He remained at the lake some time after, but did not make
any more excursions.
During the month of March, 1887, Paul, who had returned from a short
visit south, was feeling a trifle malarious. Regardless of the
time honored and tested remedies for this complaint which were
prescribed freely by his friends, he believed that the only thing for
relief was a run in the ocean in the rubber dress, with the Baby as
his sole companion. He also felt the necessity for a practice voyage
before going down the Hudson, a trip which he then had in view.
Getting his paraphernalia together, he boarded the pilot boat, Fannie,
on a Wednesday, and on Saturday, attired in his dress, he slipped
over her side with the intention of paddling to the Jersey coast, which
he hoped to strike in the vicinity of Cape May.
The weather was not very cold when he went overboard and the sea was
fine and smooth. Bye and bye the wind commenced to blow off shore and
as he wanted to go to the westward, he had a hard fight against it all
day and night. He sighted a great many vessels and signaled them to
pick him up; but they did not see him for they all continued on their
way. The constant battle against the stiff land breeze began to tell on
him toward morning.
Pages:
593
594
595
596
597
598
599
600
601
602
603
604
605
606
607
608
609
610
611
612
613
614
615
616
617