Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-05-18
ALMOST A TRAGEDY.
Henry Alternately Saved At The
Last Moment From Death
By Drowning.

Last Thursday evening a party of
gentlemen from this city went out to
llooser's pond, near the city, 10 seine
for fish In the party were Mcssrs.
II. IL. Alternately, M. ID. Boales, A.
G. B0ales and j. ID. Mcpherson. AT
the pond they met Mr. w. A. Stroube
and one or two others. After max
ing several drags the party conclud-
ed to hitch two seines together and
make drag of about TO feet through
the deep water in the middle. The
men who did tho pulling walked in
the shallow water near the edges.
The seine would frequently catch
near the middle and Henry Aber-
nathy swan in and followed the
seine 10 unhang II. After remaining
in the water thus engaged for some
time, he undertook to unfasten the
seine when 1t was IN very deep water
near the middle. Being somewhat
exhausted he accidentally dipped his
mouth under when he stopped swim
ming and got strangled. In mo-
nent he sank and came up strug-
Cling and uttered a suffering cry
for help. Joel MCPHERSON started 10
his assistance and after being pulled
under twice was compelled to ADAM
don the drowning man 10 save him
self. lie swan out with the greatest
difficulty. just as McPherson's
strength gave out M. d. Boales reach
cd Alternately, who was fast losing
strength and consciousness, aud by
getting behind him succeeded in get
ting his legs over the seine. Mr..
Boales was exhausted by this time
himself and started TO the shore as
Will Stroube came TO where Aber-
nathy was hanging lifeless with his
feet over the seine and his body un-
der water. Boales gave out IN deep
water while trying TO reach the shore,
but his brother Gus Boales met him
and assisted him 70 land. In the
meanwhile Stroube was towing
Alternately ashore and with the help
Of the others got him out. lie was
limp and lifeless aud wholly uncon-
sciousHess. lie appeared to be dead,
but his head was laid down hill and
after the water had run out Of his
mouth and nose, and he had been
rubbed and shaken for As minutes he
began to show signs of life, and in an
hour was able to sit up. BY the next
day he had recovered from the effects
and was able to go about his bust
ness.
The gentlemen who 80 bravely i'm
perilled their own lives to save that
Of their companion deserve the great.
est praise. They all say that il re-
quired their united efforts to get him
out aud that no one of them deserves
more credit than the others.
THE SENSATIONS OF DROWNING.
| Mr.. Alternately was interviewed
and said that he could not tell exactly
how no happened to get strangled.
lie said his first thought was that he
was drowning and after sinking the
second time he gave up all hope. lie
saw Mcpherson could not help him
and saw Boales coming and in his
last frantic struggle succeeded in
hanging one foot in the seine and
then knew nothing more until he
came to life on the bank. His sen.
sations were not those of fear. lie
realized fully that death was close at
hand and wondered If his body would
be recovered. Said he, ~ did not
think Of my bad deeds, but remem-
bered only my good ones and came
TO the conclusion that was pretty
good sort ofa fellow"
al did not Think said he In answer
to question, "what fine item II
would be for the newspapers these
dull times, but l did think about
more different things than ever did
In my life in the same length OF
time
Mr.. Alternately has been busy
receiving the congratulations of his
. friends ever since his rescue. lie is
one Of the most estimable young mer
In the city-but fortunately we dc
not have to write his obituary will
this article.