Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1857-06-25

A Tradition of Rotherhithe.

since, and strong ebb-tide, which was Just OIL
the tcrn, had struck the waters of the Ihame
to .her lowest estate, when the skipper OF YES
sell arrived that day from foreign port, and an
chored opposite Rotherhithe, put off for tn
shore. Rotherhithe was then little more thar
desc ate collection of fields, enlivened by
few publc-houses and laborers' cottages; bu
dreary as it was, and more dreary still Tor tn
evening shades that were rapidly darkenlni
over it, it was a link in the chain of old recol
lections that carried his heart home and leaning
forward on his seat, his eyes fixed on the dark
ening shore, to which il required but few
strokes of the skulls to carry him, the skipper in
dulged in the visions prompted by such feelings
Scarcely had the boat grszed upon l.: shingles
when he jumped from it, and only waiting II
give orders to the rowers to wait hun there a
eleven, he FASTENED up the shore. his eyes rest
lessly wandering round him in search OF the re
aities of those shadows with which memory
had soothed his absence.
The two rowers looked after their chief as hi
fastened on; but suddenly they observed hin
stop, and thinking that something was amiss
they ran after him. The skipper had not fallen
he was STOPPING down, and as they came nearer
they saw that he was endeavoring to olsen
gage his foot, though they could not at first dis
tinguish what had entangled it.
Curse that chain' he cried, rising and shak
ing the foot violently in an effort to extricate it
1t was one of the oldfashioned chains with long
and large links, attached to buoy, and left un
covered by the ebb-tide, and into one of those
links he had struck his foot with violence that
had sufficed to jam it tightly into space il
could not otherwise have entered. The impe-
tus had carried the link over the widest part Of
the foot, which had thus become SO tightly wedg.
ed that he could not remove it. The eyes OF
one of the sailors danced with mirth, though
al M on1ihla 6emou cfr ions of IL
he thought how neatly the skipper was caught
as in trap.
Come. Bob, lend hand, urged the other re-
proachfuly; now, Sir, twist the foot out Will
we hold the chain But it was more easily said
than done; the skipper did twist the foot, and
with force that ground the bone against the
iron, but to no purpose.
Let me try suggested Bob. Bill. you hold
the chain. Now, Sir, slow and steady and as
he spoke, he endeavored, first my twist, and
then by wrench, to draw it out; but though he
continued this operation till the skipper execra-
ted his clumsiness, it was with no better sue
cess Bill rose to his feet with sigh and scratch
ing mis- head, regarded the foot askance, while
Bob, still on the ground, entreated permission
to give it 'just one more wrench; and the cap
tive. finding his own efforts awaited nothing, con
scented to the trial. 1t was grand wrench that
Bob gave it, but it was without result, except in
ferer. Bob also rose to his feet, quite puzzled
what to do next, while the skipper again strug-
gled fruitlessly in the iron tolls.
There were but few people about; but by this
time some two or three had collected round the
unfortunate skipper; they seemed TO consider it
a good Joke; and it was in voice interrupted
by laughter that one of them advised that the
boot should be cut away. ALI. that's the legal
way of doing it, assented another; the foot is
got into Chancery--of course it must strip to get
ont again The sufferer did not appreciate the
Joke; he did not indeed hear it; and Bob, who by
This time found the grave side of the case check
ed the flow of merriment by remarking to the
last speaker that 1T would better become Chris
tian and waterman to fetch light than to look
on n tellow-creature' misfortunes like land
TO laugh at EN- Without further
notice of the reproach, the man obeyed the init
nation, and running to the nearest pubc-house
brought lantern. He had found a moment to
proclaiIs the curious case, and was accompanied
On his return by not only the company at the
public house, but as many of its residents as
could possibly be spared; and the operation OF
u.ting the boot away was performed by the
skipper himself under the observation of twenty
Or thirty pair of eyes Now! was the general
when this was done. and the event
Of the subsequent trial was anxiously awaited.
II was in vain; the foot would not pass. The
with the pain and the exertion, the sweat pour
ed from his forehead; and his lips quivered as he
set them in the stern effort 1t would not
pass through that prison-link; and when the vic
tim gave over the attempt and stood up to
wipe his forehead and consider what further
means to try, there was no laughs not even q
smile rewarded the suggestion OF a young girl,
that some one should cut the chain Better
get chair for the gentleman observed wo-
man with baby in her arms; hes quite ready;
(she meant ready to faint) and the girl ran
away to procure one but before it was brought
Bill had been obliged to support HIM. He was
seated, however; and some one having brought
glass of brandy, he swallowed it eagerly, and
was soon able to renew his struggle with his
iron captor, but to no better purpose than be.
fore; and again he intermitted his struggles, and
looking round among the gradually increasing
crowd said will some of you go for surgeonI
Il will. Sir SAID Bill, eagerly. tand of he start
ed at the top of his speed. Meanwhile the skip
per leaned back in his chair, and the crowd 81
lently looked on, or glanced at each other with
wonder, perplexity, and pity. 1t was half ar
hour ere the messenger returned, accompanied
by the first doctor he could find, as he said. L
was n chemist who, in truth, knew little Of med
icine, and less of surgery; but he pressed ant
rubbed the foot asking if that hurt it, and ther
shook his head in appreciation of the assent ST
wisely, that the crowd looked on in wondering
admiration of what he might do next.
I'D bleed it observed a burly man from the
front rank of observers.
Tits what propose to do observed the chem
ist, grayeiy, as the patient approved the suggcs
ton; but he continued, feeling in his pocket
4 have not my lancets with me. Thank you,
he went on i'll answer to Bills offer to ietcl
them. Il must go myself my wife will not give
up my surgical instruments to n stranger.
Meantime, the rumor of this strange acct
dent had spread far and wide through Rother
hthe, and persons of all classes crowded 10 tn,
spot; some had brought lanterns with them, ant
one who made circuit by the river in order I,
approach, held up the blazing link he carried
which threw strong light over the chief persor
in the scene. He was very pale, and his eye:
wandered restlessly, but there was slight smile
on the lips.
Bless me, what time that doctor isl crie(
the woman with the baby. Sal, you run an(
see if he's coming she continued, addressing
the girl who had fetched the chair, and who in
stantly started off on the run; but it was more
than a quarter of an hour before she returned
with the chemist, who with due ceremony ant
importance took out from the formidable ARA,
OF surgical weapons one small lancet. and hav
ing made the necessary preparations amidst tn,
breathless silence OF the crowd, proceeded t.
bleed the foot. The doctor, having entertained
some doubts as to the issue, was greatly I, EeveC
by finding that venous and not arterial BLOOD
followed the stroke OF the lancet, and watching
the bubbing blood complacenty, thought not o
stopping it Till warned by caution from tbs
crowd not TO bleed the man TO death; bat before
the bleeding was stopped, the skipper insisted
on trying once more to extricate the foot. Agar
and again he wrenched, struggled, twisted hi,
foot, amidst the EXPLANATIONS, encouragement
and cheers of the rapidly increasing crowd
The bone was not reduced in size-it seemed
rather enlarged; and his struggles only increased
the irritation; till at length. with sigh of ex
haustion, the skipper leaned back in his char
aud ceased TO strive.
IT. suggested the chemist, IF the foot wer
now left short time in its present position,
have no doubt the irritation would subside, an,
and the swelling abaie.'
| ia fomeni IT, said the woman with the haby