| Transcribed by Norma Knotts Shaffer from
microfilm of the Calhoun Chronicle dated 4/13/1897.
A Narrow Escape
Rev. S. Robinson, on his return to this town from a long and tiresome
trip to see his folks down in Kentucky, came very near being drowned at
Creston Thursday night. A Chronicle representative called on Mr.
Robinson and obtained from him the following statement of the circumstances:
"Being tired and sleepy on account of being up late for two or three
nights I asked Mrs. Hilton about 10 o'clock for a berth, and being a good,
kind painstaking woman, she showed me a berth and I slept very sound until
I was awakened by the cursing and swearing of Clerk Page in the cabin.
He wanted to lay down and I was occupying his berth. Clerk Page came
and opened the door of the stateroom and with very bitter cursing and swearing
and most insulting language ordered me out of his berth. I replied
very kindly that I would give him his berth as soon as I could get my clothes
on. The Clerk came back before I could get my clothes on and used
very rough and insulting language. I replied that Mrs. Hilton had
showed me that berth, and on going into the cabin found they had been to
Creston for two or three hours, and all the passengers were gone and the
fire nearly out in the stove. One of the hands came up in the cabin
and I asked him if I could get to the hotel, to which he replied I could
and directed me to go to the lower part of the wharf. I, with a large
telescope in one hand and a heavy overcoat on and an umbrella in my other
hand, after getting over on the wharf in the dark, caught my toe under
a cable that fastened a coal barge to the wharf, I tilted headlong into
the river, grip, umbrella and all going under. I hollowed for help,
but no one came to my relief, and when I came up my head struck the barge
just far enough up to be out of the water. Not knowing how to swim
it was a life and death struggle for me to get to the shore, which was
about 12 or 15 feet off, losing my hat, umbrella and grip, with some things
in it that were invaluable to me. I offer $5.00 reward for it. |
