The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-08-08
HE WAS TOO FAT TO DROWN.
Adventures of Ferdinand Schiller
Who Cannot swim Nor Sink.


Who Cannot swim Nor Sink
From the Philadelphia Inquirer.
NEW YORK, Aug. 5.-The remarkable
adventures of Ferdinand Schiller en- route
from South Beach TO this city last night in
dicate that il ever there was a person cor
rectly named it is this unusual navigator of
the waters. Schiller weighs sos pounds,
and when II Is as hot as it was yesterday
exudes moisture aud readily becomes SOM
nolent. He went to South Beach yesterday,
as usual, to get cooled of.
He started for home from there on the
steamer Thomas Morgan at $50 o'clock
last night, and as he could not very well sit
on a camp stool he spread himself out on
the guard-rail aft. where he famed himself
with his hat until there was a sudden lurch
OF the vessel and away be went over the
side into the briny deep. No one saw him
go over, apparently, for the Morgan did
not stop.
Finding himself alone in the water, Mr.
Schiller prepared to die, as he could not
swim. and he saw not the slightest chance
OF succor about him. Much TO his aston
ishment he did not sink. He had often
heard that a drowning man goes down and
comes to the surface Of the water three
times before he goes to the bottom for
good. He counted the time when he fell
off the boat and went under the waves as
one, but he did not go under a second
time. Then it began to dawn on him that
the fat which had heretofore been the bane
Of his existence was now acting as life
saver for him, and he could not sink.
great joy took possession of bis large
Teutonic soul, and he laughed aloud in ex-
ultent glee. There he lay on his back rising
and falling with the action of the waves
like some lnanimate life buoy only now and
then, when he felt equal to the EXERT n,
shrieking, "Hellupp After being an hour
in the water he concluded that he was good
for all night, and he settled himself out
comfortably to sleep.
Now, IL happened that the lookout on the
steamer Eliza Hancox, coming from South
Beach, sighted him through his night glass
and sang out: "W hale ahead"
"Where awayT' shrieked Capt. Post.
dead ahead, but think it is several men
rolled up together"
Capt. Post at once lowered and manned a
lifeboat, and with a will the sailor pulled for
the mystery" When they came up with
it Mr. Schiller raised himself on bis elbow
and calmly explained his predicament.
II can't swim. L can't sink. Take me
into the boat"
1--WE can't; you would upset it" the sailor
explained, and then they threw Mr.. Schiller
a line. at the end of which he was placidly
towed to the Eliza Hancox. There a new
difficulty arose. They could not get him
aboard. If they attempted to pull him up
the side he would surely upset the vessel.
Finally Capt. Post had block and tackle
rugged, by means of which Schiller was
swung on board. Then he tainted, after
being nearly an hour and half in the
water. Restoratives were applied, and he
was all right by the time the CITY was
reached. The directory gives his residence
as 1873 Stanton street, and his saloon as at
159 Norfolk street. He was taken to the
former named place, where he was found
to-day none the worse for his voyage yes
terdaY