Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-07-19
IMAM OVERBOARD!"
Four People Have Narrow Escapes from
Watery Graves.


Watery Graves,
The most exciting incident of the
trip was the narrow escape Of four men
from drowning.
1t was shortly after two o'clock. The
bow of the barge touched the shore,
and the boat stood of considerable
distance. The gang-plank Of the packet
was suspended at an angle OF about 10
degrees, and the top rested against the
upper deck OF the barge. A Martins
Ferry man made a foolhardy attempt TO
run up the plank TO the barge, and failed.
Then Chas CrOSSley, also of Mar ,p's
Ferry. tried to accomplish the ieat.
lie started up and was pulled back by a
friend named Matt Gray. he fell on
the boat with considerable force, but as
soon as be regained his feet. broke
away from the grasp of his friend and
started up. Gray followed. Both men
reached the top In safety, while the
spectators held their breath, moment
arily expecting to see the men fall into
the water. They took hold of the guard
rail and were apparently safe. Sudden
ly the gang plank was seen to swing out
from the barge, the men still holding to
the railing. Then they relinguished
their grasp and dropped twenty feet
into the water below, striking against
the side Of the barge in their fall.
A scene of the widest excitement FOL
lowed. Somebody cried
IMAM OVERHEARD"
and the men in the barge rushed out.
In less time than it takes to write It,
there were one hundred men crowded
In the space between the two boats. All
we're excitedly crying out orders. The
confusion was indescribaole. Then
there was scutlling on the bow OF the
packet, aud in q few minutes Johl
Kvpe. of Martins Ferry, had pulled of
his coat. broken away from the men
who attempted to prevent his rash act,
and leaped of the boat into the river.
He was good swimmer. With a few
strokes be reached the two
men in the water, and placed
his arm around CrosSley'S neck,
holding him up, while Gray chung to
him also. A rope hung from the gang
plank. which Gray and kyne both
grapDed. Kyne was urging Gray to 90
up the rope, Jul nc ioONON ~ so a : NN'
An this time, what seemed half an
hour. the men on the boat seemed
dazed. A score Of voices were giving
orders to save the men, and all crying
at once. Had there been leader, a
man TO authority, the men would have
been easily rescued. Several persons
secured a rope which they threw out TO
tbe men in the water, but it did not
reach. Then a plank was secured and
showed out, but it, too, fell short. The
men we're plainly growing weaker, aud
IL apUesred that all must drown In view
of the crowd.
suddenly there was cry, "Look out,
there's
ANOTHER MAN OVERT!
and head and shoulders appeared
above the surface Of the water, between
the two boats. The man was Ed. How
lev, of this city, who had been pushed
of the barge by the crowd. This only
added strength to the fever OF excite
ment The four men were to-
gether under the gang plank when
somebody started to lower It. Its de-
scent was stopped just over the heads
of the four men. Had II gone two feet
farther, it would have forced them al!
under the surface. and all would have
drowned. Some men rushed out on the
plank and leaned over the side, trying
70 reach the men in the river.
The first man pulled out was How
lev. who was dragged to the boat. Then
Crossley and Gray were rescued, while
Kvne chung to the rope, his strength
All but gone. he is a large man. and
il took several persons 70 lift him. He
had gone under once or twice. He was