The Louisiana populist. [volume] (Natchitoches, Natchitoches Parish, La.) 1894-1898, 1896-05-01


they were the clothing of prize fat
man. That is perhaps due to the fact
that Willie is an extremely modest lad.
He has saved three persons from
drowning and wonders in a rather un-
sentimental way why other folks
should make such ado about 1t.
He made his third rescue recently.
He rescued 4-year-old John O'Keefe,
at the foot of East 122d street. Willie
is a Straightforward, honest lad, and in
telling of this does not try to take all
the credit to himself, but generously
pushes his chum and neighbor, Eddie
McFadden, to the fore. The two loss
rowed a boat that went TO the rescue OF
the drowning lad.
Willie's mother is a widow and lives
in the top fat, east, Of Ala East 523d
street. Her married life and widow
hood have been passed in that neigh
borhood. Her husband died when Will
lie was only IS months old. The life
saver, however, is not the only child.
There Is John, who Is 10. and James,
who is three years younger. both OF
them bright boys.
When a visit was paid to Mrs. DAN
iels' fat Willie was out on an errand
for his mother. Il don't know whether
Willie will do much talking" said she.
Hes such a curious sort Of lad"
EYES," said neighbor, who was sew
ing near one of the windows. "the
youngster is so modest like that when
either of the young men who board
here are at the table Willie won't sit
down and take a bite; TO, not he"
At that moment the Juvenile life
saver entered the room with a package
in his hand and gazed suspiciously at
the visitor. Then he took OF his hat,
handed the package to his mother and.
seating himself at the window, placed
his chin in his hands and gazed in
tently out upon the yards.
Come, WILLIE" said his mother,
this gentleman wants you to tell him
in your own words about the people
you have taken from the river"
The boy did not turn, but his voice
was qLits respectful as he said: Il
don't care to talk about 1t any more,
mother. I've told 1t already. What's
the use Of telling 1t again." And he
lapsed into a determined silence.
Mrs. Daniels went over to him and
there was a short whispered confer
ence. Willie abruptly rose from his
seat and walked through the fiat to
the parlor, followed by his mother. In
q few minutes she returned. saying:
lyon can see Willie in the parlor. He
won't talk out here" she added, look
ing significantly at her neighbor, sew
Ing at the window. Willie sat looking
out of the parlor window. probably the
most uncomfortable lad in the neigh
borhood Just then. He answered ques-
lions in monosyllables until. thawing
out, he told his story.
Il learned to swim when l was 8
years DID," said he II can swim over
hand and can float. too. All the fell
lows around here are good swimmers.
They ought to be. They play down on
the float nearly all the year.
Nov want to tell you something
that is all wrong. The papers said
saved four people. didn't, and never
said so. There are only three, and the
kid that was fished out the other day
was the third one. Say. what's the
use of making such a fuss about this,
anyway? Wouldn't you pull fellow
out IL you got the chance? Well, what's
the use of talking?
The first fellow? He was a man.
Now. some people say 1t was Pat Geg-
han, who lives down the block, but 1t
wasn't. His name was Geghan all
right. but he didn't live around here.
He was in boat near the dock with
two other fellows. 1t was only last
spring. was on the pier playing with
the gang. All at once this fellow In
the boat started to move about and the
whole business was upset.
THE two fellows came up and
grabbed the boat, but this man Geghan
didn't He got ratified bad. When he
came mp he had his eyes shut tight,
and didn't see nothing. thought I'd
Jump in for him. but changed my
mind and grabbed the top of the pier.
Then l let myself down until my feet
was near the water. l thought the
man would see my feet and grab me
and would hold on until help came.
Oh, I'm pretty strong!
This man when he came up again
still had his eyes tight shut. kicked
him in the face and he opened them
quick. ! tell you. Then he grabbed
on to my leg 30 tight that he nearly
yanked me on my hold. had q good
grip on the pier with both hands for
all / was worth. didn't think he was
going to be SO heavy! whew! l thought
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