Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1845-06-02
COURAGE OF A PARENT.

II is stated Ia French paper. that Simon Etehvery
MARINER who resided biafrts, BayOnne and " az
follow his business Of fishing lie that the was
sgtsed by violent gale, which wOgd prevent him from,
isanehng his bosbU he thought that ne shOnd be abe
take hsh from the rock which hung the sea
shOe. Accordingly accompanied by his son, Jues siur.
Jy led Of fourteen years Of age he proceeded towards
Msrtn's Point this north side Of the light house. Here
the rock twenty se thirty feet below the level
az the sea, but a rough and extremely narrow and ..e
path led around and beneath hs rock to remote
pace known by the name Of the Fishing Bank-wh.cD
owing the difficulty OF approaching u, seldom visit
ed by fishermen. Here Simon aud his son posted the
selves aud isbed for half hour when, taking no fsS
and the wind and increasing, the fishermen were
about quit the spot, when huge wave dashed against
the rock, and overwhelmed them in o moment. simon
clineing firmly TO the Gagged rock resisted the force of
the retiring wove-but his son. the unfortunate Jules was
washed s~sy-and when the fisherman recovering from
the shock, looked arOuns him. he his son al distance
struggling msuuly Tor lc, aud casting Imporine look
20 the shore for SIMON did hesnie Tor mo
ment-but without waiting 10 disembarTass himself Of ME
garments, plunged into the roaring food and swan to-
wards his lie caught him hc sinking support
ID him in the water babe him be Of good cheer snd in
the time gradually threw of some of his outer gar
fnen lie ben attempted 90 relieve Jules from the wegbt
81 his thick shaggy jacket which he found much Difficult
~ 10 dnng-and unfortunately he had left his knife behind
him. lie despafed not however and redouIed his eHrts
90 disengsge hs boy from his heavy clothing tor be knew
that much depended on hsand in tho meantime he used
emo-t superhuman eHeons 10 sustain his SON and keep
him above the waves which appeared 20 increase in 10
and violence. snd hardly allowed the youth time to tsss
bresih.
Simon struggled desperately with tho elements and his
courage and presence Of mind seemed likely 10 tfumpb
He drew towards the shore and shout 10 receive
the reward Of bis heroism One effort more only was re-
quired reach the beach, when he perceived to his horror
that his longer hyng-thst he bore In his arm,
the dead body Of his darling boy This discovery robbed
him Of his lte remaining strength The next moment he
a.. exhausted upon the sand while the bore Of into m
depths his precious bufthen.
vas with moch effort that the brave and unfortunate
6shermss, hall dead with fatigue and grief at length
able dfag himself towards his cottage far off, where
he bad been by lad who ed Immediately Tor ssyit
snce The inhabisnu Of the noiehbofing hamlet soon
Rsthefed around him they furnished him with clothing
gave him and deeply sympsfh1ed with him
fr the los Of HE lie able return o. his
hsusbe dwelling. where the unhappy father mingled his
wih thoss u tho dssppirng mother This
event. this sobme and affecting instance Of parental love
asd courage. caused quite sensation IN the community
ss Bsrrt. where the unfoansie sherman had Tor yean
previously been greatly esteemed a. brSve and an homes
man.