Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1919-09-12


below.
came back to the surface dazed
and weakened, yet sufficiently con-
scious to make an intelligent struggle
for life. The over-hang of the rapidly
passing boat still concealed me from
the observation of those above on the
deck, and the advantage of permitting
them to believe that the blow on my
head had resulted in drowning, to-
gether with the knowledge that must
swiftly get beyond the stroke of that
deadly wheel, flashed instantly through |
my brain. 1t was like a tonic, reviving |
every energy. Waiting only to inhale
one deep breath of air, plunged back
once more into the depths, and swan |
strongly under water. The effort |
proved successful, for when / again |
ventured to emerge, gasping and ex-
hausted, the little Warrior had swept |
past, and become merely a shapeless
outline, barely visible above the sur
face of the river.
Slowly treading water, my lips held |
barely above the surface, l drew in J
deep draughts of cool night air, my
mind becoming more active as hope re-
turned. The blow / had received was
a savage one, and panied duly, but the
cold water in which 1 had been i'm
cease, and likewise revived all my fac
ulties. The very fact that no effort was
made to stop was sufficient proof that
Throckmorton in the wheelhouse re-
mained unconscious of what had oc-
Cured on the deck below. My fate
might never be discovered, or suspect
ed. l was alone, submerged in the
great river, the stars overhead alone
piercing the night shadows. A log
swept by me, white bursts of spray il
Eliminating it's sides, and / grappled it
gratefully, my fingers finding grip on
the sodden bark. Using this for par
tial support, and ceasing to battle so
desperately against the dewn-sweep of
the current, l managed finally to work
my way into an eddy, struggling on
ward until my feet at last touched
bottom at the end of low, out-crop-
ping point of sand. This proved to be
mere spit, but / waded ashore, water
streaming from my clothing, conscious
now of such complete exhaustion that
sank instantly outstretched upon the
sand, gasping painfully for breath,
every muscle and nerve throbbing.
The night was intensely still, black
| impenetrable. 1t seemed as though no
human being could inhabit that desc
| late region. lifted my head to listen
for the slightest sound of life, and
strained my eyes to detect the distant
glimmer of a light in any direction.
Nothing rewarded the effort. Yet sure
ly here on this long-settled west bank
of the Mississippi / could not be far
removed from those Of my race, for l
knew that all along this river shore
were cultivated plantations and little
frontier towns irregularly served by
passing steamboats,.
The night air increased in chilliness
as the hours approached dawn, and 1
shivered in my wet clothes, although
this only served to arouse me into i'm
mediate action. Realizing more than
ever as 1 again attempted to move my
weakness and exhaustion from the
struggle, / succeeded in gaining my feet.
and stumbled forward along the mar
row spit of sand, until 1 attained a
bank of firm earth, up which / crept
painfully, emerging at last upon fair
iy level spot, softly carpeted with
grass, and surrounded by a grove of
forest trees. The shadows. here were
dense, but my feet encountered a de-
! precision in the soil, which 1 soon iden-
tilted as a rather well-defined path
leading inland. Assured that this must
point the way to some door, as it was
evidently no wild animal trail, / felt
my way forward cautiously, eager to
attain shelter, and the comfort of q
fire.
i came suddenly to a patch of cult.
waited land, bisected by small stream
the path / was following leading along
its bank. Holding to this for guidance
within less than q hundred yards
came to the house / was seeking. g
small. log structure, overshadowed by
gigantic oak, and standing isolated
and alone. Believing the place to be
occupied by slave, or possibly some
white squatter, l advanced directly tt
the door, and called loudly to whoevel
might be within.
There was no response, and, believ
ing the occupant asleep, l raped
sharply. Still no voice answered, al
though felt convinced of some move
ment inside. leading me to believe tina
the sleeper had slipped from his beC
and was approaching the door. Agail
l raped, this time with greater impa
tience over the delay, but not tn
slightest sound rewarded the effort
Shivering there in my wet clothes, tn
stubborn obduracy of the felloV
: awakened my anger.
"Open up, there" l called command
= ingly, 'or else I'll break down you
door,"
In the darkness / had been unot
servant of narrow slide in the uppe
8 panel, but had scarcely uttered thes
: words of threat when the flare Of
discharge almost in my very face fail
- ly blinded me, and 1 fell backward
v aware of a burning sensation in on
q shoulder. The next instant 1 lay ou
stretched on the ground, and it SCENE
: to me that life was fast ebbing frol
v my body. Twice L endeavored vainl
v to rise, but at the second attempt M
Il brain reeled dizzily and 1 sank bac
"a unconscious.
l.