Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-01-24
A Swimmers Experience with a Jelly
Fish.


Folkstone enjoys the natural advantages
of high cliff promenades, magnificent sea
views aid most invigorating air: and as its
surrounding neighborhood abounds in rare
fossils, plants and butterflies, it presents
unusual charms to the lover Of nature. 1t
was my custom to go down and battle very
early in the morning, and repeatedly
have 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 eli
ents. For divers reasons a short flight OF
steps was attached TO his boat, and as |
mounted them in order to make good
plunge, he observed, Don't 60 out too far,
sir, for though the sea is smooth, there's
strong current toward the pier" l soon
found that my guardian vas right, so
struck off as If going down channel. 1t
was most exhilarating. The only signs of
life excepting myself were the guardian
Baker, far away near the shore, and some
porpoises in front. had bathed near to
pOrpoises previously, so ! was not afraid of
them. Being a fairly strong swimmer
had every confidence in my powers; but
getting little tired, lay on my back mo-
tionless and watched the deep blue of the
sky overhead.
The tide had imperceptibly and gradually
carried me out of my course. l turned TO
swim back to the shore; but | was "a pris-
oner, and tightly bound into the bargain.
| could see no living thing near me, for the
school of pOrpoises was off Dover by this
time, and Baker was so remote that he APP
peared smaller than | had ever seen him
before. But | was bound round the limbs
and dashed uncomfOrtably over my right
shoulder and under my left arm. Instant
ly assumed an upright position and be-
gan to tread with each foot TO keep myself
above water. Surveying my chest and
arms, l caught sight Of Shiny threads like
fine transparent cords enveloping me. The
dreaded jelly-fish, Cya1e, thought |. But
where is it? If l swim about, l may 90
right into its disc, which must be very
large to possess such long feelers. | got
my left hand up to my right shoulder, and
passing it firmly down | broke off the
tentacles. With my right hand | gave
greater freedom TO my left arm. 1t was
not the strength of the meshes that affect
ed me so much as the paralyzing power of
their poison. In another moment | tore
the poison threads from my body and legs
and then, right in front of me, saw nv
enemy-a dome more than Is inches in
diameter, with multitude of lashes de-
pending from its margin
l now struck out for the beach, and hard
work had to reach il; for l was smarting
all over, and welts were appearing WHEREBY
er bad been stung. A roll in a bed of
nettles could not be productive of greater
pain and irritation. When dressed | got
into Bakers boat and We went in pursuit
of the medusa. Finding one-whether
amhraa inn frtanI 7
tell-we hauled 1t up in my Turkish towel.
and took it home. Cyane was placed in
a bucket, which it filled in very undigni
fed manner. 1t was my intention to ex-
anime its poison threads under a micro
scope; but this examination never took
place, for very good reason. All day |
went about with a very uncomfortable
feeling until l tried bath in fresh water.
This, with an extra share of physical ex
ertlon, restored my comfort, so that next
morning was away swimming a quarter
OF mile from the shore, and enioyed nv
self to my hearts content. | returned to
the beach without any encounter. So far
SO good. On regaining the beach proceed
ed to dry my head; but on scrubbing nv
face with the towel in which the day he
fore had carried home my trophy, | sud !
denly felt the most intensely stinoino |
pains had ever experienced. NV ewes
were poisoned, and seemed as if saey were !
being consumed with intense heat. The |
poison had not been washed out of the |
towel. The pain increased so that | was |
unable to open my eyes. All power over
the voluntary muscles had ceased. On |
reaching home, l tried various remedies,
out Without any success, until, pluuging |
my head in cold spring water, let the wa.
ter In about my eyeballs, and so gradually
recovered power and sight. In account |
ing for the large number of deaths of ex-
pert swimmers by drowning, this particu-
Jar form OF danger does not appear to have
itself.-Leisure Hour.