sˈɜːvɪŋ ˌɔn bˈoːɹd ðə jˈuː.ˈɛs.ˈɛs. kˈɪɹsɑːɹdʒ, æt hˈæmptən ɹˈoʊdz, vˈɑː., twˈɛnti sˈɪks ɑːktˈoʊbɚ wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi wˈʌn, swˈiːni dʒˈʌmpt ˌoʊvɚbˈoːɹd ænd ɐsˈɪstᵻd ɪn sˈeɪvɪŋ fɹʌm dɹˈaʊnɪŋ ɐ ʃˈɪpmeɪt hˌuː hæd fˈɔːlən ˌoʊvɚbˈoːɹd ˌɪntʊ ɐ stɹˈɔŋli ɹˈʌnɪŋ tˈaɪd.
Serving on board the U.S.S. Kearsarge, at Hampton Roads, Va., 26 October 1881, Sweeney jumped overboard and assisted in saving from drowning a shipmate who had fallen overboard into a strongly running tide.