The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1895-10-29
ABS0AHlTEEX PURE

A swimmers Experience With Jelly ish
FolkstonG enjoys the natural advan-
tages Of high cliff promenades, magnl-
ficent sea views. and most inVigorating
air; and as its surrounding uelghbor-
hood abounds in rare fossils, plants
and butterflies, it presents unusual
charms for the lover of nature. 1t was
my custom to go down to battle very
early in the morning, and repeatedly
I've been the only person on the beach,
yet was sure to find Baker sitting in
his boat, for it was his duty to be there
at five, irrespective Of the attendance
of his clients. For divers reasons a
short flight of steps was attached to
his boat, and as mounted them in or
der to make a good plunge, he OBJ
served, Don't go out too far sir,
for though the sea is smooth, there's
strong current towards the pier" I
soon found that my guardian was right,
so 1 struck off as if going down chan
mel. 1t was most celebrating. The
only signs of life except myself were the
guardian Baker, Tar away near the
shore. and some porpoises in front. I
had bathed near to porpoises previous
ly, so was not afriad of them. Being
fairly strong swimmer, I had every
confidence in my powers; but getting
a little tired, lay on my back motion
md tal,n u Il.
sky overhead.
The tide had gradually and imper-
ceptibly carried me out of my course.
I turned to swim back to the shore;
but l was a prisoner and tightly bound
into the bargain. 1 could see no liv-
ing thing near me, for the school of
porpoises was off Dover by this time,
and Baker was so remote that he ap-
peared smaller than l had ever seen
him before. But was bound round
the limbs and dashed uncomfortably
over my right shoulder and under my
left arm. Instantly assumed an up
right position, and began to tread with
each foot to keep myself above water.
Surveying my chest and arms, ] caught
| sight of Shiny threads like fine trans
parent cords enveloping me. The
dreaded 1ellyfish, Cyanae, thought l.
But where is it? If i swim about
may go right into its disc, which
must be large to possess such long feel
ers. I got my left hard up to my right
shoulder and passing it firmly down 1
/ broke off the tentacles. With my right
hand gave greater freedom to my left
arm. It was not the strength of the
meshes that effected me so much as
| the paralyzing power Of their poison.
In another moment I tore the poison
| threads from my body and legs; and
| then right in front of me / saw my
enemy-a dome more than eighteen
inches in diameter, with multitude of
lashes depending from it's margin. /
now struck out for the beach, and hard
work had to reach It: for was smart
| ing all over, ard welts were appearing
wherever I had been stung. A roll
in a bed of nettles could not be pro-
| ductive of greater pain and irritation.
| When dressed l got into Bakers boat
and we went in pursuit Of the medusa.
| Finding one-whether my embracing
friend or not could not tell--we haul
| ed it up In my Turkish towel,
and took DIT home. Cyanae was plac-
ed in a bucket which it filled in a very
Iuhdignified manner. IT was my inten-
| ton to examine it's poison threads m-
/ der the microscope; but this examina-
| ton never took place, for a veSy good
/ reason. All day | went about with q
very uncomfortable feeling until | tried
| a bath in fresh water. This, with an
| extra share of physical exertion, res-
| tored my comfort, so that next morn
| ing was away swimming quarter
| of mile from shore, and enjoyed my
/ self to my hearts content. ! returned
| to the beach without any encounter.
| So far so good. regaining the beach
/ proceeded to dry my head; but on
scruhbing my face with the towel in
which the day before I had carried
home my trophy, I suddenly felt the
most intensely stinging pains had ever
experienced. My eyes were poisoned,
and seemed as If they were being con-
sumed with intense heat. The poison
had not been washed out of the towel.
The pain increased so that I was I'M
able to open my eyes. All power over
the voluntary muscles had ceased. On
reaching home, tried various RENE
dies, but without any success, until,
plunging my head in cold spring water,
let the water in about my eyeballs,
and so gradually recovered power and
sight. In accoun ing for the large
number of deaths of expert swimmers
by drowning, this particular form OF
danger does not appear to have pre-
scented itself.-Leisure Hour.