Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-06-16


Deed of Heroism.
now living in Rock Island whose men,
cries run back so far, and few indeed
of the host of friends of ex-senator
William Payne who have ever heard
of his exploit.
Following is an account of it, taken
from the Davenport Weekly Journal
published Thursday, June "a, 1869. II
there were any doubt of the identity
of the hero of the story with our own
Bill Payne, it would be removed by
the concluding paragraph, which any
Of his friends will admit is perfect
description, making allowance for 40
years in the matter of age:
"On the morning of the 10th the
Muscatine passed down containing Il
company of soldiers from FIT. Riley, on
their way to the frontier of Texas.
The boat drew up at Rock Island,
when one of the soldiers was noticed
climbing up the bulwark of the boat.
mumbling sulIenly to himself and
dining the steamer. its officers, and
everything connected with his exist
ence Suddenly. before his compan-
ions were aware of his intention, he
leaped into the river. A woman on
| board, acting as sort of sub steward
ess, commenced an unearthly scream
ing that was heard on this bank of
, the river.
| Payne to the Rescue.
Deputy Sheriff William Payne of
| Rock Island, who happened to be near
: the shore. heard the screams of the
yoman, and ran to the boat to see
what was the matter. He saw the
man struggling in the water In a mo-
ment he Invested himself of his outer
clothing, and dashed into the water,
and with long and powerful strokes
approached the spot where the drown
| ing man was seen 10 go down. When
he reached the spot he dove and soon
brought the soldier to the surface. AS
they came up, the drowning man
grasped him by the arm He then
swan and was carried by the current
to the ferry boat which was lying
some distance below, when a man on
board grasped the edge of the boat and
grasped him by the foot and hung in
this way till skiff came and took
them on board
HE was in a limp condition when
taken on board, and when he regaineG
his senses sufficiently to know that his
| hn hot
/ would throw him overheard and enc
, the matter, as he had no desire to liv,
: any longer. This was rather migrate
: full to Mr.. Payne, who had gone to ST
: much trouble and wet his clothes t,
r save him.
PrOnOuns Badly Mixed.
: But Mr.. P. doubtless does not fee
offended, for he has the reputation o
liking to do plucky things for the flu
of it. He was prevented from throw
ing away his worthless existence, how
ever, and placed under guard. 1t wa
suggested that a dose of cat o min
. tails should be administered to brin
him to realizing sense of life. 1t i
understood that he has, from the tim
. the company was ordered south, e,
!, pressed a determination never to G
Z thither, and finding no possible oppo
\ tunity to desert, he has thus assaye
Z to sever the knotty difficulty by NAL
) ing himself food for fishes, and h
came precious near doing it.
D For the benefit of feminine admi
4 ers of heroism, we would say that M
Q p. is young and good looking, and e
3 pecially susceptible to female blanc
ishments.'
81 When Senator Payne was aske
z today how old he was, he admitted thu
3 he was 40, but beyond that refused t
Z stand for any surmise or CONJECTURE
Q at any rate" quoth he, Il am not q
x old as Major Hawes."
ri A Hurry-Up Medicine.