The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1893-05-26
tho open lake. But the precaution cam

tho open lake. But the precaution came
TOO late-too late!
Fol one moment he held his own
against the current, advancing not an
inch, notwithstanding his desperate
strokes, and then suddenly. quicker than
eye could follow or pen could describe,
he was seized in the grasp Of a giant
hand, resistless in its might, and whirled
away like shaft from the bow.
Down. down! he went, along the speed
ing waters, smooth as glass, into the vor-
tex of the whirlpool, where they writhed
and Missed and Numbered on the jagged
rocks A single cry escaped nina CRY
that rolled from shore to shore and died
in quavering echoes high among the
mountain gorgcs. Then he ceased tC
struggle, and his head fell Imply back as
the mist closed round his sinking form.
May never feel again the agony Of i'm.
potent helpicssness ! endured that mo.
mentl My friend, the schoolmate Of my
boyhood. the beloved companion of my
later years, rushing to horrible death
before my eyes and | unable to stretch
out helping hand, Was there no escape
no help;
All, YES, brave ohu!nOble heart of oak
AS sit here calmly writing in my study
how ! long to grasp again that sturdy
hand that may meet mine no more!
He had seen the colonel's peril as
gave my warning cry, and in the mo.
ment of my confusion had time to grasI
the situation and discern with unerrin2
Judgment the only possible mode Of res.
cue. 4 man born and bred to tie sud.
den dangers of the wilderness acts with
almost instructive precision, while Others
stand helplessly by. And so, even as
watched with anguished heart the strug,
giles of my friend, he had sped from my
side, casting away his gun as he went.
He reached the brink of the rapids and
paused One hasty glance at the colonel:
body, borne on the crest of the speeding
current-one swift scrutiny of the furious
waters that seethed and boiled before
him-and then he gathered himself like
a panther about to spring.
watched him, spellbound, fascinated
by the noble daring of the deed he con.
templated. Full Is feet from the shore
in midstream rose large rock of rugged
granite, against which the angry waters
roared in impotent fury, and toward thi;
grim buttress the Colonoi's helpless body
was hurrying head foremost, He must
reach that rock before the drowning mar
or all was lost.
A seconds pause, during which these
objects flashed before me like vision
and then John made the effort. Like /
panther ne mad cr0ucneG, Ike q pan,.-lel
he sprung. and as his lean body shot on
over the waters my prayers went witt
him. Would he make it? Yes, THANH
God! He cleared the rapids and gainet
a foothold on the slippery rock, clutch
ing it with both hands az he landed.
There was not an instant's pause
With the agility Of a cat he swung roun(
the Greg just as ny friend shot toward
him. saw him make desperate clutcl
saw a brief struggle in the mist ant
turmoil-and the next was aware
limp form lay upon the rock beside him
How human strength could overcome
the momentum of that furious eddy i
more than can realize, but John wa
more than human-he was a man 0
! iron.
Then | bestirred myself. and under tn
Indians calm directions we got the colo
nels unconscious form ashore by mean
of ropes, which we always carried wit
us. John followed next, clinging to tn
cord | bad attached to point Of rock
The noble fellow made light of his bray
deed and seemed only anxious to escap
any tokens of gratitude.
Well, we bore the colonel into camp
where he lay Frustrated for many days
But he recovered in time and is nov
well and prosperous, And, be sure, hi
prosperity has benefited the savior O
his life.
And John? | have never seen tn
brave fellow since and u-ohably neye