Daily Yellowstone journal., 1891-01-07
A CHANGED IDENTITY.

am not a brave man, but on one
occasion | acted like one and saved
from drowning a fellow creature.
l had remained late on the pier that
afternoon chatting with some friends,
and when at length we turned to go
we found ourselves almost alone.
Midway toward the shore a slight
noise caused me to look back, when l
saw a man emerge from the shadow of
the pavilion and rapidly run along the
pier.
When he reached the extremity he
hesitated for a III But there
could be no doubt as { his intention
he was about TO throw himself into the
sea
Without an instant's delay flew to-
ward him. shouting TO the others to
follow.
Ny action apparently removed all
reluctance to the final step, for, just as
! came within a few yards Of him. he
suddenly leaped into the waters below.
Hastily slipping down the cross bars
of the pier. | reached the level of the
sea Fortunately. | found. close TO my
hand, a rope used to attach boats to
the pier Selling this. l plunged in
boldly.
am a fair swimmer. and had no
difficulty in reaching the would-be sui
eide. As clutched him by the collar
he made no resistance. lying passively
in the position Of one floating. There
was scarcely a ripple upon the water,
and accordingly he was able to do this
without difficulty.
Holding him thus with one hand /
pulled on the rope with the other until
we Hoated alongside the pier, on one Of
the bars of which | succeeded in seat
ing myself. sustaining the strangers
head between my knees.
After a short interval "a boat, which
had been launched, approached and
took US OF board. amid the ringing
cheers of the crowds which now
thronged the shore.
On landing ny first step was to look
TO the condition Of the man whose life
/ had saved. He was not unconscious,
but seemed dazed and incapable of an
swering the questions put to him. Who
be was and where he lived were eng
mas apparently beyond his powers Of
solution
OF course he could not be left on the
beach in his present state But what
TO do with him} In the difficulty a
generous impulse moved me.
Bring hin TO my rooms, Isaid. Il
will see that he has everything needful
for bis comfort"
Once there the strangers recovery
was singularly rapid furnished him
with a suit Of my vs. clothes, which,
If lacking something in length, amply
atoned for the deficiency by their sur
plus breadth By the time he was COS
TUNED dinner was ready, and at my in
vitation he placed himself opposite me.
l do not wish 10 appear hyPercriticaL,
but truth conpels me TO say that in all
my life / never saw a man a 50 much
or so voraciously as he did that even
ing. When we had finished ] put him
into an easy chair, and taking another
myself offered him one Of my choicest
cigars. He made no pretense Of re-
fusal and proceeded TO smoke it with
the air of a connoisseur.
was curious to discover what his
motives were for the extreme steps he
had taken. but as he did not himself
anude to the subject l felt it would be
indiscreet in me to do 80. Our CONVEX
sation was therefore of lighter import
anceL
Toward 10 O'Clock l rang and or
dered the servant to bring mp the
whisky. On its production | mixed
and offered him a stiff glass Of grog,
which he received with manifest relish.