Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-08-07
BASE NGRATITUDE.
PERSONS SAVED FROM DROWNING
SELDOM SHOW GRATITUDE.

by Drowning Is Easy Taking OH
1t is a serious fact that persons res
cued from drowning are generally I'M
grateful to their rescuers, and seem to
have little appreciation of the desperate
chances taken to save them. The only
explanation given for this strange in
gratitude is that the person rescued from
drowning has SO great a horror of such
death that he detests everything in con-
nection with it. Numerous instances of
ingratitude can be cited. A man who
was once rescued by Mr.. Story at Prison
Point bridge, In midwinter, endeavored
in every way for year after the rescue
to secure Mr.. Sto1y's place as drawtender
of the bridge. A woman whom the
same brave man saved from death and
cared for during several weeks of sick
ness brought On by her involuntary bath,
proved miserable migrate. Mr. Story
provided her with a dress belonging to
his wife, her own having been badly
torn and otherwise damaged when she
| fell overheard She never returned it,
and he has never heard from her since.
NO ROMANCE HERE.
A man was rescued from drowning
after desperate struggle near Tuders
wharf, Charlestown, several years ago,
and to quiet him it was necessary for the
young man who jumped in after him to
strike him several times and plunge his
| head under the water. When taken from
| the water the man turned upon his
! IL &c fn,,
the rough usage he received and started in
| to get it. He reckoned without his host,
| however, and got what he deserved-a
good pounding.
A little boy was saved from drowning
at the same place by the same person
shortly afterward. When the wharf was
reached he was unconscious, and the life
saver tried to resuscitate him, which he
succeeded in doing after half hours
labor. The boy received two slight abra-
sions on his face, slight bruise On the
forehead and a scratch on the neck,
which were caused by the old rough
planks on the wharf. When the boy
was taken to bis home his mother, MOTTO
ing the abrasions, asked how he got
them, and. being informed, she showered
abuse on the plucky young fellow who
saved her boys life, and to the present
day she hes a strong dislike for him.
A young man, drowning In Highland
lake, Norfolk, this state, a few years
ago, was rescued by a companion, taken
ashore and carried to a little arbor for
res,iscitation. He was revived, and af-
terward mingled with She picnickers in
enjoyment. OF course he was congratu-
lated on his escape from death, and his
rescuer was praised. He was informed
of circumstances connected with the ac-
cident and rescue, and, hearing the life
saver compiimented, envied him. To-
day this man, brought back, so to speak,
from the portals of the unknown here
after, detests the brave fellow who risked
his life to save him.
Cornelius Roach, the brave ferry hand,
has never but once received grateful &C
acknowledgement for u rescue from those
whom he has saved from watery graves.
Romantic stories sometimes tell of the
hero being rewarded literally by those
whom he has saved, but they are works
Of fiction and not fact Occasionally
some one who has been snatched from
death rewards his preserver, but these
cases are very rare.
DROWNING a HORRIBLE DEATH.
'There is q very popular fallacy that
death By drowning Is easy" said well
known expert swimmer a few days ago.
81 have even heard it remarked that it
is an enjoyable death; that sweet music
charms the senses when death approaches,
and beautiful scenes present themselves
to view. These ideas concerning drown
ing are absurd. Where they originated
I cannot say, but it must have been in
the mind of some foolish person.
ANY one who has ever been rescued
from drowning in an unconscious condi-
ton viii agree with me that this sort of
talk is rank nonsense. Once | was in the
water SO long that, when rescued, it re-
quired forty-iive minutes work to revive
me, and assure you that my stay I'M
der water was anything but pleasant. In
diving at Hittingef's wharf, in the
Charlestown district, several years ago,
got caught between two piles, which
were joined together like an inverted v
l got wedged in back upward, and was
pretty firmly held there by the strong
ebb current. | struggled hard to free
myself, but my efforts were futile. I
I'D my breath as long as possible, and
lied in every way to eXtricate myself.
endeavored to swim downward, upward
and Straightforward, but it was a use
less waste of strength. Ny face began
to grow hot; there was heavy pressure
on my head and body; began to treln-
BILE. and was forced to expel the air
from my lungs. Then l commenced to
smother. / knew that something must
be done and quickly, too, or l should die.
The pressure on nv head and body in
creased. 1 was being strangled and
crushed to death. My head seemed to
crack and split into a dozen pieces
Ny whole past life rose before me.
l thought of home and everything dear
10 me, and thousand other thoughts |
seemed to pour into my mind at once.
I cursed my luck, and also PRAYED that |
might be freed. | realized that death |
was upon me, and wondered what would !
come after death. Frighfful noises rang
IN my ears, which gradually grew to the |
volume of the most terrific thunder. |
Finally / relapsed into iusensibility.
W hen / recovered nv senses was |
lying on my back, aud there was a chok- |