Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1894-03-02
e. But the precaution came

too late-too late!
For one moment he hc,l his own
against the cGIrcat, adeaAtins nos 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 q giant
hand, resistlcs7 III lis might, and w.nrIad
away like a shaft from the bow.
Down. down! he went, along the speed
ing waters, smooth as glass, into the yor-
tex Of the whirlpool, where they wIithed
and Kissed and Numbered on the jagged
rocks A single cry escaped him-a cry
that rolled fom shore to shore and died
i'll quavering echoes high among the
mountain gorEes Then he ceased to
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 helplessness | endured that mo-
ment! My friend the schoolmate Of my
boyhood, the beloved companion Of my
later years, rushing to a horrible death
before my eyes and l unable to stretch
out helping hand. Was there no escape
no help?
All, yes, brave joint noble heart of oak!
AS | sit here calmly writing III my study,
how l long to grasp again that sturdy
hand that may meet mine no more!
He had seen the coloneIs peril as
gave my warning cry, and in the mo.
ment of my confusion had time to grasp
the situation and discern with unerring
Judgment the only possible mode Of res.
cue. A man born and bred to the 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's
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, spellboand fascinated
by the noble daring Of the deed he con.
templated Full 10 feet from the shore
III midstream rC Sc a large rock of rugged
granite, against which the angry waters
roarod in impotent fury, and toward this
grim buttress the colonel's helpless body
was hurrying head foremost. He must
reach that rock before the drowning man
or all was lost.
A seconds pause, during which these
objects flashed before me like vision
and then John made the effort. Like a
panther he had crouched, like panther
he sprung, and as his lean body shot out
over the waters my prayers went with
him. Would he make it? Yes, thank
God! He cleared the rapids and gained
q foothold on the slippery rock, clutch
ing it with both hands as he landed.
There was not an instant's pause
With the agility of a eat he swung round
the crag just as my friend shot toward
him. | saw him make desperate Clutcl
saw brief struggle in the mist anC
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 il
more than | can realize, but John wa'
more JIdD uuuldu-IlG was Il man "
iron.
Then bestirred myself, and under thu
Indians calm directions we got the colo
nel's unconscious form ashore by mean'
of ropes, which we always carried witt
us. John followed next, clinging to tn,
cord | had attached to a point Of rock
The noble fellow made light of his brave
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: lave never seen thu
brave fellow since and probably nevel
shall again. Bat Of this am certain
in one corner Of my heart shall always
hold his memory green.-C. G. Archer
! in Cincinnati Post.