant But just then what should fly over my
head but that bat the cause of all my misery,
or one of its mates. My anger was unbounded,
and felt as it l would willingly stay in the
water all night If could but wiring that bats
neck. AS If conscious of my thoughts, it flew
directly toward me, and began to aggravate me
again as 1T did before my mishap. But / re-
manned perfectly quiet for long time The
Dat seemed to become more daring at this and
approached nearer than ever. Suddenly gave
spring out of the water, and gave it such a
fright that it swerved to the right in a careless
way and flew directly against the stone wall.
There was a dull crushing sound, and then a
splash In the water, and the next moment
had the lifeleSs body of my old enemy in my
hands,
What neXt?" exclaimed q breathless listener.
well, there wasn't much more. l swan
around and rested by turns heard clock in
some distant church tell the hours, and counted
diligently the number of times 1t struck My
strength became nearly exhausted before morn
Ing, but managed to hang on
Who rescued your" interrupted another.
"Who rescued me? Why, nobody. About a
hundred feet from where was two small boats
were anchored. Owing to the darkness could
not see them; and, instead of swimming toward
them, in the dark had gone in just the oppo-
site direction. OF course didn't let it take me
long to get TO them and get out of that reservoir
and run for home.
"And now, gentlemen, that's worse than being
In fve-hOur race, can tell you, for the terror
that experienced that night has made me ten
years older"