Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-08-15
AGAINST HIS WILL.
A WouId-Be Suicide Is Bravely
Rescued.
GALLANT ACT OF AN ARMY OFFICER

lieutenant Mcdonald Plunges Into the
Water, Clothes and All to Save q
Man Who Wanted to Shufie, and Who
Ferocious. Desisted Rescue-A Des-
perate Struggle in the Water in
Which the Lieutenant Comes Near
Death Himself
NEW YORK, Aug. 14-Lieutenant Ar
thur Mcdonald, of General Towards
staff, is hero. A few minutes before 12
O'Clock on Saturday night he rescued f-cm
the dark waters of the New York bay a
man who had thrown himself from a pass
ing ferryboat with suicidal intent.
Dressed in his gold embroidered uniform,
Lieutenant Mcdonald plunged into the
bay to the rescue. The man was deter
mined to die, and savagely fought the
officer when he approached. He deliber-
ately and repeatedly struck and kicked at
the lieutenant, and when he failed to fight
off his rescuer he endeavored to drown
him by catching him by the throat and
forcing his head beneath the water.
Had to Fight 1t Out Alone.
For fully fifteen minutes the brave Off
Ger fought and struggled with the man
before he succeeded in subduing him and
keeping him afioas until help came. The
pilot the deckhands and the few passen-
gers on the ferryboat Atlantic. from
which the man dived. They would have
gone to the brave officers assistance, but
owing to the strong currents at that point
the ferry boat could not be manoeuvered
quickly and brought alongside. The small
boats rigging. too, became fouled and it
could not be lowered in time.
Did the Deed Deliberately.
Lieut.. Mcdonald was standing on the
forward deck of the governors island
boat, which was lying at her landing,
when the Atlantic passed by on her way
to Brooklyn. When the ferry boat was
almost abeam Lieut.. Mcdonald saw a man
Chamber over the ratings on the after
deck aDd deliberately jump overheard. He
disappeared beneath the foa Interested
waves in the wake of the vessel Some
persons standing on the after deck raised
the cry of Man overheard" Instantly
there was great commotion on the yes
sci. The passengers rushed astern, the
ferry boat was stopped and life preservers
We're thrown overheard in promiscuous
fashion.
Struck His Rescuer the Ear.
The mans body had scarcely disap-
peared beneath the surface when the
lieutenant, clad in his uniform, dived
overheard and struck out for the spot.
Being powerful swimmer ne was soon
alongside the would-be suicide, who had
reappeared by this time. The latter at
tempted to swim away from his rescuer
and dived twice in his attempts to get out
of reach. Mcdonald followed, and over
taking the fellow, after they had gone
twenty yards, started to help him toward
the beach 1t was then that the man
struck the lieutenant, taking him entirely
unawares, and planting a blow alongside
his which made the plucky soldiers
teeth rattle. He let so his man for an in
slant The latter then threw up his hands
ami went down.
Couldn't Let Him Drown.
II thought | had maniac to deal with"
said the lieutenant, in telling the story,
"and l felt a little wary at h I'M when he
him drown and so tackled him again. l
tailed to knock him out with a blow
behind the ear, but he came near master
ing me instead. He kicked, bit and
struggled and cursed while l attempted
to grab him by the hair and pull him
over on his back. He was powerful and
as active as an athlete, and gave me a
tussel which l will never forget.
Not at All Thankful.
The ferry boats deckhands managed.
after considerable difficulty, to bring
boat to the lieutenant's help and took him
and the would-be suicide aboard. When
the man had been revived he said his
name was Fritz Fritch and he lived at No.
90 Bowery. He was tired of life, he said.
He expressed regret that he had not sue
ceeded in his intention. Lieut.. Mcdonald
was landed at the Governors island pier.
TEMPlARS IN A WRECK.