The Rodney telegraph. (Rodney, Miss.) 1838-1840, 1839-09-25
RODNEY (Niss,) WEDNESDAY. SEPTEMBER 25, 1880

THE sAMPHIRE GATHERER's STORY. j
at was here, sir, that Mr.. Clemen's de-
scended.n
How fedrful!n exclaimed, scarcely
venturing to look down a precipice at least
six hundred feet in depth.
To repeat in few words what had oc-
cupied nearly an hour, and emitting his nu-
merous digressions, the Samphire Gather
er's tale ran thus
At the close Of the last century he and
his father, samphire gatherers by trade, had
assisted in lowering one Mr.. Clements down
the cliff under rather extraordinary circum-
| cumsta noes. Mr.. Clements was returning
home along tie down from the then retired.
but now fashionable town Of -, when he
recognized boat about mile from the
shore, strongly resembling one in which his
wife and sister were in the frequent habit
of passing an hour in little bay or inlet Of
the sea near his house. He fastened home
only to have all doubts removed as to their
identity; and, hurrying back TO the spot
where he had first observed them, found, to
his extreme terror, that the boat had been
deserted by its occupants, who had been
seen wandering on the rocks under the cliff.
To approach them by the sea on either side
in time to rescue them from their impending
danger was impossible. In this emergency
the samphire gatherers we're thought Of, and
sought for; and, declining all their offers,
Clements insisted upon descending the cliff,
in the hope Of placing his wife upon some
rock or spot where she might remain in safe
ty till the arrival Of the boats from -. Thus
far had the samphirc ga.herer got IN his sto-
~ which he was relating to me as was
strolling along the cliffs, when he paused, as
have already mentioned, and pointed to
the spot where Mr.. Clements descended.
Following his example, and taking seat
on the grass near him the old man continu-
ed his tale. give it in his own words.
"Well, sir; when we found we could not
persuade him to let one of US 60 down in
his place, father, as usual, secured crow
bar into the earth, few feet from the edge
Of the cliff; and twining the rope once round
it, in order to give us the steadier hold on
Mr.. Clements, fastened it under his arms.
We then made him change bis coat for one
of our frocks, such as you see the common
people wear in these parts; and taught him
how to put his feet steadily against the side
of the cliff-as it were thus; and made him
hold the rope between his hands just above
the knot, and told him to lean out from the
rock as far as he could, and to work down
wards with his feet, and to look up, and
keep a watch out for the stones and rubbish
which the rope might dislodge. We fold
him all this, sir; and babe him not to be
frightened at the birds, as they would not
harm him;-ihe sun had set, sir; and they
always make horrid screeching il you g
down the cliff after they are gone to roost
and, that if he altered his mind, and wish
ed to come back, he had only to give the
!, rope a couple of pulls, and that we'd hau
him up directly 'No-no,' says MIR. Glen
ents, sthere's no necessity for that. Wher
get to the bottom, wait for a quarter of al
hour; if at the end Of that time / give nj
signal for you to pull me up, you will know
that the ladies are safe, and then make wha
haste you can, and get boat from -
E am ready SAYS he, in a faint voice, AM
his teeth all the while chattering with fear
Never was man so frightened3a he wa
at that moment Well, sir, father and
once more lifted the rope, and Clements lea
ned back over the edge of the cliff. Dow
he went. We soon lost sight of him.
{ "Working with his feet, as father had toll
him, we slowly supplying our rope as he re
! quired it, moved safely down for bit; the
rested on jutting rock. All this time h
kept his eyes fixed on the sky. Pressin
cautiously with his feet against the chalk
his hands grasping the rope, or shelterin
. his face from the shower of stones and dil
which it dislodged. He had got about a hur
dred feet from the top, when, suddenly slip
ping from the cliff, his chest and face wer
!, flung violently against it. He endeavore
!, to regain his footing against the rocks, an
in so doing broke through resolution whic
he had formed, and looked beneath him.
is rare sight that for the first time. We
do remember how my head SWAN as
looked at the water far below; and tn
waves that one could see, but not hear, a
they broke over the shingles. Presence ,
mind, on which Mr.. Clements vaunted hin
sell, where was il theni He was about
pull the rope; but he thought Of his POI
wife, and one thought Of her was enough
lon he went. To regain footing va
impossible. Father end kept gradual
lowering the rope; and, with his.f to Ii
cliff; his hands outstretched, catching I
each object as it passed; enveloped IN
shower Of chalk and stones, which he cou
mot avoid; erasping and painting for breat
poor Mr.. Clements sided down for abo
I.L.sI~. h,,rl.~d uc.n Al,n II: !, -