Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-07-16
A FAT MANS GREAT FLOAT.
His Three Hundred and More Pounds
of Flesh Saved His Life.
Griswold Fell Asleep on Steamer
and Then Fell Overboard-Took
Off His Clothing While Treading
Water-Sighted Two Hours Later
and Rescued.

con graduate himself upon nus dNolluu-
nois and to admit honestly that for
orce ne had no wish that his too-too
solid flesh would melt. II Charles Girls
wo,d. salesman, had been OF ordinary
weight he would not in all probability
be alive to-day to tell how for more
than two hours he treaded the waters
of Long Island Sound, four miles from
the nearest shore, shouting Tor Ealp
and straining his eyes for the beat OF
steam or sail, which, IL seemed TO hlm,
would never come to his rescue.
Mr. Griswo,d lives with hts married
sister. Mrs. F. Rosenberg, az No. 429
Clermont avenue, Brooklyn. he weighs
324 pounds, but HIS flesh is firm and
solid, and, except for occasional attacks
of vertigo, he enjoys the hest OF health.
He IS pleasant hammered and favorlte
with all his busine;ei acquainCences.
He travels a great deal and has recently
been making a "Trip through New Eng
land. On Saturday night he left Prov
idence on the steamboat Connecticut,
for this city. He secured a state-room
on the cardboard side, but wen the time
for retiring arrived he found the wealth
er so su,try and Sitting Within doors
that he decided to remain outside on
the main deck.
GriswOld went to the railing, and,
leaning over, tried to keep awake, but
the cool breeze soon had a drowsy et-
feet upon him and he caught himself
n0dding. Every once in a while the
slight lurching of his body would re-
store him momentairly TO semi-wake-
fulness, but, shortly afterward, ne would
be nodding again. 1t was 3:45 o'clock
in the morning when fresh lurch re-
awoke him and he felb his hat slipping
from his head. He made a grab for it
in the dark, and lost his balance. He
felt himself descending headforemost
into the sound, and uttered a cry Tor
help, ere he was swallowed up in the
water. No one heard his cry; no one
was disturbed by the great splash lie
made in striking the water. and when
he arose to the surface the Connecticut
was far away in the distance. and he
realized that, unless by great good for
tune he was missed by some one on
board, all hope OF rescue by her must
be abandoned. His hat was gone, but
he had On all the rest Of his clothing.
inclusive of stockings and shoes. coat.
vest and trousers.
Far away, mile and a half az least.
he could see a light. 1t was in the
Stafford lighthouse. Mr.. Griswold has
q wonderfully strong pair of lungs. He
made the best use of them in trying
to attract the attention of the light
house keeper, but his efforts were in
vain. Meanwhile he started TO tread
water. AS daylight advanced he saw
that he was far from either shore. He
had fallen into the sound about midway
between Providence and New York.
The Long Island coast was at least four
miles distant; the opposite shore was
farther still.
Mr.. Griswold's clothes soon became
a great weight, and he determined to
rid himself of his coat vest, collar,
shirt and necktie. He took out his
studs and put them in his trousers
pocket He also put there his gold
watch and chain and few other valu
ableS. He had, besides, $3.50 in bills in
his trousers pockets. Then he allow
ed his coat and vest to float away. 1t
was not long before the trousers also
became too great burden, and he re-
moved them. He was not attired in
his shoes, stockings underShirt and
drawers. He wanted very much to dis
card his shoes, but the effort to unlace
them proved too difficult. He held the
trousers in his arms as long as he
could, but at length had to let them go
too and they drifted out of sight, while
he sighed over the loss of the $3.50 in
bills, the gold watch and chain and the
other jewelry.
And all the time Griswoid kept on.
treading water. He was drifting right
in the track Of boats along the Sound,
but not a vessel passed him until $50
a. m. Then tug, towing three barges,
steamed by. Griswold set up mighty
shout. but it was unanswered. He fol-
lowed this shout with other loud cries
for help. but got no reply.
Another anxious half hour elapsed,
and then the City of Lawrence, OF the
Norwich line, hove in sight. 1t was
soon within a quarter Of mile of him.
Aboard were between 400 and 500 per-
sons on an excursion from Providence
to Coney Island. Again Griswoid sent
forth his cry for help. Capt. Keeney,
In the pilot house of the City of Law
renee. heard the voice and wondered
whence it came AS he wondered sew
eral passengers on the deck below
shouted TO him: Captain, there's
man Overboardr
"Where?" cried the captain.
Right over there" they replied,
pointing in the direction of the Long
Island shore.
Capt. Keeney looked sharply, and,
sure enough, saw Griswold in the wa
ter. He was moving his arms and
shouting for a life preserver Capt
Keeney turned the boat in the direc-
ton of the man in the water, and cal
culated so nicely that when the boat
was stopped Griswold was only few
yards away. BY this time every one
aboard the City Of Lawrence was in
terested in the rescue, and all crowded
to the side Of the steamboat TO wit
ness il.
GrisWoid continuing to cry for life
preseryer. a passeng ger threw him one.
He was more intent. however. on CATCH
ing the heaving line, which, by order Of
Can't. Keeney, was now being thrown
to him by a deck hand. At length Girls
wo.d caught the line and strong pull
and a pull altogether by half dozen
n bIa bodied n, or-,i hr-otro ht him c1O=a IN