Year: 1879

BROOKLYN, Aug. "A very exciting scene
took place III the vicinity OF the Hamilton
Avenue ferry yesterday. Nan the Newsboy
and young man named Thos. Doyle beiuK
circumstances In life could be ascertained
He is described as being u respectfully attired
Individual OF twenty-five years OF age, who
had indulged his taste for whisky without
any. reference to the laws Of moderation.
With the name OF Nan the Newsboy the.
public is already sufficiently acquainted
to render very little introduction neces-
sary. His connection with newsboyhood
ceased some years ago. his years being
almost identical with those of Doyle
His RvOcation is that Of saving hui
man life. 1t is not altogether labor OF
love with him, for pecuniary considerations
enter into it, but 1t Is a labor, nevertheless,
efficiently performed whenever an opportu-
nifty occurs. Yesterday his path OF duty lay
In the wake of an excursion. He was engaged
by Mr. Starln, of the tugboat Fame, to 60 to
Alpin Grove with party Of excursionists.
On such occasions he bitches his boat to one
OF the barges, earning three dollars for the
day. and being in readiness at appropriate
prnvOcatiOn to jump overheard


Yesterday the barges made their last land


ing on their outward voyage ia tho vicinity 81
the terry already named. Man was lying
at his ease at full length 10 his boat when a
ascertain the case of it and saw q we'll built
youth struggling In the water. There was
something Ia the motions OF the man that
struck the life-saver as being to some extent
peculiar. He was buffeting the waves In q
literal as distinct from the accepted sense OF
the word, apparently animated with an in
sane desire to do the water some physical in
jury. He struck at it with his fists, hurled
himself head downward into it, and altogether
conducted himself In % most erratic manner.
Quick as thought Nan unoosed hts boat,
seized his oars and pulled in the direction OF
the man. Though the latter WAS rapidly b.
coming exhausted he was still lost to the
value Of friendly overtures, and received
newsboys intention lay in the direction Of an
unprovoked assault. Nothing dauntod Nan
gripped his collar and warded off the blows
directed at him. Five hundred people
surgpd to tile stern OF the barge and
watched the contest, and a number
almost equally as large had already gathered
on the wharf. Two or three times
| the boat came 50 near upsetting that another
| inch of immersion would have swamp.d her
but sl1iliful manenverng kept her right side
! up, and In less than five minutes Doyle was
prostrate in the boat. He was making frantic
efforts to get up, but the prospects were un-
| favorable. One hundred and fifty pounds Of
humanity was seated on his chest engaged In
the somewhat conflicting occupation OF mold
ing down a man afflicted with well-developed
horrors and directing the boats bow toward
the canalboat near the ferry. When the latter
| was finally reached q half-dOzen men took q
hand Doyle appeared to have recovered his
strength and was giving q world Of trouble
Whatever his bath mad done for his attire 1t


had not dampened his ardor to any visible ex,
tent. ana he was feyeIishly anxious to get
back into the river. He fought and bit and
fumed, warding off attacks which no one
dreamed OF making on him, and keeping at
bay score Of purely imaginary beings. a
stout rope was wound around Ills body, and ht
was hauled Oh board the canalboat. There he
engaged the attention Of stalwart half
dozen with an endurance that promised to be
everlasting, his struggles ending only when hf
was securely bound hand and foot. He recov
cred his senses about an hour later under the
was taken home. Nan, the centre Of an ap
preciative group, was warmly congratulated
upon his achievement.