Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1849-03-29
The Rescue.

~ "cs III tHc mOntu OI eOIuary. 1901,
bright moonlight night, and Intensely cold thai
The lll,e brig commanded lay quietly al heI
anchors inside of the hook
We had a hard time of ii, beating abou, for
eleven days off this coast, with cutting North
casters blowing, and snow and sleel falling for
the most of that lime. Forward, the vessel
was thiekly coated with ice, and it was hard
work TO handle her, the rigging and sails
were stiff, aud yielded only when the strength
OF the men was exer,ed to the utmost. When
al length We made the port, all hands worn
down and exhausted, we could not have held
out Two days longer without relief
"a bitter cold night, Mr.. I.arkin," said 10
my mate, as larrled for moment on deck 10
finish my cigar.
The worthy down-easter bulloned his Goa,
more tightly around him, looking up to The
moom-and felt of his red nose before he re-
Piled
'lts whistler, captain, as used TO say
on the Kenuebec. Nothing lives comfortable
ou. OF blankets In such night as this"
/ "The tide is running out swlf, and strong
II will be well TO keep sharp look -ou. for the
floating ice, Mr.. Larkin"
"Ay, ay, sir" responded the mate, and
went below.
| Two hours afterwards, was aroused from
sound sleep, by the vIgllan, officer
"Excuse me for disturbing you captain, said
he, as he detected an expression of vexalion on
my face; "but wish yon would turn cut aud
come on deck as soon as possible"
! "Why--whats the matter, Mr. Larkin Z"
"Why sir, have been watching cake of
ice that swept by al li,ie distance, moment
ago; saw something black upon it, some hing
tha. though. moved The moons under a
cloud, and could not see distinctly but do
believe there's child floating on, 10 sea, in
this freezing night, on that cake of ice.
We were on deck before either spoke anolh-
er word The mate pointed oul. with no lll,le
difficulty, the cake Of ice floating off 10 leeward,
and it's white gliuering surface was broken by
black spot-more | could not make out.
SECT me the glass, Mr.. Larkin-,he moon
will be out of that cloud in moment, and then
we can see distinctly"
kept my eye on the receding mass of ice,
while The moon was slowly working its way
through heavy bank of clouds. The male
stood by with glass. When the full light
fell al last upon the water, with brlliancy on.
ly known In our northern laiitudes, pu, the
glass to my eye. One glance was enough.
Forward, there !" shouted at the top Of
my voice, and with one bound reached the
main hatch. and began to clear away in The
ships ya~l.
Mr.. Lsrkln had received the glass from my
hand, to take look for himself
my God" !" he said in whisper, as he set
TO work 10 aid me in gelling ou, The boat
'my God, there are Two children on that cake
of ice. !"
To men answered my hail, and walked lazly
alt. In an incredible shott space of time we
launched the cutter, into which Mr. Larkn and
myself jumped, followed by two men, WI ho took
oars | rlgged the iiler, and the male set be-
side me In the stern sheets.
do you see that cake Of ice with something
black upon it, lads :" | cried "put me along
side of that, aud I'll give you bottle of rom
each, tonight, and months extra wages when
you are paid of"
fhe men bent TO their oars. but their strokes
were uneven and feeble. They were used up
by The hard duty of The preceding fortnight,
and though they did their best, The boat made |
litte more way than the tide. This was long
chase and Mr. Larkin, who was suffering as
ne saw how lil,le we gained cried out
"Pull lads-lil double the captains prize !;
two bottles of rum, and two months pay
Pull lads! ! for The love Of God, pull !"
A convusive efforl of the oars told how will
Ing The men were to obey, but the strength of
he strong man was gone. One Of The poor
fellows washed US twice in recovering his oar,
and then gave out ; the other was nearly as far
gone. Dir. Larkin sprang forward and seized
he deserted oar.
Lay down in the bottom of the boai," said
le 10 he man land captain, take The other
par; We must row for ourselves"
took the second mans place Larkn had
stripped TO his Guernsey shir; as he pulled
he bow, waited the signal stroke. Il came
,enhy, but firm. and The mex, moment we were q
'ulllng long, steady stroke, gradually ncreas. :
ng in rapidly until The wood seemed to smoke :
n the our.ocks. We kept time each by long !
eep breathing of The other. Such pull We
ent forward until our faces aImos, touched
ur knees and then throwing all our strength T
MO The backward movement, unli every inch Y
t the space cosefed by the sweep had been j
aimed. Al every stroke The boat shot ahead Il
ke an arrow discharged from bow. Thus d
re worked a, The oars for fifteen minutes II "a
eened TO me as many hours. The sweat roll :