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The schooner MOONLIGHT was ghosting along over the almost mirror - like surface of Lake Erie, bound for Buffalo from Lake Superior, with a cargo made up of iron ore and copper ingots. She was low in the water but there was still a lot of unused space below decks. John Garboard,off watch, and not liking the closeness of the crew's quarters had stretched out, for a few winks, on the broad top of the rail, with his back against the main shrouds. This was alright so long as the vessel remained on an even keel, as had been the case for a couple of hours. However Erie sometimes has sudden squalls that come without warning, and this was one of those times. Struck on the port side the schooner suddenly heeled to starboard. John folded up like a jack knife and went between the shrouds, into the water. In the confusion of the moment no one could do anything except shout "Man overboard." The ship had lurched ahead, but spilled the wind from her sails and everything was as before. The mate dashed to the after rail, expecting to see Garboard somewhere astern, but he was not visible on the surface. There was nothing to be done but scan the wake, but there was no John anywhere, and the MOONLIGHT continued on her way. All on board concluded that he had been stunned when he hit the water, and had gone down at once. During the rest of the day, and far into the night the incident was the chief topic of conversation, forward and aft. Late in the afternoon of the day following, with the schooner, nearing Buffalo at the same leisurely pace, there came a hail from close alongside, "Hey, you guys. Pass me a line. What you want me to do, swim all the way in?" All hands rushed to the starboard rail, and there was Garboard, swimming along, about twelve feet from the side. He was tossed the end of a hailliard, and hauled aboard, gasping for breath. "Where in H---1 you been all this time?" bawled the Mate. "Back there, trying to catch up with the ship. You got ahead of me 13 at the start, but after I really got going I gained steady." Food, hot coffee, and a jolt of whiskey, were offered, but only the last was accepted.John said he needed sleep more than anything else, so was told to go below, and get off his wet clothes, and not to come on deck until he felt like it. The MOONLIGHT berthed about dark and all hands headed for the nearest saloon, even the Skipper, who was not much for mixing with the crew. That night John Garboard was the most talked-of man in Buffalo, and next day the papers were full of his exploit. The MOONLIGHT sailed for Chicago, and by the time she reached there everybody on board had about talked themselves out as far as John's swim was concerned, and people in Chicago had not heard about it. The Skipper went ashore as usual, attending to ship's business, and somewhere on his rounds he heard a man boasting about the physical prowess of a negro who worked for him, "Why, that man can swim like a fish," he declared. The argument was on. "Well," said the Skipper, "If your man will outswim mine I'll give you $200.00." The contest was arranged for the next day, and hundreds of people came down to the lake shore to witness the event. The race was to begin at the north end of the waterfront and end where the first man dropped out, somewhere to northward. John showed up in good time, with a black chest, about four feet long. He casually opened it and began checking the contents.There was nothing in it except food, but plenty of that. His opponent stared in amazement. "Look here sailormen, what you goin* to do with that?" "Oh, I will need it before I come ashore again." "How far you expectin' to swim?" "I don't rightly know. I never have found out just how far I can swim. About what is the longest distance you ever swam?" His opponent hesitated a moment then stated that he hadn't figured swimming more than about ten miles