Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1845-10-10

the wild and roaring rapids!
''Thank God-he will save my child -
gasped the woman; ''there he is-oh my /
boy, by darling boy, how could | leave
you !"
Every one had rushed to the brink Of
the precipice and was now following with
eager eyes the progress of the youth, as
the current bore him onward, like fea-
Their in the embrace of the hurricane. Now !
it seemed as if he would be dashed against
juttlng rock, over which the water flew
in foam, and whirlpool would drag him
in, from whose grasp escape would appear
impossible. Attimes the current bore him
under, and he would be lost to sight
then, just as the spectators gave him up,
he would appear, though far from where
he vanished, still buffeting amid the vor-
tex. Oh! how that mothers strainiDg
eyes followed him in his perilous career
how her heart sank when he went under
and with gush of joy when she saw him
emerge again from the waters, and flInging
the waves aside with his athletic arms, strug-
gle on in pursuit of her boy. But il SEEM
ed IS if his generous efforts were not to
avail, for, though the current was bearing
off the boy before his eyes scarcely ten
feet distant, he could not, despite his gi-
gantic efforts, overtake the drowning
child.
On they flew, the youth and the child {:
and it was miraculous how each escaped
being dashed to pieces against the rocks.
Twice the boy went out of sight, and a
suppressed shrek escaped the mothers
lips; but twice he re-appeared, and then
with hands wrung wildly together and
breathless anxiety, she followed his pro-
gress, and his unreslsting form was hurried
with the onward current.
The youth now appeared to redouble
his exertions, for they were approaching
the most dangerous part of the river, where
r the rapids contracting between the narrow
ed shores, shot almost perpendiculally
down declivty of fifteen feet. The rush
of The waters at this spot was tremendous,
and no one ventured TO approach its vicin-
r ity even in canoe, lest they should be
, sucked IN. What, then, would be the
{ youths fate unless he speedily overlook
the child He seemed fully sensible Of
the increasing peril, and urged his way
, now through the foanng current with a
desperate strength. Three several times
. he was on the point Of grasping the child
when the waters whirled the prize from
r him. The third effort was made just as
, they were entering within the influence of
. the current above the fall, and when it fall
ed, the mothers heart sunk within her and
, she groaned, fully expecting to see the
/ youth give up his task. But no! he only
, pressed forward the more eagerly, and as
! they brethlessly watched, amid the boiling
waters, as if bearing charmed life, the
+ form of the brave youth followed close at
ter that of the boy. And now like an ar
G row from the bow. pursuer and pursued
i shot to the brink OF the precipice. An in
i slant they hung there, distinctly visible
e amid the CLASSY waters, as they seemed to
/ pause On the edge Of the descent. Every
brain grew dizzy at the sight. But shout
: Of EMULATION burst from the spectators
J. when they saw the boy held alolt by the
:, right arm ofthe you,h-a shout that was sud
!. denly checked by horror when the rescuel
$ and the rescued vanished into the abyss.
e A moment, or az least many moments
O elapsed before a word was spoken Or e
+ breath drawn. Each of the group felt tina
Il TO look into the others face was impossl
|. BILE. She herself had started eagerly for
4 ward and now stood on the bank, few
q PAGES nearer the cateract, where she couft
i command a view Of its foot, gazing thlthe
81 with fixed eyes, as if her all depended or
,fI what the next moment should reveal. Sud
N denly she gave glad cry. 'There they
If are;" she exclaimed, " see! they are safe
Great God, thank thee!' and for mo
h ment wildly turning her face to heaven
,e she hurried with trembling steps along tn
h. side of the river in the direction Of tn
e fall.
O. Every eye followed hers, and sure enough
ri there was the youth still unharmed anG still
p buaeting the waters. He had just emery
nj ed from the boiling vortex below the cata
70 ract. With one hand he held aloft tn
~ child and with the other he was MAXIM
nj for the shore.
* They ran, they shouted. they searcel
We knew what they did until they reached hl
side just as he had struggled to the bank
o. They drew him out almost exhausted =
is The boy was senseless, but his mother de
\ cIared that be still lived as she pressed hlr
is frantically to her bosom. His preserve'
q powerfully built and athletic as he was
is could scarcely stand, SO faint was he iror
in his exertions.