The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1897-08-26
HOW IL FIGIGLS TO DROWN,

rhc Experience ofn Young Man Who
Was Rescued from Horrible
Death.
Cassc's Magazine.
"Drowning is a pleasant death is
II remark constantly made by those
who mover gulped down salt water into
tho delicate tissues OF their lungs. I
was bathing in rough weather on the
beach OF u watering place in Northern
France. Swept out to sea, struggled,
sank, became insensible, and was saved
by tho courage and skill Of a gallant
Fronchman--wh wrote his name that
| day in my mothers Now Testament as
a memorial Of tho rescue. This was
all. Tho circumstances wero ordinary.
Thousand such may occur every year.
Pyschologically, however, there arc
points o! Interest which arise princi-
pally from the fact that | remember
all that happened during period Of
timo which may have boon four or five
minutes, but which appeared to be as
many hours.
Almost Immediately I entered the
water tho understanding roar Of the
waves struck mo as desoating and
sorrowful full of forebOding and
terror. Ashamed Of this fancy, I In
stinctively but foolishly fought my way
scaward, and was promptly out of my
depth, not because | intended to run
any risk, for could not swim, but be-
cause tho strong current had scooped
out hollow in the sandy bottom,
which had six foot Of water on the top
OF 1t. Tumbod ovor by the waves, the
wncn the water closed ovor my head
for tho Iirst timn ranpot hn 1oarriba1
1T was the bittcrest point of the
stugglc. Cruel and omnlpotcnt force,
without warning or reason, surrounded
| me, and my frantic and determined
efforts to escape only Increased the
pcnt'up passion to ceaso holding my
| breath and to inhale Onco more. | felt
| instinctlvcly, as | writhcd in the cold,
black water, that If onco I succumbed
to tho temptation to cxpel my breath.
| which almost burst the ribs In my
angry efforts to retain 1t, the end
would come that should be compel
led to breathe inward while covered
with the pressing salt water. AT this
timo must have given way and the
dreaded stream Of airbubbles rose to
tho surface.
few weeks boforo had watched
the drowning of q cat in tho clear
water of running stream. Tho
animal was tethcrcd to stone, and
had fought with upturncd face for
liberty. When tho bubbles rose in
silver fountain from tho corners of It's
mouth, it stood at tho bottom swaying
| In the gentle current, turned over, and
aftcr one final struggle gave up the
ghost. This scene came vividly before
mo. | thought Of this wretched cat,
and was half amused TO think that my
case was the case Of the cat. There
was no fear! The actual circumstance
filled my attention and the piteous
longing to escape and the inability of
my efforts suddenly became subordi-
natcd to the feeling OF in;olerable pain.
Eyes, Ghost, limbs were all ono solid
pain.
Just then I touched the sandy bot
tom with my fingers and knee, and
hastily snatched ~ handful Of sand and
watcr to thrust in my mouth to end
this struggle for air. All I wanted
was to end tho pain. No thought of
death, except as an interesting and
immatcrial factor in the situation
came over mo. 1t is true that I re-
mcmbcred that l should be missed
when dinner time came and l was
| found missing and thinking of the
homo people, l thought Of q blue tie
had left on q chest OF drawers in my
| oCu'Ooni, ThlCll iau lntcnuou w puu
on. Then, suddenly, found my eyes
above water for second, and saw
two blurred fingers near. On this
sank again, and was conscious of re-
laxing effort and sinking out Of q con-
scious state to one in which one dreamed
without knowing what the dreans
, were.
From this awoke In great pain In
tho centre Of q crowd on the beach,
,, whittier my rcscuer had borne me.
! My first thought was ono OF infinite
and unrcasoning shame, but the nausea
! caused by swallowing 80 much salt
water quickly brought mo back TO
. earth again.