The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-05-20

Inc preceding winter was the one of the
historic deep snow in Illinois, and the
snow had swollen the Sangamon
river 30 that 1t was far out of its banks.
Inc Two men in the canoe in q few moments
found themselves at the mercy of the turbu-
lent waters, powerless TO control the canoe
or TO get back to shore. After making a
trantlc effort to paddle to shore they headed
for the wreck of an old fiatboat, the first
ever ouilt on the Sangamcn river. which
mad sunk and gone to pieces. leaving one Of
the stanchions sticking above the water. As
they approached the wreck of the old boat
Seaman too eagerly reached for the stanch-
ion, caught hold Of it, and the canoe cap
sized. Seaman managed to keep hold of the
stauchion, but Carman being thrown into
the water. was unable to reach either the
wrecked hatboat or the canoe, which was
rapidly floating off down the river. The
whole proceeding had been watched with
considerable CONSERVATION by Lincoln and
the rest OF US on shore. Just below the
wrecked fiathoat was an old elm tree
which stood on the bank of the stream
when the river was within its banks, but
which was now far out from the shore and
lUs branches reached the water. Lincoln
| called to Carmnn to swim to the tree. Car
man was good swimmer and after some
dltf1culty reached the tree and pulled him
| self into the branches. The water was ex-
tremely cold and he was almost frozen
Lincoln then called to Seaman to let 60 Of
the hatboat stanchion and swim to the tree
| Seaman was also chilled through. He could
hang to the stanchion only g few minutes
longer at best and his only hope was to get
to the tree. He plunged into the water and
by desperate efforts reached the tree and
his oomrade, Carman, helped him to climb
| up into it.
CRITICAL SITUATION.
The situation was now more critical
than ever. The two men were clinpin9 to
that tree, shiYering and almost frozen and
exhausted, and it was only a question of a
| short time when they could mold no longer,
and then it would all be over with them
The canoe had been swept down the river,
and there was not another boat within
| reach. BY this time quite a crowd had
| gathered, and Lincoln was instinctively
| conceded the leadership In the effort to save
the perishing men. He called to the men in
the tree to keep moving and fling their
arms about them,' SO as to keep from being
chilled to death.
"a log which had been selected for a sill
for one of the new buildings going up in the
! town lay near the shore. Around the end
OF the log Lincoln tied rope, and with the
assistance Of the bystanders it was rolled
into the water 1t was towed some distance
up the stream, and then daring fellow
named Jim Dorrell took his seat upon the
end Of the log, and it was pushed into the
stream with the expectation that it would
be carried by the current to the tree. Lin
coins judgment proved superb, for the log
| went straight to the tree. Dorrell, however,
proved unequal to the emergency. In his
excitement he seized a branch Of the tree,
and the log swept from under him. He
managed to climb into the tree and Joined
| the two other unfortunates.
m NuaC nall haa 60 rk4 ~
Lincoln and the bystanders Lincoln re-
solved to go to the tree himself and bring
back the boys. Securing another rope he
straddled the log, and it was given a push
into the raging SauRamon. The log again
! went to the tree, and the future President
| threw the moose of the rope he carried over
the stub Of a broken limb, then gradually
broke the speed of the log, slowly drew it
up to the tres and held it there until the
| three perishing men had climbed down aud
seated themselves astride the log. He then
| directed those on shore to hold tightly the
rope attached to the log, and the current
swept the log ashore. l shall never forget
the cheers that went up for Abe Lincoln as
he reached dry land with the three men
whom he had rescued. The incident made
hero of Abe all along the Sangamon, and
the Inhabitants never tired of telling of the
daring exploit.
LINCoLN's STORIES.
while the fiatboat was being made ;"
Mr.. Roll went on, lit was common thing
for the men of the village to get together in
the morning, at noon and at night aud take
their seats on sleek, barkIess log, which
had been fixed up for that purpose in the
lane alongside of Shepherds griss mill.
Lincoln invariably had a seat with the boys
on this log. and it was here that he first
acquired his reputation as joker and story
teller. 1t was always merry party which
gathered at this log For years afterwarL
the log was known as 'Abe's log and it re-
manned there until it rotted."
Lincoln never forgot his old friend Roll,
and before starting for Washington to take
the presidential chair be presented Mr.. Roll
the family dog. The canine was we'll cared
for and lived several years afterward. Mr..
Roll now has the picture of the dog. He
also acquired several articles of furniture
used by the Lincoln family. Mr.. Roll was
also au admlrer Of Lincoln's great political
rival and personal friend, Stephen A. Doug
las, aud now carries the watch once owned
by that famous statesman. The watch is a
solid gold one and bears the initials IS, A.
D." Mr.. Roll bought 1t thirty-two years
ago, paying $3.50 for it. The watch has to
be repaired occasionally, but it still keeps
good time.