The Dickinson press., 1889-08-24
BASE l%NGRATlTUDE.
PERSONS SAVED FROM DROWNING
SELDOM SHOW GRATITUDE.

They Often SHOW Fight If Their Hescucr
Has Pulled Their Hair or Scratched
Them-The Popular Fallacy That Death
by Drowning Is an Easy Takin. OF.
1t is Il serious fact that persons res
cued from drowning are generally un-
grateful to their rescucrs, 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 &C great a horror of sucha
death that he detests everything in con-
nection with it. Numerous instances of
ingratitude can be cited. \ man who
was once rescued by Mr.. Story at Prison
Point bridge, in midwintcr, cndeavored
i'll every way for Il year after the rescue
to secure Mr.. Story's place as drawtendcr
of the bridge. y 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 a miserable migrate. Mr.. Story
provided her with IL dress belonging to
his wife. her own having been badly
torn and otherwise damaged when she
fell overheard. She never returned it,
and he las never heard from her since.
NO ROMANCE HERE.
"A MAJ was rescued from drowning
after a desperate struggle near Tuder's
wharf, Charlestown, several years ago,
and to quiet him it was necessary for the
vnIlnn n,an x-.ln it,p,,.,J il, r,., l;,, a.,
strike him several times and plunge his
head under the water. When taken from
the water the man turned upon his
rescucr and demanded satisfaction for
the rough usage he received and started in
to get it. He rcckoned without his host,
however. and got what he dcscrved-a
good pounding.
y 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 rcsuScitatc him, which he
succeeded in doing after a half hours
labor. The boy received two slight abra-
sions on his face, a slight bruise on the
forehead and a scratch OH the neck.
which were caused by the old rough
planks on the wharf. When the boy
was taken to his home his mother, MOTTO
ing the abrasions, asked how he got
them, and being informed, She showcrcd
abuse on the plucky young fellow who
saved her boys life, and to the present
day she has a strong dislike for him.
A young man, drowning in Highland
lake, Norfolk, this state, Il few years
ago, was rescued by a companion, taken
ashore and carried To IL little arbor for
rc%suscitation. He was revived, and af-
terward mingled with the ldcnickcrs in
enjoyment. OF course llo was congratu-
lated on his escape from death, and his
rcscuer WAS praised. lie was informed
of circumstances connected with the nc
cidcnt and rescue, and, hearing the life
saver co%mplimentcd, cnvied him. To-
day this man, brought back, So to speak,
from the portals of the unknown hero
after, detcsts the brave fellow who risked
his life to save him.
Cornelius Roach, the brave ferry hand,
has never but ono received grateful nc
acknowledgement for Il rescue from those
whom he has saved from watery graves. |
Romantic stories sometimes tell of the
hero being rewarded literally by those
whom he las saved, but they arc works
of fiction and not fact. Occasionally |
some one who has been snatched from
death rewards his prcservcr, but these
cases are very rare.
DROWNING A HORRIBLE DEATH.
There is q very popular fallacy that
death by drowning is easy" said a well
known expert swimmer Il few days ago.
81 have ever heard it remarked that it
is 81 enjoyable death: that sweet music
charmsth he senses when
and beautiful scenes present themselves
to view. These ideas concerning drown
ing are absurd. Where they originated
I annot say, but it must have been in
the mind Of some foolish person.
ANY N who has w been rescued
from drowning in an unconscious condi-
ton will agree with me that this sort of
talk is rank nonsense. Once l was in the
water so long that, when rescued, it re-
quired fortv-iive minutes work to revive
me. and ! assure you that my stay UNI
der water was anything but pleasant. In
diving at H%ittinser's wharf. in the
Charlestown district. several years ago.
| got caught between two piles, which
were joined together like an inverted V
| got wedgel in back upward, and was
pretty firmly held there by the strong
ebb current. | struggled hard to free
myself. but my efforts were futile.
held my breath as long as possible, and
tried in every way to extricate myself.
~enleavorrd to swim downward, upward
and straightforward. but it was a use
less waste of strength. My face began
TO grow hot. there was Il heavy pressure
III my head and body: l began to trein-
lie. and WAS forced to cxpel the air
from my lungs. Then | commenced to
smother | knew that something must
ne done and quickly. too, or | should die.
The pressure on my head and body in
creased. | was being ~strangled and
crushed to death. My head seemed to
crack and split into Il dozen pieces.
My whole past life rose before inc.
thought of homo and everything dear
to ne. and a thousand other thoughts
seemed to pour into my mind at once.
J cursed my luck. and also prayed that
l might be freed. realized that death
was upon me-, and wondered what would
come after death. Frightful noises rang
in my ears, which gradually grew to the
volume of the most terrific thunder.
Finally ! relapsed into insensibility.
"When l recovered my senses l was
lying on my back, and there was achok-
ing sensation in my throat. Iopenel
my eyes and found myself surrounded
by q large. gaping crowd. An hour later
/ was moving about all right. I had
been rescued by a sailor after remaining
under the water almost three minutes.
Death by drowning is not easy, and l
hope | shall never have such an expert
ence a.aln."-Boston Herald.
Tho Condition of Blaine.
II spent a couple of hours with him al
his rooms. and if l ever saw a well mar
it was he. He is full Of life. joke. story
and "reminiscences, easily takes tho lead
in conversation and holds II vy;tb ro,;eb