Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1893-09-23
A MARROW ESCAPE.
STR Samuel Baker witnesses Drowning
Accident on the Nile.

SIR Samuel Baker witnesses Drowning
Accident on the Nile,
Sir Samuel Baker gives an account
Of a thrilling incident which illus
trates the folly Of taking unnecessary
risks. lilo was stationed on the
banks Of an Abyssinian river His
tents were pitched upon the verge Of
cliff some thirty feet ia height,
down the side OF which ran rugged
path to the water. The rainy season
was 50 far past that the river was
rather low, though at the foot Of the
cliM II WAS bread. Lower down tho
shelving rocks narrowed the passage
until just beyond there were some
powerful rapids, Near their head
was ford where women were ae-
customed to cross. carrying their
burdens Of fagots from tho opposite
shore.
zone day" says Sir Samuel. IL
was employed outside the tent, when
! observed a throng Of women, each
laden with q bundle OF wood. cross
ing the ford ia single file from the
opposite bank,
Among them were two young
girls o. about NJ years. and / re-
marked that these, instead % march,
ing III line with the women, were
wading hand in hand Ia dangerous
proximity 10 the head u the rapids.
"A few seconds later noticed that
they were incllning their bodies up-
stream, and were evidently strug-
Cling with the current Hardly had
pointed out the danger 20 the mon
around me. when the girls chung to
each other, and. striving against
their fate, they tutteFcd down tho
stream toward the rapids, which
rushed with such violence that the
waves were about two feet high.
with praiseworthy speed the Arabs
started 70 their feet and dashed down
the deep descent toward the river;
but, before they had reached half
way. the girls uttered shrek. lost
their footing and Ia another instant
threw their arms wildly above their
heads and we're hurried away Ia tho
foam 81 the rapids.
"Ouo disappeared Immediately.
The other was visible, as her long,
black hair hoatcd on the surf; sha
also sank. Presently. about twenty
yards below tho spot, a pair N naked
arms protruded high above the sur
face with ivory bracelets upon tho
wrists, and twice the hands ciappgd
together a5 though implprlng help;
again sho Disappeared
"Ihe water was by this time full
II mon who had rushed ID the rescue;
but they had ioollshly jumped Ia 40
the spot whcrO thuy had Hr8t seen
thc girls. who were. Of course, by
this time carried Tar away 81 tho
torrent
Once moro. farther down tho
river, the hands and bracelets ap-
pcarcd, again they wildly clappcd
together and In the clear water wo
could plainly see tho dark hair 81.
meath
"Still she sank again. bat almost
Immediately shc rose head aad
shoulders above the surface aud
thrice again ahe clappcl her hands
for aid.
This was her last effort; she dis
By this time several mon
had wisely run along the bank below
the tail 81 the rapids. and having
formed q limo across u worry narrow
portion 81 the stream. one II them
suddenly clutchcd an object beneath
tho water. and in another moment
he held the body Of tho girl In his
arms
"Of course. she was dcad7 Or a
fit subject for tho Royal humane 50.
cietyP 50 | supposed. but to our IN.
tense astonishment. she no sooner
was brought TO shore than she gave
herself shake, throw back her long
hair. wrung out and arranged her
dripping rahat and walked leIsuroly
back TO the ford, which she crossed
with tho assistance OF the Arab who
saved her"
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