Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-11-10
.LEANDER OF TIE SCHUYLKNL
Wins a Fair Fiancee by an Act Of
Daring Bravery.

Daring Bravery.
WILLIE LYNN, TO MERIT HIS
LOVED ONES APPROVAL, LEAP
ED FROM THE READING
BRIDGE AND SWAN HALF A
MILE IN THE ICY WATER.
PROVED HIMSELF A MAN AND
WORTHY OF HER LOVE AND
| CONFIDENCE IS A NOR
| RHSTOWN BELLE, AND CHAL-
! LENGED WILLIE TO SHOW HIS
PROWESS = WILLIE'S RIVAL
HAD NO STOMACH FOR SUCH
WORK.
NORRISTOWN, Pa, November g.
In order to prove his determination and
courage, Willie Lynn jumped from the
Reading bridge into the Schulyklll
river to-day and swan for more
than half a mile in the cold water. He
says that the feat was a little difficult,
but if his sweethert, Gertie Nc
Namaree, is not convinced that he has
! a reasonable amount of courage he is
willing to make the leap dozen times.
Gertie has lived with her father for
several years on the river front near
Norristown and has always been con-
sidered the belle of the rivermen. she
| is acknowledged to be beautiful by
every one who has ever seen her. By
the better class of people in the neigh
| borhood she is known as 'the Lady OF
the Lake." while her immediate
| friends and acquaintance commonly
speak of her as "McNamaree's gal"
Naturally, Gertie has had beaux and
offers of marriage by the score, but in
each instance she quietly turned her
admirers aside and remained simply
''McNamaree's gall"
BATTLE FOR LOVE.
For more than year lively contest
has been in progress for the possession
| of her affections between Willie Lynn
and John Mcdonald. The men are
striking contrast in every way. Nc
Donald is big, broad-shouldered and
rough, with a voice like young bulls,
while Lynn is rather small and frail,
with fair hair and light blue eyes and
a voice more like a woman's than
| mans.
The men have been on bad terms for
some time on account of their mutual
love, but lately their dislike for one
another has become noticeable to
everyone in the neighborhood on ac-
count of Gertie's having several times
shown a decided partially for McDon-
aid
Last night Lynn called on the girl
to press his suit, but when he put the
question she answered.
81 could never love you, for you have
never done anything brave in your
life
MAYBE l haven't" he said, "but it
| is because I never have had the chance.
But if you will tell me something to
do I'll do it,
Jump off the bridge" she suggest
| ed.
'Tll do it in the morning" said
Lynn, land if you will row under it at
| 7 o'clock with your Mcdonald, III
show you what a real man can do"
KEPT THE TRYST.
| Gertie took it all as an immense joke,
| but nevertheless was under the bridge
at the appointed hour, with Mcdonald
| holding the oars.
How Lynn got to the top of the
| bridge is mystery, but as the whist
! les at the factories on the shore, blew
| for o'clock his body shot out from
| the center Of the railing and descended
gracefully to the water below. In
spite of the height of the bridge he
| managed to keep control over his body
and struck the water like a practiced
professional diver.
| Gertie and Mcdonald were by his
side in the boat when he came up. The
girl begged him to climb into it, but
| he said
mot yet. Wait until I've shown you
that I'm man."
Down the river they went for more
| than a half mile, Gertie acknwledg-
ing all of the time that he really was
| her hero without further test, but Lynn
refused to get into the boat until she
was sure that her mind had been re-
lieved of all suspicion of his coward
| ice.
In coming back up the river Gertie
turned suddenly en- Mcdonald, who had
scarcely spoken, since his rivals leap.
Would you do that for me?" she
asked him.
Without another word she turned the
boat to the shore and when they land
ed she looked at Mcdonald and nodded
| towards the bank He got out and the
boat floated away before him. The
| heretofore vanished was victor.
Lynn and, Gertie are engaged and