Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 December 1891 — Self-Possessed. [ARTICLE]

Self-Possessed.

Two ladies and an invalid boy who was carried on a stretcher were tho last passengers on the gang-plank of a river steamer. The boy and one of the ladies were successfully embarked, and the other lady was crossing the plank, which was loose and partially drawn in, when it tipped and plunged her into the river. Several young men on the boat hastily removed their coats, and were just ready to leap into the water when she came up smiling, holding fast to her bug and umbrella. “Now don’t anyone jump in after me," she called to the excited passengers; “I am all right, and will ilpat until my clothes become soaked with water. Just throw me a rope. There's no necessity for anyone else to get wet. ” The rope was thrown to her, and she grasped it with one hand and was drawn to tho side of the steamer, when she said: “Now some one lie flat on the deck and reach down and take my bag and umbrella, and then help me out.” A young man followed her instructions, and she was soon standing safe on the dock. Requesting a porter to take her trunk immediately to a state-room, she retired, and in a few minutes’ returned, dry-clad and cheerful, to receive the congratulations of her fellow-passengers and to relieve tho alarm of her lady friend, who had promptly fainted at sight of tho accident.—Washington Republic.