Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1894-08-10
A SWIM FOR LIFE.
rhe Narrowing Experience of a Man WhS
Didn't Know Enough to Wade.

| The Narrowing Experience of Man Who
Didn't Know Enough to Wade.
The second mate of Lake Huron pro-
peller told this story to Detroit Free Press
man as they were passing Point Aux
Barques recently: 1T was about six years
ago that was sailing on lumber schooner
and just when we were abost where we are
now the captain discovered that our yawl
was adrift. We had been towing it, and
somehow the painter had parted or slipped
and there the boat was nearly mile away,
drifting ashore as fast as the water could
carry it, Finally, as saw the old man was
good deal worked up over it, volunteer
ed to swim ashore and bring the yawl il he
would run in as close rs he could and anchor
until came aboard,
1.-The captain accepted my proposal very
gladly, and as the water was warm
thought would have a first rate swim.
little thinking what was in store for me.
So stripped and lowered myself into til,
water. For a quarter of an hour it was
mere fun, but / soon found had bit of
more than could chaw. The shore was
farther off than had figured. l kept on,
however, getting more and more exhausted
every moment. tried every way knew
to rest my tired legs and arms, First /
turned on my back and swan in that pO-
sition for while. Then ! tried swimming
Oh my side: then dog fashion, and then
floating. Butall the time / was getting
more aud more worn out. | tried to signal
the schooner, but my voice was so weak i
could not make them hear, and they die
not understand, as afterward learned, my
frantic motions. Besides, they could not
have helped me, because they had no boat
II had swum about a mile and was still
mile from the shore Mechanically kept
up my motions as well as | could, but
knew | was doomed. The water began to
sing in my ears, and my thoughts went
back over my past life, as ! have heard
drowning mems always do. thought OF
my poor wife and children and wondered
how they would get the news / wondered
whether my body would be found and get
Christian burial. | speculated also as to
the captains getting his boat and felt quite
sorry when thought be might never see 1t
again.
"I don't know how long IL took me to
think of all this. Probably it was not
more than a minute; but IL seemed TO be
ages, and all the time was feebly moving
my arms and feet and just keeping my head
above water. Meanwhile had. got perhaps
within halt mile OF the shore, made
up my mind, or rather 1t made itself up,
that this was just as good place TO be
drowned in as any other, and abandoning
motion sank TO the bottom.
at did not take as long as l expected II
would 10 reach the bottom. In fact, struck
it with both hands and feet about as soon
as had fairly stopped moving. / kept my
feet on it, and Strengthening up found that
the water came about up TO my waist. i
suppose ought TO have fallen on my knees
ia thankfulness, but instead OF that waded
ashore the maddest Rlap on the coast,
got the yawl and soulled II back 10 the
schooner, which was waiting II anchor fog
me, and as went back had the curiosity
20 take sOundings. and found that / had
been exhauSting myself swimming for
more than mile where the water was not
more than four feet deep"
Was the captain glad 70 get you baekT'
the sailor mAn was asked.
Blast the eaptain?' Was the response,
"All be said was. You confounded fool,
didn't you know that there was mils and
Ahslt Of GheAi water AZ sloAE that eoassr"