The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1889-08-28
A Logman's Romance.

John Prowley, young fisherman whose
good-natured habits have made him pop
ular for many miles along the susque-
hanna river, walked into the Perry eoun-
ty court house the other day and asked
for = marriage license. His face was not
so brown that it did not betay his
bushes when he announced the name Of
his prospective bride, but i Was not be-
cause she had ever been guilty Of wrong
doing that he flushed. The girl WIS Mary
Yerger, and he was very proud Of her
They had lived within ten miles Of each
other for years, but i. was not until the
recent great foed in Pennsylvania that
they we're brought 70 an intimate ac-
quaintance.
John is a carpenters son, and he in
dustriously aided his father 70 provide
for large family by fishing and plotting
fishing parties from the big towns around
the river Most Of his time was spent
along the Susquehanna, near which his
parents lived. When the June food
came, people from all parts of the coun-
try hurried 10 the river to see its sights
Mary Yerger and a boy, son Of the farm
er with whom she lived, loitered on the
waters edge until dusk Of the day when
the water had reached its highest mark.
Few persons had tsrried so long. but she
and the boy forgot the time while look
ing on the swift waters at a boom-log
catcher. lie was standing in a fIail skifF
hooking the big booms with a long pole,
and towing them to the land on the op-
posite side Of the river Boom after boom
was thus secured, and he operated with
such vigorous regularity that it seemed
his strength would soon be exhausted.
lie had just landed one of unusual size,
which took all his strength, and Mary
thought he would rest awhile before go
ing out into the Troublesome waterd
again. But he didn't, and wiping the
perspiration from his brow with part Of
his torn shirt sleeve, he quickly rowed
out and was headed toward a large wal
aut log Before he reached the coveted
prize his boat had been caught between
mas Of the bOoms, which tore it to
pieces like thing Of glass. lie escaped
most miraeulously from instant death by
climbing over the logs and reaching the
water He tried to swim FOR ihe shore,
but it was plainly seen that he was too
much overcome to get even half the dis
tauee. The current was swifl, and he
was beginning to 20 down with it
Mary Yerger knew that he would
drown unless she saved him, for nobody
else was in sight. 1t was perilous at
tempt, but she did not hesitate. She
was not the kind Of woman TO see hu-
man life sacrificed without at least an
effort at rescue, and with almost super
human strength she dragged into the wa
ter a rowboat that had been pulled up on
elevated ground. safe from the rising wa
ter. When she reached the man he was
so nearly exhausted that he could not
climb into the boat without her assist
ance. That night from the same table
at which John Prowiey ate his supper,
Mary Yerger's meal was also taken. 1t
was at Johns home, and the two sat
around the table for q long time, telling
their experience OF the early evening to
Johns parents and their other children.
Mary was always thereafter a welcome
guest at thelProwley home, and John
spent much of his time in her COM
pany.
It was with proud satisfaction that
John related this circumstance while the
clerk was filling ont his marriage license.
John and Mary are married now, and
they expect to get q pretty good start to-
ward housekeeping when the Lumber
mans Exchange Of Williamsp0rt pays
forthe logs which John caught.