Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1851-07-24
MISCELLANY Y.
A Touching Instance of Heroic
Self-Devotion.

Very few of the inhabitants of the great cit
| les know. BY experience, the severity of the
storms and the powers Of the wind upon most
Of our sea-coast through its entire extent
Modern Improvements in the warming of our
houses have made them as comfortable in their
interiors during the .codest and most violent
storms of winter, as in the blandest davs of
June; and the numerous buildings themselves
are protection against the wind. in a great
measure. to those whose necessities compel
them TO leave their comfortable homes.
The face is a pretty sure index of this kind
of exposure, and many an unpractised eve is
led thereby to suppose that the individual
wearing its marks. is destitute of the finer
feelings Of humanity. This is, however, a
great error, and probably the world does not
produce set of men who unite in so great
degree the heart to do service cheerfullv,
with the necessary physical endurance to rem
der it available. as those who live along the
coast of New England.
| An event which happened some years since,
has recently been recalled TO memory, which
| well illustrates our meaning, and is moreover,
beautiful example of paternal affection.
| Those not familiar with the map of Massa-
chusetts, by referring to it, and directing the
eye to the southeast part of it, will see, stand
ing alone In its glory, an island in the Allan
tic, called Nantucket. known the wide world
over, wherever the English language is spok-
en-, for the indomitable enterprise and perse-
verance Of its inhabitants. Casting the eve
to the north from this island. and to another
quite celebrated spot. Cape Cod, and looking
to lis southern boundary, will be seen Sandy
Point.
In the latter part of the month of February,
many years since, schooner from the State Of
Maine, which had been to New York with a
cargo, and was now on her return home, an
chored under this Sandy Point The wind
increasing from the northwest to gale. she
parted her cables; sail was got an her as soon
as possible, hut not having in much ballast.
she did not fetch in TO the westward of Great
FONT Light, on the northern part of Nantucket
and had therefore to go outside or TO the east
ward of the Island. With comparatively
| light vessel, and with no cables or anchors
and with the prospect of snow-storm before
him, the captain of the schooner did not think
II prudent or proper to be thus forced TO 90 TO
sea with the wind blowing almost hurricane
He made up his mind therefore, at once to
run his vessel on to Nantucket, which, with
The wind at north west. would make an en-.
tire lea. aud enable him to land without
much danger. All this was effected the
vessel was beached, and the crew. consist
ing OF The captain, mate, and TWO Young
men, one about the age OF nineteen. and The
other about seventeen, both sons Of the can.
tain, were landed 10 safety, except, perhaps.
the incidental exposure and fatigue about 5
O'Clock in the afternoon. The place of their
| landing was about three miles from Great
Point Eight, TO which they proposed 10 pro-
| coed, II helng, ms they supposed, the nearest
place where they could find rest and shelter
for The night. ft m
The mate took up his line of march first,
the captain and his Two sons having remain
ed to secure some lew things about the boar,
and then to follow Immediately after him
4 The whole distance 10 be travelled was over
a sandy beach against furious north west
| er, blowing directly in their faces, and hurl.
ing the sand and gravel, with occasional
flights of snow, making it very difficult to
even keep fooihold against the combined
elements.
The mate succeeded after much difficulty,
in reaching the keeper OF the Lights hos.
pitabe mansion in safety. A far diff.reai
fate was TO 6s the lot of some of his COM
panioDs.
The captain was man such as we have
attempted To describe a, the beginning of
this article; Injured from his boyhood TO
hardship and toll, his was u,e will aud the
/ power whicl, the elements could not con-
quer. Taking the lead of his sons for the
purpose of breaking off as mncl, as possible.
the force of the wind, he kept them immetii-
| atrly behind him, and thus their journey
cor,,rnenced. One half the distance perhaps
was overcome. after incred Ihle anxiety and
perseverance OH the part Of their father,
when the younger son begged his father aud
brother 10 go on aud leave him, as his
strength had 70 entirely failed that lie could
walk no longer. No persuasion could revive
his exhausted powers. aud it became neces-
sarv TO act as the exigency of the cnse re-
quirsd. The father taking off his own out.
side coat, that his limbs might be more free
TO act, wrapped il around the less hardy
4 frame OF hts son. and taking him in his arms
the rolsome journey was again resumed.-
For half mile did the faiher's power Of en-
durance hear up against the violeoce OF the
| Storm with bis additional burden; but his
| cup was NOT yet full the other son showed
the symptoms that his exhausted nathre was
about 10 give way, aud a few minu'es alter,
he sank 10 the ground apparently unahe to
| rise.
| Layirq down the one he had borne %
4 long. ths father took up the elder. and !; car
/ rying him some dis,anae, he left him and
then returned, and took the younger. and
:! bsouRh, him, up TO the same point |, and thss
shs old man struggled alternately eafrSiaeI
one and thsn returning and bringing the
other to the same place; whispering hope