Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-12-12
The Argus Daily Story
A Singular Call-By +, Townsend Smith.
Copyrighted 1919 by Associated Literary Bureau

into the same position as he 1t was
upon this information that | realized
fully that Mabel had called upon me
to probably sacrifice my life in at
tempting to save that of her husband.
On reaching the scene of the trou-
BILE the group there all turned toward
me. Mabel was present. and when
my eyes met hers | was at a loss to
understand the expression there was
in them. l had expected to see a pa
thettc appeal. Whether she realized
that such an appeal would be asking
me to risk my own life. perhaps give
it, for her husband, did not know,
nor do know now. She simply looked
at me. Perhaps she considered her
telegram an appeal which should not
be repeated.
put on divers outfit. and a two
inch cable was lOoped under my arms.
was lowered some distance from the
hole through which the water was fiow-
ing and walked toward 1t till l began
TO slightly feel the suction. l stopped
and saw Granger lying partly across
the hole. After few moments
thought l signaled to be brought TO
the surface. On reaching it l called
for another two inch rope-beSides the
one under my arms-looped ut the end.
I would have preferred wire rope, but
1t was not NJ hand.
What are you going to do?" / was
asked.
There's no way to save him but TO
go into the suction myself. place the
rope under his arm and signal you to
draw us both up"
You'll both perish" was the re-
Spouse.
Mabel was looking at me, and my
eyes met hers. We understood each
other. though not n word was spoken.
But what passed between us? All,
that only we and the Lord know!
Hanging the loop OF the duplicate rope
on my shoulder | went down again. |
had advanced but few inches nearer
to Granger than before when l was
caught in the suction, and ii seemed
that Il mountain was on me. l was
pulled down on to him, and so strong
was the current that could not move
the rope from my shoulder to put it
around him. The only motion | could
make was n lateral one with the cur
rent Placing my hands and knees
against him, | managed to move my
body so that my shoulder, on which the
rope rested. was near the top of Gran
gers head ! moved so that 1t slipped
| Off. and by great effort 1 guided it so
! that 1t went down over his head. He was
/ lying on his back, and 1t would so no
| farther, but | managed to insert my
knee between him and the masonry
beneath him, and this enabled me to
slip the rope down nearly to his waist.
BY succession of efforts l got it be-
low both hands. so that when moved
back again toward his armpits it left
the arms free.
| had now done all could do. The
question remained would the rope
stand the strain Of hosting him would
he live till this question was decided:
! As to myself, only the first of these
questions pertained. 1 was in my full
strength. Granger just before my Sec
ond descent had made feeble pull on
the cord.
l gave the signal and waited for the
final act in the play for two lives. L
felt a strain on the rope under my
arms which soon grew to be terrific. l
signaled on Granger's cord. The strain
on me ceased, and the rope under him
frightened. For a time ] saw no move
ment In him: then / could discern one
similar to the minute hand of a clock.
He was slowly sliding away from over
the hole If he were removed and re-
manned l would be sucked into his
position.
machine on the capstan principle
had been provided which would enable
those above to pull us both up II the
ropes would stand the strain. l pulled
my own rope and Changers at the
same time. There was a halt, and in
few minutes the strain on both of us
recommended. The ropes slanted, and
we very slowly began to move horizon
tally. | knew from the strain, which
was intensely painful, that only the
stoutest rope could stand It. We
moved so slowly that would not have
known we moved at all had not noted
our positions in relation to the mason
ry. Suddenly the upper part of our
bodies passed beyond the suction col
ceptibly lessened Then il diminished
rapidly. and we began to rise.
There was no shout when we reached
the surface. for it was not known
whether we were alive or dead. Those
present soon knew that | lived. for 1
motioned them TO attend TO Granger
When his helmet was unscrewed his
wife removed it. Her head dropped
on his breast, and / knew that he was
dead
No one could do enough for me to
show appreciation Of the risk | had
taken to save a fellow man. When
Mabel and / parted she conveyed her
thanks by a pressure Of the hand with
out looking Mt me. | heard nothing
from her and did not go TO see her for
a year The day after the anniversary
of her being made n widow ! called
upon her. What passed between us |
would not think OF trunscrlbing here.
but within few months she gave ma
my reward for my effort-harself.