DANIEL MACK--HE RESCUES THREE MEN FROM A WATERY GRAVE.
Daniel comes next in order. He was rather worldly-minded, yet he was
not vicious; and if he had any peculiar trait of character, it was
this--he possessed a very daring and philanthropic spirit, which led
him to reach forth his hand to the assistance of those whose lives were
exposed to danger, even to the hazard of his own life. For instance:
he in company with several others, was once standing on the bank
of Miller's river, in the town of Montague, when one of the number
proposed taking a swim. Daniel objected, saying it was a dangerous
place to swim in, yet they were determined, and three went in; but,
going out into the stream rather too far they were overpowered by
the current, and a kind of eddy which they fell into, and they sank
immediately.
At this, Daniel said, "Now, gentlemen, these men are drowning; who
will assist them at the risk of his life?" No one answered. At this,
he sprang into the water, and, diving to the bottom, found one of them
fastened to some small roots. Daniel took hold of him, and tore up the
roots to which he was clinging, and brought him out, and then told the
by-standers to get a barrel, for the purpose of rolling him on it, in
order to make him disgorge the water which he had taken. He then went
in again, and found the other two in the same situation as the first,
and saved them in like manner.
After rolling them a short time on the barrel, he took them to a house,
and gave them every possible attention, until they had so far recovered
as to be able to speak. As soon as they could talk, one of them fixing
his eyes upon Daniel, said, "Mr. Mack, we have reason to look upon you
as our savior, for you have delivered us from a watery tomb; and I
would that I could always live near you. We are now assured that you
have not only wisdom to counsel, but when men have spurned your advice,
you still have that greatness of soul which leads you to risk your own
life to save your fellow man. No, I will never leave you as long as I
live, for I wish to convince you that I ever remember you, and that I
will never slight your counsel again."
In this they were all agreed, and they carried out the same in their
future lives.