The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1896-11-28
TIE FIELD OF ADVENTURE.
THRILLING INCIDENTS AND OAR.
ING DEEDS ON LAND AND SEA.

THRILLING INCIDENTS AND OAR.
ING DEEDS ON LAND AND SEA.
a Future Governors Long Swim for
Life-DarinG Voyage of Cuban
Patriots-Brave Joe Wilkes.
(" HIEF among the characteris-
[ tics Distinguishing William E.
y Russell in his early days was
indomitable pluck that stamp
cd him very early as man likely to
succeed in anything which he under
took. Examples OF this combination
of courage and perseverance, were
abundant in athletic experiences at
Harvard, and in one or two instances
of his career, which made him very
famous indeed throughout the uni
versity in his native city.
One of these was his conduct in
famous race of class crews in 1876.
Russell's boat was beaten by half a
length, and be himself had to receive
the attention of friends after the con-
test. He showed in this race an
amount of determination and endur-
ance which not even his most enthu-
siastic admirers had attributed to
him. Another incident of courage
and grit was furnished in an incident
in which he came near losing his life.
In the summer of 1876 he went
down to Nantucket to. pass a few
weeks on the water. He had three
friends with him, and the four young
men we're to sail sloop that had.been
foated for the first time that year.
On squaIIy morning the craft was
overhauled and the young fellows de-
cided to make a short trip IN her.
There were two strangers at Nan
tucket, young men OF abont the same
age as those in the party of collegians,
and they were invited to have a sail.
The six went out accordingly.
The sea was high and the wind blew
sharply, aud about five miles from the
shore the little sloop was capsized.
| The wind struck her so that she filed
very rapidly and immediately sank.
The only thing that came to the
surface was long oar; and by the
unanimous consent of tue four
students, this was placed Mt the dis
posal of the two who had been invited
ont to sail.
The situation was nationally dis
cussed, and it was decided that an at
tempt should be made to reach Coatus
shoals, point. that was farther away
than the shore they had left, but to-
ward which the tide was running. and
the wind blew. Russell and one o.
his college mates led the others of.
The swim before them was Ion:
six miles, and with the heavy SEA- tina
was on, and the wind that was blow
ing, 1t meant at least three hours il
the water.
] On shore the fishermen and thei
| families were sitting down to Dime
when the accident occurred-all bn
one. This mans wife had been de
layed in the preparation OF the noon
day meal, and during the wait h
sought to kill time by sweeping tn
sea with his glass.
Thus it was that he saw white sal
glisten in the sunlight and disappear
He didn't know what had happened
but he was convinced something wa
wrong.
He got into doyy and made for tn
spot where he had seen the sail. leay
ing word that Others should folio
him.
The two young men that held th
oar kept ahoat but q few minutes
while the others were battling for til
shore. 1t was evident that the os
would longer support only one. an
the elder of the two sang out: "Wel
good bye, old man this oar won't no!
us both, aud you can have my chance.
Then he sank and was drowned.
When the fisherman reached ia
vicinity of the accident he found tt
surviving young man IN the water VI
conscious, with his arm wound tight
around the wooden sweep.
The fisherman sew, some dlstant
ahead, when he looked up, viii
) ball bobbing up and down. This VI
, one Of the collegiens, and he was di
covered by the white handkerchl
, that ne wore about his head. Wht
t he was pulled into the boat he gaspe
. family, "My brother" and sank in
dead faint to the bottom OF the dor
These two words told Che fisherm'
that there was at least another perst
ahead. So that when the boat
fishermen who had followed the fiji
4 dory were seen behind they were 81
t nailed to go ahead as quickly as pos
! BILE and look for more swimmers. I'll
9 they did, and picked up the brothe
who told them that RUSSELL and
: companion were still in the waite
: When Russell, woo was yet long "
from land, turned about to catch sig
g of his companions who he suppos
Q were following, he saw . sail CONT
Q down like thing of life with the vi
r and tide, and he knew he and
: friends were saved.
8 Russell had been swimming exact
an hour and twenty minutes. --Bost
i, Globe.
g Daring Voyage Of Cuban Patrio
a The smallest boat which ever cross
4 L.