The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1908-02-29
,o>e>0~o.o~o>o.0>o>e-e>0

writes the BelleVillc (N. ~ CORE
spondent of the New York Press.
When he was discovered by Chief of
Police Flynn and Cronin's hunter COM
pan.ons Cronin had sunk so far into
the quagmire that only his head was
visible The distressed yelpings of
Cronins dog had attracted attention.
If the rescuers had delayed their COM
ing five minutes longer all trace OF
the man would have been lost, and
the disappearance OF Cronin would
have passed down as one Of the mys-
teries of local history.
1t was with great difficulty the man
was saved even after he had been dis
covered. His hands and arms we're
in the grip Of the mire, and he could
do nothing to help himself. Risking
the danger of being sucked down,
Chief Of Police Flynn crawled out on
saplings hastily cut, helped Cronin to
get his hands and arms out of the
deadly ooze and told him to hold on
to the saplings until he could be drag
ged out After a terrible wrenching
Cronin was pulled to hard ground.
He was so weak from fright and ex-
haustion that his companions had to
carry him a long distance to find
medical assistance.
HAD GIVEN UP HOPE.
Cronin had given up hope Of being
saved when his companions reached
the edge of the quagmire. He had
fired his gun twice, shouted until his
voice had given out and exhausted
himself by struggling. His dog heard
his cries of distress. Leaving the trail
of the rabbit, it returned to its mas
ter. Round and round the quagmire
but when its master failed to get up
it began to howl piteously. 1t was
that bowling that awakened the fears
Of the others in the party and caused
them to make an investigation.
Cronin, Chief Of Police Flynn, john
Flynn. Is years old, son of the Chief,
and Frank Curran, all of Belleville.
having heard game was plentiful in
Bergen County, crossed the Passaic
River and went into a piece of wood
land near the abandoned copper mine
formerly owned by General Schuyler.
They had been in the woods only a
few minutes when Cronin's dog start
ed rabbit and chased it. Cronin
was excited and ran after the dog,
shouting as he went His companions
remained behind.
SANK IN WAD1NG POOL.
Cronin ran for about five minutes
then saw in his path black and
seemingly shallow pool. Without
thinking of the danger, he started to
wade through it. When he was half
way across he sank to his hips. Still
he did not realize his danger. 1t was
not until he tried to lift his feet that
he realized they were fast
That fact disturbed him, but it was
not until he felt that he was slowly
sinking that he became thoroughly
frightened He struggled to free him.
self, but the only result was that he
sank more deeply. He realized that
he was in the grip of quagmire and
that unless help arrived quickly he
would be sucked down and smothered. |
The mud was UP to his chest when |
full realization of his danger came |
to him. Holding his gun up he dis
charged it. The sound rang through |
the woodland. Cronin thought the |
Flynns and Curran were following |
him. He had no idea they had gone
in another direction hunting for game !
for themselves.
There was no response to the first !
shot, Cronin yelled for help until he
was hoarse and then he discharged |
the other load in the gun It, too.
failed to bring any response. His
friends heard it, but they thought he
was shooting at rabbits and soon
would Pejoin them. |
DOG FINDS HIM AT LAST.
Presently Cronin was encouraged |
by the appearance of his dog and the
loud barking it set up when it discov
cred him. BY that time the mans
arms and his gun were beneath the
mud. The dog started several times
to go out to its master, but instructive
fear caused 1t to back away. Then 1t
began to howl dismally. Flynn and
Curran by that time had worked their
way around to where they could hear
the bowling. Thinking Cronin might
have injured himself with his gun,