The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-08-11
FLUNG INTO THE SEA
Experience Of a Man Struggling
In Midocean.
SENSATIONS OF DROWNING
A Tansle Of Wild Thoughts Combined
With Vague Notions Of Time and
Spaca--The Dreamy Dozs, the Res,
cue and the Knife In His Back.

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| Spaea--Ths Dreamy Dozs, the Res
cue and the Knife In His Back.
Standing on chair near the dec
rail OF an ocean liner, a sudden lure
OF the vessel flung me into the Atlantic
lnstinctively as | went over | held m,
arms out for the dive and while wa
still falling ! heard the cry ring out
MAN overhoardm
Down, down sank. for the fall wa,
from a considerable height. Being abl,
to swim little, was spared the frs
mental agony experienced by the non
swimmer who Unexpectedly finds him
self In deep water. The surprise
caused by the suddenness OF the tal
filled my brain, but as struggled Il
regain the surface, my lungs almost
bursting. the horrible thought OF the
propeller churning out Its 100 revolt
tions a minute flashed upon me.
Should | be mangled beyond recognI.
ton In a second? Oh, for another years
sweet life! Would my leg be cut clean
or or
l could see the sky again. and took
a great breath OF fresh air. though sick
with fear. Then | saw the steamer
had passed. | was spared mutllation
to die slowly by drowning.
How rapidly the steamer was vanish
ing! | could catch glimpse OF II
when green wave lifted me high IN
the water. would only be able 10
swim for ten minutes-ten little min
utes!-though | was stlll In the prime
OF life. Surely that cry as fell would
have reused somebody to action, And
yet | was alone In the Atlantic. with
possibly two miles OF water between
me and the bottom
| looked round anxiously to see
whether lifebuoy had been thrown
There was nothing In sight but wide
waste of water and the fast disappear.
Ing steamer
My arms were growing heavy. All
tried to do was to keep my head above
water. but seemed to have been do
Ing that for an hour. My legs. too,
were refusing to bend. The end could
not be far away.
My arms must both be broken. for
they would hardly move, and they
ached terribly. What q long time a
man could keep afoatl I was vaguely
glad | could not swim very well. be-
cause 1t would have meant waiting for
the end such long time. 1t made one
1rowsy.
Another wave lifted me up, and
saw the steamer had changed its posi-
ton. 1t must be going back to Eng
and to tell them at home what had
to me. How soothing the
yea was! If only could stop trying to
work my arms that aching pain in
hem would cease and | might go to
ileep.
Sometimes when | saw the ship,
which never seemed to get any farther
way now, remembered | was fight
ng for another minutes life. 1t had
)een harder at first, but now the sea
ulled me into happiness.
What on earth were they playing at
IN the steamer? ! had nearly caught It
Up again, only somehow | had got In
ront Of it. 1t grew bigger quickly,
md 1t was coming straight on. II
hose ridiculous people were not care
ul they might run over me yet.
Perhaps 1t would be better to go to
leep, after ALL My arms were easier,
nd did not want to breathe so much |
ow. 1t was getting dark and ever so
ouch colder than 1t was last night. |
he steward must give me an extra
lanket.
Why was everything so hazy and the
Dom stuffy? could hardly breathe.
md yet 1t didn't matter. Nothing
battered, but wished dreamily that
ONE one would stop digging a knife
lto my back. for was just dropping
IF to sleep nicely.
Next day | found the knife" had
cen the point Of a boat hook with
'hich they picked me up as / came TO
le surface. The steamer had turned |
! circle and arrived Just in time
ondOn Answers.