Litchfield enquirer., 1834-09-11
STEAMBOAT INCIDENT.

The small boat put of to take in three pas
sengers who made signals from the shore-a
gentleman and two ladies, whose shawls and
ribbons Auttered 10 the fierce wind like the
qnvering of brilliant flag at mast-head.-
The bay was exceedingly rough, and the
white caps carerred all over the watery ex-
panse like the flashing names of troop of
wild horses. None but heroine. or one to-
tally ignorant Of the danger. would have ven
tured upon such a surf. The boat was man
ned by two stout seamen only and after ia
king in the passengers and pulling out a few
reds from the shore, it lay tossing like fish
ing cork upon the rough sea, making little or
nO progress towards the steamboat. The
sturdy rOsers, taking long and strong pulls,
bent their entire strength 10 the oars, and the
gentleman leaving the ladies whose hands he
had hitherto held, lent his aid to the 0arsman
nearest to him. This moment decided the
struggle The united strength Of the two,
aided ny huge wave which struck the boat
on It's side, threw il off its balance, and dip
ping deep into the water it capsized, and the
| ittle crew was delivered over 10 the mercy Of
the billOw. A shrill shrek went widely over
the waters: band bbx, cloak; and hat wers
visible, floating high upon the surge. but for a
moment nothing else. the keel Of the boat ex-
! eeptcd .stwas to be seen. IhsOrtnnately nn
boat, and although she Immediately wheeled
round and ran up TO the relief of the sufferers,
yet several precious moments elapsed before
this could be effected. When we came up
one of the 0arsmen was dragging an elderly
! woman upon the keel Of the capsized boat
the other was making the best Of his way TO-.
wards the steamboat. taking especial care o
his own safety in the FIRST place; while carried
to some distance by a rehuent wave, saw
for moment, distinctly, the features Of q
beautiful girl pale with alarm. yet expressing
a perfect consciousness Of Her situation, and
bea.nins with the courage Of bold and no.
BILE heart.
She was supported nohly by the young
man. her companion. who struggled strongly
with the waves; say saw all this but q
moment i: for the next instant they went dowr
into the trough Of the sea, and a succeeding
surge dipped their heads in the water far Out
Of sight. Three horrible minutes elapsed. anC
again they rose to the surface; the young Ia
dy's arm twined close round her companion'i
neck, while, with his left arm around heI
waist, he grasped the fathless element, con.
7 vulsiseiy with his right. Boxes, plank, ropes,
sc. were thrown out to aid them to the boat,
but SO very rough was the waves, that aitthis
was totally unavaiIing, and they seemed iDev-
itabIy perishing-that beautiful girl and that
noble bOy-when a sturdy old tar, passen-
ger in the boat, taking the end Of small cord
in his teeth, and directing one Of the crew to
hold the other end. plunged into the boiling
waters, and dashing them aside like giant,
swan TO the sinking pair. laid his strong grasp
on the young mans arm. and haliOwing tn
the crew to pull 10, they were drawn 10 the
side of the boat. and lifted on deck. seeming
Iy. ct the last gasp Of life
| The same experiment brought in the old
lady and her preserver, who had managed un-
til relieved, to retain their hold upon the kce
Of the capsized boat. When the young lady
came to herself. which she did in few min
+ uies, she looked about her with wild glsOcP
and asked for her mother with cry Of wild
E Joy they rushed into each Others arms. and
, various as the crowd that witnessed the seen.
upon deck of that boat. not an individual bus
seemed TO regard il with the deepest feeling
The young lady again l""ked from her moth
er's bosom, with even more alarmed glance
than before, until her eye feb upon the very
handsome features Of the young man Was
, | hnd been the companion Of her danger: ant
although cannot, in relating this real it'll,
accident, adopt the style Of the novelist, ane
saw mat thew too rushed to each others EN-
: brace, vet such look Of extreme joy as thos.
, beautiful ewes suddenly lillrd with tears as sh'
! affectionately held out her hand TO the youth
: might certainly have served rs model 70
some Ofthe most touching scenes Of romance
, The ladies' retired TO their cabin, and saw NJ
{ more Of thec. but if that young man ana
that beautiful girl are not married within three
months after this event, and II they are not
happy couple, then am M interpreter Of th'
!. looks and gestures Of passion. and then have
[ 7 nona IF the spirit of diVinatiOn.