The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1898-05-19
A HARD SWIM
VXTHEN was college boy of 1s I
wv lived in Cambridge, near Harvard
BY WILLIAM LlTTLEfoRD.

VXIHEN was college boy of Is I
wv lived in Cambridge. near Harvard
college, but every summer. when school
work was over, went to spend my va
cation with an aunt who lived in lit
tie town on the banks of the Mississip-
pi, in Tennessee.
It was during one of these visits that
the incident which am about to relate
occurred.
The principal amusement during
the summer of the lads in the little
town where my aunt resided was swim
ming in the great broad river that near
ly encircled the village, and almost
every boy in the vicinity was an expert
swimmer.
But the best boy swimmers in town
were my cousin, Lewis Atherton, and
his particular chum and crony, Harry
Shaw.
At the time of which l write both
were aged about IA. Lewis was stout,
muscular boy, with q firm, well-set
chin, and q cool, determined expression
that never forsook him under any cir
cumstances.
His friend Harry was more slender,
but active as q cat and swift of foot as
ayoung Indian.
As said before, Lewis and Harry
were the best boy swimmers in town.
and several times when the day was
Ane and the water smooth, they had
swum across the river, which, at that
point IL nearly mile in width; but
hol a1x hoG VI oil In
which to return.
One unusually warm day in late June
We strolled down to the river bank
above the town. and made ready for q
swim.
We had just struck out into the cur
rent when we saw, some distance up the
river, huge raft of lumber floating
down in midstream; and we decided to
swim to it, rest ourselves q little
while, and then swim back to shore.
The plan was well enough laid. but as
Burns says:
'sThe best-laid schemes o mice and men
gang AFT agley."
We reached the raft, and, Lavine
selected some planlzs on which to rest
ourselves, lay down to have chat. We
had been resting perhaps ten minutes,
and Lewis had Just proposed starting
to swim back. when we were startled
by sort OF bump that shook the whole
raft. and, springing up. we found, to ouI
Msmay, that the raft had landed on the
Missouri side Of the river.
It was all very well to swim the river
- volunteer feat, with skiff along to
take one in II he gave out; but to swim
across as matter of necessity was
quite different thing.
"Well, fellows, how are we going to
get back?" / asked, rather ruefully.
"Swim back. Of course" said both, in
one breath.
A fresh breeze had started up. and WI
saw that the longer we stayed the less
likely we would be to reach the oppo
ate shore in safety.
It was evening. The sky had become
overcast and the breeze came in little
irregular flaws. A storm was evidently
~aming UP, and storms in that regior
t-Imes came very rapidly. The
For RenvH in the current showed now
and Pleasanthn ominous white cap, but We
RtoAA8Ca An OAS oAtSA V1As
ke three frogs jumping on q
LOST-Sf
ana q - water seemed very cold at first
.,..,N .the exercise Of swimming sool
rove the chill away. and we felt quit
Scomfortable. The choppy waves an
! noyed us little. dashing into our face
st the most unexpected moments, AM
sometimes almost taking away ou
breath.
We were moro than quarter Of I
mile out when the wind completely die
sway. That meant squall. The ives
A Srew darker and darker. Everything
sesmed very still for awhile, and the
. distant roar was heard, and present
y We saw the squall coming up tn
! sassr. laahing the water with indescfit
abis tiny, and bearing along ciou
81 dust and leaves.
ThSss ves NO chance now but ;
aWiH ~ hle. and this we did with y
- ~. Ne vess nsrs than hsif'wa
!. "a .f a. - 80 ~ n