l2 THE TIMES, NEW BL00MFIEL1), PA.. JULY 1. 1879. A TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE, on A SWIM FOR LIFE. I AM fifty years old now, hale and strong, but not the Vigorous man I was at the time of the events described In this story. I was reared on the Mo uongfchela river. My earliest employ, mient was on that stream. I was a ferry nuan, a fisherman, a boatman, a rafts tman, Btid certainly a swimmer every thing that did not call uie away from ue river. When the United States declared war ugalnst Mexico I enlisted Bt Pittsburg In the Second Pennsylvania regiment, and went. I passed through General Scott's campaign with but one Blight wound, and It was an adventure I had near the City of Mexico, after the fighting was over, that resulted, strange as It may seem, tn a big swim in theMonongehela two years afterward. One day while we were quartered at Cuycan, seven miles from the conquer ed capital, I, being a sergeant, was order ed to take a file of men and pursue a .reckless character named M'Cutchln, - whe had escaped from the f4'uard house ;. and fled toward the city. He was one of the worst men in the regiment, and had 'lately been confined in the guard house to await a trial by court martial on a charge of murderous assault on a superior officer. We caught sight of the fugitive 'befwe we had gone half the distance to like city, and he immediately left the toad and plunged into a dense thicket of a square mile In extent. We immedia tely scattered through the bushes In pur suit, and five minutes later I came upon him hiding in a very thick clump of the chaparal. I expected he would run for it on being discovered, but to my surprise he sprang out and rushed upon uue like a tiger, flourishing a large knife, il had 'barely time to club my musket when he was within two feet of me, and had lie been one second soouer he cer v tuiuly would have stabbed me. But with one blow from the butt of my vn&sket I felled him, and immediately vailed fur my companions. They were both within hearing, and soon at the spot. "Here he is, boys," I said. "The rascal made an assault on me with his knife, and I knocked it down. Watch Jiim. Where is that knife?" ' Here it is," said one of the boys, picking it up. M'Cutchln had not got upon his feet and was rubbing his head, every now and then scowling upon me In a very terrible manner. "Oh, I'll pay you for this!" he finally said. "M'Cutchln," said I, "in arresting you I simply obeyed orders, and lu knocking you down I simply acted in self-defense. You know you attempted to kill me 'with that knife. Now I want none of your threats, or I'll make your case worse than it Is. March him to camp, boys." We proceeded to camp, the desperate prisoner all the while glaring upon me like a demon, and repeating muttered threats. He was a very wicked and re vengeful man. He was soon after court-martialed and sentenced to wear a ball and chain about his ankle for one month,and after that he was dismissed from the army in disgrace, forfeiting all all his back pay. So two months later he was put on board a transport at Vera Cruz and sent to New Orleans. During the second summer after my return to the United States I was em ployed as a mate of a steamboat on the Monongahela. She was a light draught boat called the Merry, and as the water did not usually fall low till late in Au gust, we plied between Pittsburg and New Geneva nearly all summer the distance being one hundred miles. Oc casionally, when there was any consid erable rise in the river, we ran up to Morgantown, W. V., twenty miles above New Geneva. One rainy evening, when" we arrived at New Geneva, we found the water high enough for a venture to Morgan town, and the captain decided to run up. Just before we left the landing a strange man came aboard, stating to the clerk that he wished to take a deck pas sage to Pittsburg, and asking permission to remain on the boat while running up to Morgantown and back, that he might at once " turn In," and have an unbro ken night's sleep, to which the clerk assented, the passenger paying his fare to Pittsburg. He was a rough looking man, with a rsandy beard that covered three-fourths of his face. However, I pale" but little .attention to him, and hs soon passed aft to where the freight was stored and the deck Lands slept. Our boat steamed up the river a little 'before dark, and we passed the mouth of the Cheat river just as night fairly set in which it did in terrible earnest. The clouds thickened up, the rain came down' in torrents, and I never before or since saw a night so intensely dark The Merry could hardly proceed far without running aground, for the tall shores entirely disappeared from view in the awful gloom ; but the doors of the furnace were thrown open and the blaz ing fire under the boilers shed a dim light ahead, which enabled the pilot to pick his way along for a time, by run ning very slowly. We had gone about two miles above the mouth of the Cheat river, when, de scending from the cabin deck by means of a very narrow flight of steps on the larboard side, I saw our deck passenger skulk away from the foot of the stairs and pass Into the quarters aft, ns though to escape observation. Ashe did so I caught a brief glimpse of his face for the light of a lamp at one of the engines' shone on it and it immediately struck me that It was not unfamiliar. A mo ment later, while I stood pondering, the face re-appeared at the door, and the deck passenger stepped out, saying, in a low tone : " Do you know me?" " I was just thinking I had seen you somewhere," I replied. "Must I tell you my name ?" he ask ed. " Yes, I would like to know it." The mysterious deck passenger step ped closer to me, so as his bearded face was within an inch of my ear, and whispered, " M'Cutchln." I had scarcely time to think ere he gave me a violent push with both hands, and I fell backward from the low deck into the river, immediately forward of the crashing wheel. A blow of one of its paddles would have crushed me, but fortunately I sank to the bottom and before I arose to the surface the wheel had passed over me. I shall never forget the sensation produced by the thunder ing of the paddles over my head and the rushing and bubbllug of the muddy water about my ears. My plunge into the water had been so entirely unexpected that I strangled badly at first, but being one of the best of swimmers I soon recovered, rested upon the surface with but little exertlou, and began to deliberate as to what I was going to do with myself. The clatter of paddles, rapidly receding from me, re minded me that I ought to make some effort to attract the atten Hon of those on the boat, and I shouted with all my might, but to no purpose; and the faint lights that peeped from the after cabin soon disappeared beyond a bend In the river, a little way above. The rain was pouring down, and the darkness so intense that I strained my eyes in vain to catch the outlines of the tall hills against the sky. The heavens themselves were as black as the rushing river. Nothing was to be seen ; I could only feel ; and it may be relied on that I felt very uncomfortable. The water was not decidedly cold, but it was much too cold when taken in such quantities. But I was too familiar with the water to be easily daunted, and although I could not say with Byron that I was a "child of the ocean," I deemed myself, at least, as near as a brother-in-law to the Monongahela river. So I struck out vigorously for what? Shore? Well, yes, I had some vague notion of getting to shore before morning, but how was I to get there ? In which direction should I swim ? For the life of me and that life was at stake I could not guess in what direction either shore lay. So I. struck out at random. There was a strong current in the river, but as I moved along with it, I had no means of calculating its course. Still, I swam away through the black torrent, confi dent that I must eventually reach one shore or the other. "When I had Bwam at least four times the width of the river I lay-to a mo ment, and again endeavored to pierce the awful gloom, but in vain. My eyes actually pained and head throbbed with the effort. It was so perfectly dark that I remember wondering if it ever could grow light again. There was no means of ascertaining where the shore was, and I endeavored more than once to " touch bottom" with my toes, but in vain. I then struck out again, and after swimmimg with all my might for ten or fifteen minutes, I began to be tired, and became really alarmed. Suppose whole hours should pass, and I should still be unable to discover the shore or strike it by accident ? The danger of my situa tion now burst upon me with bewilder ing force, and I felt that my strength was failing. I grew impatient and an gry, and began beating the cruel waters in my frenzy, and screaming loud curses against the murderous M'Cutchln,whose revengeful spirit had prompted him to hurl me into the fearful peril. Presently I heard the rippling of wa ter near me, and, thinking it was the current flowing among the rocks or bushes at the shore, I struck out in the direction with new hope. I put out my hand and touched something solid. But it was not the shore ; it was a large snag that barely peeped out of the water. Gladly accepting a respite, however, I climbed upon it, almost exhausted, And sat half immersed in water, shiver ing, trembling, and wondering whether the morning would see me alive. The rain was still pouring down, And I caught the glimmer of a faint flash of lightning, which was followed by the low rumbling of distant thunder. But the lightning was too dim to reveal the hidden shore. Presently I felt the snag sinking beneath my weight, and I plunged into the current again And re sumed my swimming in what direction I did not know. At last, when I felt that I could not stay up much longer, I caught a glimpse of a light in the distance. It was evi dently shining from a window, aud I was sure it must be on shore ; so, with new courage, I steered for the light, which for the first twenty-five minutes seemed to recede from me like an Ignis fatuus. But I persevered, determined to strike as long as a muscle would move, for I was swimming to some purpose now. Ten mlnuteB more, and I found that I was undoubtedly Hearing the light. Hope lent me new strength and courage, aud I think that, exhausted though I had reoently felt, I now did such swimming as I had never done before. Ten minutes more,' I was rapidly Hearing the light, when to my dismay, it suddenly vanished. My heart sank again ; my strength was fust leaving me, and I was about to go down with a half uttered prayer on my lips, when my feet touched the pebbly bottom, and I found myself In shallow water. I stood up, and with a tottering step, waded out and found myself on shore. I crawled up a steep and muddy bank and for a few minutes lay down almost helpless. The rain had abated somewhat, tho' the darkness hud not, but presently a flash of lightning revealed the whole scene to me among other objects, a lit tle log house, not more than fifty yards distant. I arose from the wet earth, and with trembling steps went stagger ing toward the house. Another kindly flash of lightning guided me to the door, at which I knocked without, hesita tion. " Who's there?" came from within. " My name is M'Cann," I replied. " I live at New Geneva, and am mate of the Merry. I fell off, and have Just swam ashore." " But what was the steamboat doing on Cheat river ?" asked the man of the house, striking a light. "Cheat river 1" I exclaimed. "We haven't been on Cheat river." The door was cautiously opened, and the farmer appeared, with a candle in one hand and a gun in the other. " Oh, come in," he said, as he recog nized me (for he had Been me before,) "what's all this?" I tottered in and fell to the floor ex hausted. I must have been a picture to look At with my wet And muddy clothes, hair disordered, and without hat or coat. "Dear me, I presently heard him say in a low tone to his wife, who came in from an adjoining room, " I've often heard he drank too much, poor feller, but I never know'd he got on such ter rible 'uns as this." But I soon convinced them that I was not on a " terrible 'un." A roaring wood fire was started in the huge fire place, and some coflee made for me, which I drank, and found myself ma terially revived. Then I told my story. Mr. Davis' house stood on the right bank of the Cheat river, a mile from its junction with the Monongahela ; and it began to appear to mind and such was the fact that after having swam a cou ple of miles down the Monongahela, I had varied the exercise, in the blind night, by swimming a mile up the Cheat river, and against a strong current. I presume that I had first decried the light shining from Mr. Davis' window while still floating in the Monongahela at the mouth of its tributary. Such was my swim for life. Not long after I had been pushed from the deck of the Merry she ran aground, as I afterwards learned, and stuck till morning. M'Cutchln, the malevolent deck passenger, thinking it a good opportunity to escape, attempted to leap ashore ; but the boat was not so near the shore as he supposed, and he landed in the water, and was soon car ried beyond his depth by the swift cur rent. Not being such a swimmer as the man he had endeavored to murder on that dark night, he soon sank beneath the muddy torrent and his body was found a few days afterwards a short dis tance below Brownsville. CjJ"The "Suuday Afternoon" says One of the most remarkable things in human nature is the willingness of wo men to sacrifice a girl's life for the chance of saving the morals of a scape- grace man. If a pious mother can on ly marry her Beelzebub to some good, religious girl, the chance of his refor mation is greatly increased. The girl is neither here nor there, when one con slders the necessity for saving the dear Beelzebub. A Woman'i Thumb, THE female thumb is said to be an important index of the female character. Women with large thumbs are held by phrenologists, physiogno mists, eto., to be more thAn ordinarily intelligent what are called " sensible women," while women with small thumbs are regarded as " roniantlo." According to certain authors, who profess to have been observers, a wo man's hand Is more indicative of a wo man's character than her face, as the latter is to a certlan extent under the control of temporary emotions, or of the will, whereas the former is a fact which exists for any one who under stands It to profit by. Consequently a few hints about the proper reading of a woman's hand may be very useful to certain of our readers, especially mar ried men, or men contemplating matrimony. Women with square hands and small thumbs are said to make good house, wives and gentle wives. These sort of women will make Any man happy who is fortunate euough to win them. They are not at all romantic, but they are what is better thoroughly domestic. Women with very large thumbs have a ' temper" of their own, and geiinerally a long tongue. There Is a hint In this to a lover. Let him, the first time he seizes hold of his mistress' hand, ' examine under some pretext or Another her thumb; and if it be large let him make up his mind that as soon as he becomes a married man he will have to be a good boy, or else there will be the very deuce to pay. Again, if a young man finds that his ladly-love has a large palm, with cone- shaped fingers and a large thumb, let him thank his stars, for in that case she Is susceptible to tenderness, readily flat tered, easily talked into or talked out of anything, and can be a readily managed partner. But if she is a woman with a square hand, well proportioned, and only a tolerably developed thumb, why then she is either one of the two dis tinct classes of woman she is either a practical female who will " stand no nonsense," or she is a "designing fe male." She is a woman who cannot be duped, or a woman who will dupe him. A Darkey's Opinion. Pompey hired himself as a laborer to a farmer who was very fond of laying out the work so that there was always something pressing when Sun day Arrived. When haytime came, he would sometimes cut down a lot of grass on Saturday that would require turning over in the morning. One Sunday at daybreak, he called his new servant. " Now, Pompey, get up I" "Don't want to get up. Sunday morning, massa." "But you must get up and get your breakfast 1" "Don't want no breakfast. Sunday morning, massa: rather lay a-bed than breakast, massa."' - " But get up and help- to shake the hay." " Don't do work on Sundays, massa. I didn't hire out to work Sundays." " Oh ! but this is a work of necessi ty." " Don't see dat, massa, at all ; don't see dat; it's no work of necessity." " Well, but would you not pull your ox out or tne pit on tue aobatu day .'" " Oh, yes, massa 1 oh yes ; but not if I shoved him in on Saturday night." Horrible Death. A singularly painful experience has been that of a burglar who has been emulating the exploits of Mr. Peace, at Sheffield. The plunder-seeker determin ed to enter a pawn broker's shop by the chimney. Descending to within six feet of the fire place, he stuck fast, and despite all his efforts, utterly failed to get free. For four long hours he struggled in vain, and then the servant of the pawn broker came and lighted the fire below Then the roasting of the burglar began What kind of sens ation the robber ex perienced we are left to imagine ; all that is known is that after three hours of tor- ture,his groans became so audible that the proprietor of the place heard them , and sending for the police an d a builder, did the best he could to extricate the thief. This proved, however, to be no easy matter, for before the entrapped rascal could be rescued the brickwork had to be taken down. When found the miser able man was imbedded firmly, his mouth and eyes were filled with soot and he was dreadfully scorched so that he died immediately after he was taken out. A Great Enterprise. The Hop Bitters Manufacturing Com pany is one of Kochester's greatest bust ness enterprises. Their Hop Bitters have reached a sale beyond all precedent having from their intrinsic value found their way into almost every household in the land. Graphic. DR. WIIITTIER, No. 802 Ponn Street, Pittsburgh, Pa., Continue to afTorrl reliable special treatment of I'HvatA a tl1 It.ln... ,1 . ...... . mi " , i Mini y I'lnrmnrn. rm imjii uuio irHiuf ru. npermRtori hiwa or Seminal weak- ill, prod "..-Ji..iji1iiiuuuBi.iiiii.j1 nisnc emissions, u ifn(leny, dlMlnPfm, dlntneM of Blent, pimples iiolng iim roiiiMlebimy, night emissions, de- na i II v Imiinr.Ariftv ninf ....! .i,..nu.. v. .""-"v """""n vi ininu Biiu vmiy, unci .unfitting the i Tictlm for marriage or biislnem rftnflnrlii a I fft m t.i. - .... .it o. i . 1. 1' i' i (y ume. uonorrnpas. Oleet. Strictures, al Urinary diseases and Byphl- j.. ... ... .,.,,.,. ur ,, inner pans or me body, are perfectly cured, and the brood poison WHITTIER la a regular graduate ot medicine, as III, illnlnln. .1 nHln. ahnn. U. III. ... . ..i.u.uiiiiiiniHviiiuDniiiinni mn urn long special enperlence In all private diseases, with purest medic ne prepared by himself, enables him to onre dllllcult cases after others fall It l self-eTl-dent that a physician treating thousands of cases every year acquires great skip. The establish. ...I. ,n uvu.ini aim m.iicu, auu flu BrrnilEHu iliac patients see the doctor only. Consultation and nnrrniniiiiilanna nrlvala nml Ih. I; ....... 1 . 1 ... - . . ...... .v... w uh'iiid miu iicn. niiiiuiGi3 nsilb sealed for stamp. Medicines sent everywhere. lours v a. M. to r, w.. and 8 r. M.. to g P. M. nmlAva from In A m tn l v Xf i?Ar.......i.. should read the MARRIAGE AND HEALTH GUIDE, 144 pages, fine Illustrations, price 20 cents. A book for private, careful Trading by both sexes, married or single, explaining wonders and mys. terles of sexual systemf reproduction, marriage Impediments, etc., causes, consequence and cure. Bold at olllce or by mall, sent securely sealed, on receipt oi price In money or postage stamps. Ad dress DK. WIIITTIKK, Mo. 302 1'enu Bt.. Pitts, burgh. Pa. W 46 ly JyJEW WAGON SHOP. THE undersigned hrvlng opened a WHEELWRIGHT SHOP, IN NEW BLOOMFIELD, are now prepared todo any kind of work In their line, in any style, at prices which cannot fall to give satisfaction. Carriages of all styles built and all work will be warranted. 8TOUFFKB & CRIST. New Bloomtleld, April 23,187". J. M. Girvik. J. H. Girvih J. M. GIRVIN & SON., FLOUR, GRAIN, SEED & PRODUCE Commission Merchants, No. 64 South Gay, St., BALTIMORE, MD. We will lmv strict attention tn the snle nf nil kinds of Country Produce and remit the amounts promptly. 45 lyr. J. M..OIKVIN & BON. M USSER& ALLEN CENTRAL STORE NEWPORT, PENN'A. Mow offer the public A RARE AND ELEGANT ASSORTMENT OF DRESS GOODS Consisting si all shades suitable for the season. BLACK ALP AC CAS AND Mourning Goods A SPECIALITY. BLEACHED AND UNBLEACHED MUSLINS, AT VARIOUS PRICES. AN ENDLESS SELECTION OF PRINTS! We sell and do keep a good quality ot SUGARS, COFFEES & SYRUPS And everything under the head of GROCERIES I Machine Needles and oil for all makes ot Machines. To be convinced that our goods are CHEAP AS THE CHEAPEST, IS TO CALL AND EXAMINE STOCK. No trouble to show goods. Don't forget the CENTRAL STORE, Newport, Perry County, Pa. BOOKS?;: IVSILLIOfJ a i' jr, ii w ana cimipin uhjuV V Wedlock, containing, witn mtov othen, tlt tuUuwiiiK enapfrrti A competent Womanhood, HtsWiion of Witt, Uvidtncr ot Vujtiiiiiy. Tem pcnuiitiiu, cotitpuiblt it 4 hicomptii- U.. SUiriiitV lit iuwn. ium m.nA lfttiiiti!i, iu onut'Bruuin, Advice Id nuiDanU. Advic to wive, Fruniiutiun, U rfttur. Celeb cy tiitl jniinmonT compan u, vonnugi mine, Lonti ption, con f) iiement, Xov and Courtthiu. IiupeUiment to Marriage, to mala an1 female). Science uf lU-p reduction. Sin tie lite eonndereU, Law uf Martiae U f Divorce, Jfalnghn of mamad women, ere., including DIsomm peculiar to Woman, their cauaet aiid treabtient. A ttoh for print mod eoniidcraie reading, ol 320 ptiit-a, with nil 1 lata fc n graiuiga. by mail, eeiled for AO ccuu. . ''The Private Medical AuvirV ' on Syphilis, Oouorrbrca. titet, Biricture, Vrloo4et c, aleo on Spormati orhoaev Saxual Dbility, at.d Im potaner, from Je:i-bue ami Lxc . rauiing Seminal hnuHi'im, N rvoueiiei, Avercion to Society, Confunon ot Idea, Phvairat d cay, bimutesor tieitC, lietn-tivw Memory, Lom M $iual Powir makm- niarrufra improper or onheppv, iririnf treatment, and flrral mtny valuab.e receipts: fr t!) cm vf ail pmW duaaaw Hutl itt, OVW 6U platil. BO cetitt. . "Medical Advie." Uctar on Manhood and woniwuUod, 10 etkt fr ail three, in on nicely bound Toluni. $1. They cutitaia 6O0 pRei and over 10U llluietraUcna. rmhracinx every thing on th irencrailvt rtyeteiu that in wortli knowing, and Btuca that Ife not puiiiiaht-d in aity other work. 'J'ii ctr". bined vol unit i uoiiiiwLjr the tV't Popular &ldkl Jlowk fmbliahrd, atid tiitM diMiriVd alter kiiiujc U can hav lieir money refund. -d. The Author it an experienced Phytirian of many yean practice, Mi tn well kiutwit.) an l the adrica jnven, and llulre tor trenhnent laid dowu, will befouud of (treat value to thie iilWrum fri.m iinpuritie of the (yet-m, early errorOoet v!ror. or any t,t the numer out truublve coming under thu head tf Jriwt or Chroma" diie. -Sent tn eiHia volumee,ur complet In on, for JVor iu Sump, Silver or Currency. CoiteuL totion CuDfUeiit-al, and kttrra ra pr-mprly and trauk'f annrered without charge.) Add ream Dr. Butts' Oiipan ry, 18 N. flih St, M. Louia, Mo, (EsUbUahod lt47 J i.J For ulabyNowiDofllort. AGENTS wanttd (1'it. tw 119 ineiiaa au peraonn tuirmnf from Rl ITtHE to aend him their name and addraes, and hereby atiuret them that tht-v will Iwn
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers