The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1902-12-11

after my third stroke. TO hear another
boat approaching through the fog from
the opposite direction. l backed water
vigorously. just in time to escape be
ing run down by tug that was max
ing the water 1y as she dashed west
ward
l caught the splash Of Il rope, and
waited. Soon came the huge bulk OF
an empty barge, rising high above the
water. Ii passed so near that backed
another stroke TO he out OF the way of
the one which l felt sure was follow
ing it. Soon | heard another towrOpe
whipping the surface, aud n second
barge the size of the first swept by.
| listened for several seconds, but hear
ing no further sound. l bent to my
oars again, feeling sure that there
were no more barges.
| had gone perhaps thirty feet when
something struck the bottom Of my
skiff. A large cable rose squarely
beneath the boat. swapping 1t into
the air. As my boat dropped back
it fell stern first and capslzed. throw
ing me out. When l went under
lost my grip Of the oars. and on coming
to the surface again | moved my hands
frantlcally about in the hope of find
ing them.
Two or three inches above the water
my fingers encountered something
round and wet, and closed about 1t like
Il wise. 1t was the cable which had
capszed me. a third barge had been
towing after the other two. and its
hawser had proved the cause of the
disaster.
Higher and higher It rose, lifting
me above water until was only waist
deep. The waves rippled against my
body as | was dragged along. l caught
last glimpse of my oars and water
logged boat drifting away In the fog.
Then they We're swallowed up and l
was left clinging to the sod len rope.
| did not dare let go of ii 10 attempt
to regain my sklf'. Indeed, so con-
fused was that the idea did not enter
my head until the chance was gone.
The hawser began to sink again.
Lower and lower 1t fell until l was
submerged to the neck. Deeper II
went. and deeper still. had no choice
but TO let go, unless | wished TO be
dragged under. | released my hold
and was left struggling in the waves,
padding to keep afioat
Should / abandon the cable and
strike out for shoreI | was not a
strong swimmer, and the land was a
that fog would be suicide, as | should
soon lose all sense Of direction and
| circle aimlessly about until | sank
| My only salvation was 10 keep neal
the rope, so thar 1 might grasp IL When
it rose. Once let me lose that. and
should drown or be run down by
some passing boat
Up came the hawscg again with :
snap, catching me Violently across tbs
chest. Regaining my hold with diff
Guilty, was lifted up, up, until only
my legs dragged In the wafer. Thei
down / sank again till tile rope passet
below my reach In a line OF piosphor
escent bubbles. This could not las
forever. IT, after the cable had sunk
the barges should make q iurn and pul
It from beneath me 50 that | could no
regain my hold when ii rose. my posi-
tlon would be serious indeed Ever!
time I let go those twisted strands n,
life hung IN the balance
| saw that the only thing for me t,
do was TO make my way IN once TO on
OF the barges before my strength be
came exhausted. The boat behind wa
Of course the easier to reach. for sh
approached me llttle every time
let go the rope.
Splash 10 the right. Splash 20 th
left. Tile hawser was rising agaiI
Once more It lifted me into The ali
Before It sank / had worked mysel
some feet toward the barge. After
was gone | padded in the same dire,
tlon. Again and again | dld This.
An easterly wind was rising and th
water was growing rougher. The 10
still clung TO the surface. Far up an
down the sound the whistles blew cor
tinually, some faint and distaut. other
louder ana nearer. My fingers wer
numb from clutching the coar>
strands.
At last | knew that | was drawin
: near the barge The cable no long'
r sank beneath my reach. | could hei
the rush Of wafer before the prov
b And now the rope was above the su
face altogether. High in ihc air abON
Z. me blunt stem looned through II
Y mist. II was the barge ut last wit
0 the cable rising at sharp angle an
I disappearing over Its bow.
e Wearled by my efforts felt that
1 could never climb that steep sloI
i without help. | shouted, but my vol,
could not be heard above the rushlI
q foam. DespairIng at last OF attractlr
! the attention OF anyone on board,
saw that my only chance was TO a
L cend the hawser. | was fairly stroI
e In the arms, and had II not been for II
e preyions struggles the feat would ha'
v been an easy one. In my present stat
q it seemed tremendous task; but
I had no choice Ia the matter. My II
I hung on my power TO lift myself haI
over hand. If let go. the barge wou
l. ride ever me like y marine car