The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-06

improved that no one looked for what was
to happen.
While walking on the saloon deck amid
ships, smoking a cigar, with his compan-
ion. Mr.. Soly Joel. Barnato. who seemed
in high spirits suddenly asked the time
Of day, wrenched himself from Joels arm
and jumped over the rail-
AT this moment Clifford was bending
over Miss Rodney. who sat on a deck
chair aft. At the cry of man overheard"
he ran up the steps leading to the hurri-
cane deck, shouted the alarm and tore Off
his coat.
30, Mr.. Clifford" begged the young wo-
man, you're not going to jump over
board?' But turning only to look at her
for a second the fourth officer clad in
neglige shirt and duck trousers. make no
reply, but took a long dive, while the Scot
was rolling to starboard, and disappeared
in the white caps For some time he
could be seen when punging on the crest
of wave, striking out In the wake OF
the ship, and then the hundreds of passen-
gers who had crowded aft In such num-
bers as to almost endanger the ship, lost
sight of him
The rather cold and reserved Miss
Rodney in the meantime had suddenly
developed into a very fervid though
practical sweetheart for after dashing
about from one deck 10 another IN
state OF frenzy she ran 10 the davits
where the sailors We're hastily lowering a
row boat and did what she could 10 aid
them as she thought
Before the ship could be stopped Barnato
had been left two miles astern and Cliff
ford had swan nearly to him. The latter
was picked up first, all but worn out. He
had been entirely submerged half OF the
time.
Mr. Barnato's body was recovered later,
head downward, with ife entirely extinct.
In spite of this tremendous exertion,
Clifford, on the return voyage, when the
writer was a passenger carried off the
honor at the athletic games which are al
ways the feature of a Voyage on these
steamers. The games last three days. and
the prizes In money are sufficient TO In
cite strong competition. After winning the
200-yard dash against very fast company,
and It Is not an easy job to keep ones
feet on a rolling deck Clifford took part
in the obstacle race. winning 1t by a small
lead from the captains steward.
These two were the only ones able to
finish, the other eight men becoming ex-
hausted, for this race Is a terrible test OF
endurance, and only a person with a per-
feet physique can compete in H. The
contestants were started off with a pis-
toll shot and given first a 1OO-yard dash.
Then followed six hurdles, climbing the
rigging, long jumps, hand over hand up
ropes the gauntlet through a file OF sail
ors each of whom held three-inch hose,
and half a dozen other unique obstacles.
The race wound up with scramble
through a canvas sack thirty feet long
and four feet IN diameter. There was a
foot of water I'm the sack and outlets at
either end. When a man gets through
this he is generally about done for. But
Clifford was barely winded and emerged
smiling.
He ascribes his physical prowress to con-
tinual swimming when a boy along tie
African coast. Capt Clifford his father,
was for a long time port captain of East
London, and young Clifford was knocking
about ships most of the time and learning
tricks from the amphibious natives. From
the Zulu boys he learned a powerful side
stroke which he combines with the Eng
ish broad stroke in fast swimming.
When his father became a captain on the
Castle Line steamers the boy was taken
on as an apprentice and soon became a
smart sailor. He Joined the Royal Naval
reserve and in October 1885, was given a
masters certificate and commission as
sub Lieutenant. He Joined the Union
Steamship Company's service as fourth Of
fioer the same month, and, after making
four voyages IN the Spartan, was trans
ferred to the Scot. 1t was on his third voy-
age on that vessel when, in June, 1897.
Barney Barnato did the young officer such
q good turn
clifford is now % years old, but is lock-
ed upon as one OF the most efficient Off
GERS i'm the Royal naval reserve. He Is 5
feet, inches in hight, and has shoulders
so broad that they seem entirely out Of
proportion to the rest Of his body Sun
burned 10 a Venetian red. and hardened
by the wind and waves he looks a typical
sea dog. and when logged out IN the natty
Uniform Of a naval officer IS a handsome
and striking 1gure. With the fortune that
viii soon be in his control he could abandon
the sea and become a gentleman Of leis-
ure, as his Gancee insists he shall but
England is moi likely to allow a naval Off
Ger Of such intrepid courage to become
buried in private life