Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-12-12
MEN FAlL-D0G SUCCEEDS.
GALLANT RESCUE OF \ MAN FROM &
RIVER FRESHET IN OTLEY, ENG.
"Mill on the Floss Anew-TwO Men
Held Cnptives by the Furious
Tfde-Onc Breaks Away and
Loses His Artificial Arm.

Readers Of The Mill on the Floss" can
never forget the tragic incident associate
ed with that strange phenomenon known
as the easre-a mighty mass of water that
rushed down the river past the little town
of ST. Oggs. and overwhelmed Tom and
Maggie Tulliver. An event recalling II
SOME respects that thrilling scene, but
! 1.-THE Yorkshire Post tells Us, without its
fatal ending. was Witnessed on the river
wharf at Otlcy the other day. For the
previous two or three weeks there had
been very little rain al Otley, and when ut
SD o'clock on Saturday morning two
young f~eIlows-Joseph Nunns. OF Mercury
row, otley, and Arthur Bell. living in
Newmarket. in the same town. went TO
riddle river sand and gather ShinSle in the
bed of the stream, just below the dam
stones. near the bridge, the water was
Very low. But there had evidently been
u copious downfall further up the valley.
AT any rate, at about S:i5 o'clock, when
the two men We're steadily proceeding with
their work. they We're alarmed TO ind the
river rapidly rising. They were in the
middle of the river, and there was no time
TO make for either bank. The only course
level OF one of the sandhills. Before long
the two men, even i'll that position. were
standing in about three feet of water.
with a very strong and deep current rush
ing down on either side of them Natur-
ally their dismay increased with the SWELL
ing OF the flood. 1t would have been I'M
possible for them TO withstand the force
of the onrush without aid. Happily. an
adjacent willow bush was available Ball
grasped one OF its branches, and NUNS
supported himself by placing his back
against his companion.
Though NUNS has had the misfortune
to lose his right arm. he Is a good swim
mer. Ball. who cannot swim, advised his
friend to make for the bank, but the lat
ter heroicaIly declared that, he would
| crowd had been attracted to the spot.
News of the incident had reached Messrs:
20 clock-Nunns and Ball having been part
" submerged for three-quarters of an
hour-Mr. H.. w. T. Garnett and his broth
er. Mr., Percy Garnett. put out in a Hat
bottomed boat.
An experience hardly less unpleasant and
even more dangerous than that OF the
men they were attempting to reSuce await
ed these gentlemen. The boat was caught
in the branches of Il tree. and in trying
We're pitched into the river. TO the great
CONSERVATION of the helpless crowd OF
spectators. Mr.; Percy Garnet MANAGED
without much difficulty to swim TO land
For his brother the adventure Threatened
much more serious consequences Disap-
pearing below the surface. the once popu-
lar Yorkshire football captain appeared
to be in danger of drowning. but the fears
of the anxious orlookers We're in a meas
clinging TO the branch of an overhanging
tree. From this perilous position he was
soon rescued. apparently little worse for
In the meantime. Nunns had been per-
sIaded by his companion in distress 10
swim to the bank. While he was being
landed he unluckily lost his artificial arm
in the river. All interest was now center
ed in the rescue of Ball Time after time
ropes were thrown to him. but in vain.
owing to the strength of the current one
brave young fellow. John Smith. an Otley
mechanic. at great risk. swan toward the
stranded man with n rope. but the force
of the flood carried him out of his reckon
ing.
About this time MIR. Alfred Richardson,
a Bradford and Otley carrier. the owner OF
the dog. arrived on the scene. The SER
vices of Ally Soper Were at once requisi-
toned. Three times the dog. carrying a
cord. swan in the direction of Ball, bur
again the current was too powerful. An
other eXpedient was resorted to- Having
fastened TO the dogs collar n cord. which
was attached 10 q strong rope. MIR. Rich
ardson took the animal across the bridge
TO the opposite bank. and then return
ing whistled to it, with the idea of get
ting it to swim across the river. The
dog obeyed the signal. and Ball was by
this means able to get hold of the rope.
which he fastened around his waist and
was pulled to the bank. cold and benumb-
ed. after having been imprisoned in mid
stream for nearly three hours.
Needless to say. the crowd gave a hearty
cheer for the dog. which. it is interest
ing TO relate. has within the last twelve
! months saved a child from drowning and
earned q reputation throughout this part
of Wharfdale by killing a savage otter on
his own account after n desperate en-
counter.