Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1841-02-04
From tho United Service Journsl.
Tho Cadet; The First Consul.

wns already hanging like q hugo ball of hse
over tho western horizon, making its last et-
iolt TO dlspel the hazy wrea,hs OF boar fcosts
which were fast ,hickening into the gloon Of
premature evening. The lnolemency Of an
unusually severe season, had, for some weeks
past wrapped every thing in the pale livery
Of winter. lcieics hung pcndan, from every
roof Huge masses of snow encunlbcrcd tho
street aud even the waters of the Seine. ar
rested in their course by the stern gripe Of
winter, were now the scene of holiday sports
for crowds Of school boys who alone seencd
To rejnico ia the general ,orpiduy of na,urr.
IN such weather / felt little inclination ~
extend my ramblcs, aud cODtcnicd myself
with watching the lively groups pursuing
their boylsh postlnIes on the icy surface Of
The waters. Most conspicuous among The
number was large party Of cadets, just let
lorse from one Of the military schools, whose
boIsierons Elrth added not little 10 tho AMI
nation of the sccGo. These speedily formed
themselves INTO two parties, and taking ad-
vantage Of an ample store Of maicrials ct
hand, commenced an active warfare with
snow balls. Alter an obstinate contest, ore
of the parties succeeded IN driving the other
from the field The retreat was soon con-
vcItrd into Total route, and IN the excite.
ncnt o! the moment, victors and vanqnishcd
alike seemed to forget the dangers In which
their needless imprudencc Was exposing them.
/ Notwithstanding the yielding and crack
ing "f the ice, several of the rctrenlng party
took refuge near The edge Of 1t, where, IN
spite Of the rcuionstrnnces of many who were
alarmed at thcIr perIlous situation, they con.
tlnurd In keep their pnrsuers ut bay, I'll n
loud crash. and the immersion of oDe Of their
number, announced that the danger which
they had been warned of was not Iulglnnry.
The instinct o. sclt. preservation induced thcm
10 rush from the spot, md the bendlng OF tho
ice under This Simultaneous movement, added
wings Ia their flight.
The youth who had become the victim of
this rashness, no sooner rose TO the surface
than he grasped with drowning cngerncss At
the fragile support around him. the ice, which
repeatedly gave way, and again plunged hirn
into the stream, more and more exhausted by
each successive effort.
I had anticipated some snch disaster, and
short tune before had moved forward, as well
To ndd my voice IN warning them Of their
danger, Ms to render any assistance wbch
nigh, he III my power; but ere | could reach
the scene Of the acc cidcnt. one Of the cadets,
an active lIitc fellow who had been consplcu-
ous as leader Of the viclorlnns party, rushed
to the rescue of his drowning companlon.---
Light as his weight was, however, had some
fear that the ice was too weak 10 support IL,
md called To him To return I'LL ropes corihl
be procured TO assist hls efforts but with
generous self.devotlon he persisted in hls
/, attempt, and it was with heart palpita,iug
nike for his safety and success tina, | saw
Inn approach his companion, and endcavor
10 raise him uut OF the water. But. rs might
have been expected, the footing which VAS
: insecure even for one, Immediately gave way
/ under tho weight of two. aud both were IN an
/ instant plunged hcadlopg into the sircau.--
/ Luckily they swan well, and succeeded IN
! sra pIng the ice hut the former exhausted
, by ms repeated eflurts, could scarce susiain
/ himself, and II was obvious that, unless speedy
assistance could be procured there was lIttle
rhnncc of saving HIM.
4 The contrast between the conduct of tho
! two boys al this trying moment was very
! striking The one first immersed screamed
most pIteously, acted the part Of child, and
seemed to have lost nIl sclf-posse.sion ex-
baus,ing himself by repeated and i'll directed
! efiuris Ia Chamber upon The ice. The other,
though considerably his junior, uttered not n
word, except occasionally TO cheer hs COM
panlon, aad beg vt rIm, IN tone sayoring
/ rather oi contempt, 10 cease his crying. lie
was calm aud Collected, at once seemed ~
comprehend the extent Of his danger. and that
The only hope OF saving himself was by cling
lHe r'nly 10 his present support, III more ct-
ir,tual resistance could be rendered him
To keep up his spirits | called 10 hun not to
Il. alrnld but The lIUie follow answered me
10y look OF resentment, as If, even m snch
imminent danger, it was crime to doubt his
courage.
" Anxious TO r"scue rhc gallant boy, ad-
ranced rs far as the strength OF the zee would
permit; but though thUs succeeded IN reach
ing within u lew yuras OF him, still | was
! compelled 10 remain an inactive spectator ot
! his danger, from the difficulty ot rcscuIug him
! without the aid Of ropes. Minutes. however,
] seemed proiracted into hours, while these
were nnSmusly sought for by = party OF ca
diets and ~ the mcOnlime, hla 'rlUw.sui-
l-rer, exhausted by his effort, aud benumJcd
by tho cold, relaxed his hold, and with u loud
aud piercing shrek was swept into the stream.
Twice with convusive effort he sprapg nj.
, most out of the water, and cast his hands
wildly over his head, yainly grnppllng tor that
4 aid which no human power could extend Ia
hn, while his last death cry Of "Oh. save
> nc save me :" continued tO strike IN accents
3 Of horror upon my ear, iill The bubbng wa
$ ters uf the Seine closed over him forever.
ri As I glanced at the survivor, ] could no,
bcIp tcellng aSlOnisHeu NJ lnc tIcneln Ol
, nerve he displayed during this appalling
scene. His countcnancc showed little e,uo-
tion and the tear and lrcpidaion 70 peculiar
To young persons, when thus, for the first
time brought IN contact With death, he seem.
ed quite stranger to.
, "Good material this for soldier" though,
/. ale who IN boyhood can thus retain hiI
cslmncss and solf. possession - not likely ~
manhood To be appalled, by any danger he
, may be exposed IL. The eye which c"n rest
= unlno,cd on scene like tbs will not readily
=, 1 quail under tho terrors OF The battlefield, or
shrink from the sight Of desolation and
slaughter"
y Bu, while thus so'iloqnizing, my embryo
Il hero suddenly disappeared. The under ror.
rem, had brungh, the body Of his drowning
companion in contact with him, nDd ere hc
Twas aware, he was fast bound ~ hts unl
,rasp. Unable TO support This additional
weight. he lost his hold. Still the srnselc-'
,body eung to hIm with couyulsive ienachy
and locating hls arms IN the firm Rrpe 81
~ death, dragged him under water Repeated
- llly his well directed efforts brought hun tf
J. Tho surface, and each um- d' .pcralc Strnp
, n of, puancd ,o FREQ himself Que pnweriu