Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1888-07-21
SOLDIER AND SHARK.

eAA - hOt O<l = kfCat oaEolubU blu DIV AiAi
mer, but also great story teller. Hi
occasional departures from the conven
tional and generally accepted principles
which govern yarn spinning have. It 4
true, cast a slight shadow athwart hi
veracity, but he is nevertheless listened
TO with respectful attention when he start.
out to entertain his friends with relation,
OF his adventures As an oarsman ant
swimmer, however, this renown Is un
dimmed by his aforesaid reputation. tn.
Inspector passes most of his spare time
during the spring and summer at the
Yaruna Boat club house, at Bay Ridge
He Is member Of the club and the happy
owner of one of the handiest and most
perfect rowing shells. When he Is not
ON the water in his pet craft. he Is in the
water In bathing suit. Sometimes,
however. as on occasions of very cold
weather, such as that of the past week,
he goes down to the club house for the
fun of the thing and sits there surrounded
by other members Then he tells stories.
This happened day or two ago. The In
spector had had his dip and had emerged
from the water. He hastily donned his
clothes. carefully brushed his iron gray
hair. glanced at his 500 presentation
watch and sat down among the other
members.
"Was the water cold, Inspector asked
one.
''Coidi I should think it was. It re-
minded me-
Then tho other members drew their
chairs nearer and entreated him to tell
them what the chilly state of the water
reminded him Of
1T reminded me of a very queer and
at.nooc I'D, l-,- Al
The chairs edged little nearer and one
above the noise of the moving Of seats.
"But the story is strictly true, he went
on. "and should not relate 1t II 1t were
not for the fact that there are several
gentlemen living in Brooklyn who were
witnesses Of the events / refer to. One
Of these is Sergt. Holbrook, of the
Central squad. stationed at police head
quarters, and another is Capt. Folk, Of
the Twelfth precinct.
Then followed several assurances that
not q single Vsruna flannel shirt covered
breast that could fora moment entertain
doubt of it.
'tn 1852. began the inspector, 81 Joined
Company E. Of the One Hundred and
6eventy-third Metropolitan regiment 1t
was police regiment, and Holbrook and
Folk belonged to it also. On the 12th Of
December we shipped for New Orleans on
tbs steamer Continental. 1.100 strong
The steamer was pretty crowded. as you
may imagine. and comfort and cleanliness
were at q discount. But perhaps chief
among our discomforts were the plentiful
ness OF salt pork and the absence of seq
water soap or fresh water to wash in
We lived on the salt pork and tried to
wash in salt water with fresh water soap,
and tell you there were a good many
dirty faces and pairs of hands on board
on the second day out. It had been rain
ing pretty hard up to the third day out
from New York harbor, and | was on
duty ON deck, as dirty as the rest, when
we reached the Gulf Of Mexico. As
marched up .and down the deck of the
steamer. which was pitching and rolling
heavily, noticed that the yawls which
hung from the davits were half full Of
rain water. determined to have q wash,
and slipped below and got q towel and
. piece Of fresh water soap. But
/ found it tough job. Just as |
would get my hands nearly into the
fresh water in the boat. as leaned over
the gunwale, the roll of the steamer to
leeward would swing her away from me.
And there had to wait, leaning half over
the side, until the roll tho Sother way
swung her back again. Then off she
would swing again. just giving me time
TO dip my fingers into the rain water.
This went on for some minutes and had
scarcely done more than wash my hands,
SO made mp my mind to make q bold
dash for clean face, | put the soap
down, scooped my hands together and
Tod hs.y 81 81 L.
determined to scoop up some rain water
and throw 1T over my face. The steamer
somehow suddenly stopped rolling for q
few seconds, and began pitching, with
the yawl Just few inches out Of nv
reach. Leaning over the gunwale made
one supreme effort to reach the water In
the yawl- But unfortunately. at that
very moment. the steamer rolled the way
had not expected, and before had time
to express an opinion about it found my
self several fathoms under water. | had
pitched over the gunwale and slipped be-
tween the side of the steamer and the
yawl As soon as | realized the situa-
lion l was impressed with its serious
ness This was as | began to rise to the
surface, which did slowly, and with diff
Guilty. as | had on my full uniform and
heavy pair Of top boots. A storm was
rising rapidly. and the steamer was going
at fourteen knots, SO that by the time
rose to the surface. in trough between
two waves that seemed to be as high as
mountains, | could see nothing OF the
steamer. In another second / was lifted
on to the top of roll. and there saw the
steamer quite distance away. tried to
shout. but my voice failed me, and nv
heart pretty well failed me too. In an
other moment 1 was again on top of
q wave. and glanced toward the ship. /
could just see two or three faces looking
over the side. and judged by seeing some
arms waving that was seen. Presently
saw what looked like large box thrown
overheard, and made up my mind that
it was intended as a life buoy. This re-
viEed my sinking hopes. for / felt that if
they had seen me on the ship and threw
something overheard to me they would
stop her end put boat out to pick me up.
learned afterward that Hoibrook had
seen me fall overheard. and had shouted
out to the man at the wheel:
Man overboardr
"A man named Connor-who, BY the
way. was last week asked to help to
gain admission to soldiers home-was
ON guard ut the time and near the pilot
house. The pilot had not heard the cry,
and kept tho steamer right on her course.
Stop the shipr shouted Connor to the
pilot.
"But he kept right along.
".Stop the ship. sayr again yelled the
man on guard
-'What's the matterY asked the pilot.
"'Stop the ship. or I'll shootr replied
Connor. presenting his rifle. 'McLaugh-
Inns overheard
.t.Whois Mclaughlin but, seeing Con-
nor cooking the trigger. he added. 'Stopi
don't shoot. Stopped she is
while all this was going on Twas buf-
feting with the waves in desperate straits.
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