Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1902-02-15

mel up In line: Famine prices for
bread. no work for brcad-winners.
As to the Importance of this ns n
campaign issue, he who runs may read.
browning Is Il pleasant death" Is Il
remark constantly made by those who
never sulpcd down salt water into the
delicate TISSUES of their lungs. was
bathing In rough water on the beach OF
a watering place In Northern France.
swept out to sea. struggled, sank. be.
came inscnslblc. and was saved by the
courage and skill of n gallant French.
| man who wrote his name that day Ia
| my mothers New Testament us Il me.
mortal of the rescue. This was all. The
| circumstances were ordinary. \ thou
sand such may occur every year. Psy'
chologlcally, however, there are points
IF interest which arise principally from
| the fact that | remember all that hap.
pcncd during q period of time which
| may have been four or five minutes,
but which appeared to he rs many
hours.
Almost Immediately | entered tho
water. the much rcsoundng roar of the
waves struck me rs dcsolating ana sor
rowful-full of forcbodlngs and terror
Ashamed of this fancy. lnstlnctivcly.
but foOllslly, fought my way scaward
aud was promptly ont of my depth; not
BECAUSE intended to run any risk. for
! could not swim. but because the
strong current had scOopcd out hol
low IN the sandy bottom. which had six
feet Of water on the top of 1t. Tumbled
over by the waves, the concentrated
agony Of the moment when the water
closed over my head for the first time
cannot he described.
1t was the blttcrcst poln, of the strug.
Gle, Cruel and omnlpotcnt force, with.
ont warning or reason. surrounded mo.
and my frantic and determined efforts
To escape only lnccnscd the pcntup
passion TO cease holding my breath and
10 lnhalc once more. felt instlnctlvcly.
as ! wrlthcd In the cold, black water
that If once suCcumDcd 10 the tcmpta.
ton To cXpcl my breath. which almost
burst the ribs In my angry efforts 10
retain II, the end would come: that I
should be compelled To breathe inward
while covered with the pressing salt
water. At this time must have glv-n
way ana the dreaded stream of air
bubbles rose to the surface.
\ few weeks before had watched
the drowning of Il eat in the clear water
OF II running stream. The animal was
tcthercd 10 Il stone, and had fought
with upturncd face for liberty. When
the bubbles rose in II silver fountain
from the corners Of It's mouth. II stood
ut the bottom swaying in the gentle
current, turned over, and after one final
struggle gave up the ghost. This scene
came wildly before me. | thought Of
this wrctched eat, and was half amused
to think that my case was the case Of
the cat. There was no fear. The actual
circumstance filed my attention, and
the plteous longing TO escape became
subordlnatcd TO the feeling of intOler.
able pain. Eyes, chest, limbs were all
one solid pain.
just then touched the sandy bottom
with my fingers ana knees, and hastily
Snatched handful of sand and water
10 thrust in my mouth to end this strug.
Gle for air. All ! wanted was TO end
the pain. No thought of death. except
as IN interesting aud immatcrlal factor
in the situation, came over me. II Is
true that | remembered that | should
he missed when dinner time came. and
was found missing aud thinking Of
the home people, | thought of blue
tie had left on n chest Of drawers in
my bedroom, which had intended tn
put on. Then, suddenly, ! found my
eyes above water for Il second, ana |
saw two blurred fingers near On his !
! sank again, ana was conscious - rclaN,
Ing effort and sinking out Of II con,
sCiuus state 10 one In which one dream.
cd without knowlcdgr what the dreams
were
, From this | awOke In great pain IN
the center of u crowd on the beach
whittier my rrscucr had borne me. My
first thought was one of infinite and
unrcasCnlug shame. but the nausea
causcd by swallowing so much sail
water quickly brought me back to cartn
again.
%eS
Quick Winks.