The Arkansas banner., 1849-07-17

Had not the subloined narrative appeared m a magazine Chambers Edinburgh Journal-tavora- bIy known for is responsibility and character, we should consider i. fabulous tt is marvellous tc say he least It reminds of the old fable of Neptune drying his chariot over the sea.
 TIRE NARRATIVE.
 We supposed we hal beard of all sorts oi heroes but isnA ourselves t0 have been mistaken A hero in humble life has been made known to us ot quite new order. This>b brave man, by name Richard HoodIess following the occupation of farmer near Grainihorp, on the coast of Lincolnshire, has IoE many years devoted himself to the saving of mariners from drowning, and this without any of ihe usual apparatus lor suceOdns ships in distress u"a'ded by such appliances and unaccompanied by any llS- ing creature but his horse. Hoodtess had been the means ~ef saving mAny unfortunate sailors iIom perishipg amidst the waves.
 Culnya,ing small piece Of groand, sheh Is. as 1t werc rescued fio,n the seq, and almost cut of from the adjacent country hy the badness otth- rcss, this reparkahle man may be said to devote himself to the noble duty of saving human life. OR the sP proach of stofmy weather he mounts to an opening in the top of his dwelling, and there pointing his telescope to the tulRatuous ocean, watches the ap- proach oG vessels towards the low and dangerous shores By night or by day he is equally ready to perform bis seltimpnsed duty ship is struggling amidst the tetrible convusion Of waters; no human ai seems to be at hand: all on board give themselves up for lost when something is at length seen 10 leave the shore, and to be making effort to reach the vessel Gan il be possibIei X man on horse back. Yes, it is Richard Hoodiess coming 10 the rescue seated old nag; an animal accustomed to these salt water excursions! Onward the faith fal beast swins and piunges only turning for an in- s,ant when wave threatens to ensuIf him iE its bosom. There IS something grand in the struggle o( b.Ah horse and map--the srint of uaselhshRess eagerly trying to do it's work. Success usually crowns the exertons of the horse and lis rider The ship is r<sehed- Hoodless mounts two or three mariners en groupe. taking them to d'y land, Fe- turns for another instsIment.
 That horse could be trained 10 these unpleasant and hazar,lons enterprises may seem somewhat suT- ptising. Bat appears that in reality no tIainins IS necessary; all depends on the skill aud brmness of ihe sides HoOAiess declares he could manage the most unruly horse in the water; for as soon as the anlna hnis that he has lost bis footiug and is cb- I,ged to swim. he becomes cbedieni 10 the bridle as boat to it's helm. The same thing is observed in this sasscious animal when being hO,sted io the deck of ship. He struggles vehementiy at hrst against hts impending ate but inc moment his feet fairly leave he pier. he is calm and moonless as fl knowing that resistance wOuld compromise saIeiy in the erial passage. The oaiy plan which our hero adopts is, when meeting particularly angry surf or swe to turn his hosses head. bend forward and sllow the wave to roll over them. Were the horse ts face the larger pillows and attemp, to pierce thew the water would enier his nosriIs and render hun seahIess, by whichhc would soon be exhausted
 In the year is;.J, Hoodless slgnaized himself by swimming his horse through stormy sea 10 the wreck of the Hetmiooe and saving. her crew, for which gallant service he afterwards received testimonial isoa, he Royal Humane Society. The words of the resolution passed by the society on ,his occasion may be transcribed, for they narrate circumstance worthy of being widely kncwa.
 |" IL was resolved unanimously tha. the noble courage and humanity dsplyed by Richard Hood Ie~s for the preservation of the of Inc Her n,oine' from drowning, when that vessel was vEeck- ei near the Donna Nook the coast Of Lincoln shife. on tbe 3lst Of August, 1858, and he praise worthy manner In which he risksd his life on the occasion. by swimming his horse through heavy sea to ths wreck, when il was found impossible to launch the liieb boat, has called forth the lively admiration of the institution. which tS hereby unanimously audgrd 10 bs presented to hiiu al the ensuing anniversary festival.
 As it may no, be generally understood that a horse eau bs mair to perform the office of life beat. when vessels of that knd could not with safety be laasehed, iiIe fnet of IloodIes~ performing So maay feais in the described, cannot Do toe widely disseminated.
 On soms occasions, we are informed. he swim. by himself to the wreck. but usually he goes on horseback, and Is seldom unsuccessful la his edOrts About two years ago be saved the captain of ves- sei and his wife, and ten s-an,ensoHie the back of the hsrse. Aad others hanging by ti's s.iruPs Shoald vessel be lying on her beam ends, Hood Ices rsqaires io exercise great caution in making his approach, in eonseqaeaee of ,he ropes and rig ging eescsalsd in tho water. On one ocea-ioa he experienced much inconvenience on this account he had secured two seamcn, and was attempting to leave the vessel for the shore, but the horse could net move from the spot After various intellectual piuBges Hoodless discovered that the animal waa eBtangied in rope under water. What la bs done The sea was in tumnlt. and to dis,noanl wAs scarcely possible. Fortunately. hs st length picked up the rope with his foot. then instantly pulling ksifs from hispccks., leaned forward into the water. cut the rope-no easy task ls a stormy ssa-and so got of with safety.
 All honor te Farmer Richard IIoediess. who siili, in his owa aaosien,aiions way, performs acts of hasaanisy singular as they are meriisrioas 1. OpIy by acrident have become acquainted with his ashe aud deeds oi hsroisIn. and cssid not dsay sssssises the pleasure of giving them all the publicity ia our power