Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1858-07-02
An Exciting Scene.

olr barney BOdkln broke his nose,
And, Saxon am Rhoderck Dhu!
An Exciting Scene.
1t was IN the month OF February l83l, bright
moonlight night and intensely cold, that the brig com
manded lay at her anchor inside of Sandy Hook
We had hard time of it, beating about eleven days
of this coast and the and sleet falling for the most
the time. Forward, the vessel was thickly covered
with ice, and it hard work to handle her. as the rig
ging and sails stiff, and yielded only when the
strength of the eXerted to the utmost When,
at length, we made the port all hands down
and exhausted; we could not have held out two days
longer without relief
" a bitter cold night Mr. Lalkn" said to my mate
as tarried moment On deck to finish my cigar.
The worthy dOwneaster buttoned his coat more tight
y around him. looking up to the moon, and felt his red
nose before he replied.
" It's q whistler, captain, we used to say on the
kennebec Nothing lives comfortable out of the blank
cts in such a night as this
The tide IS running out swift and strong-t will be
we'll to keep sharp lookout for the floating ice, Mr..
Larkin'
Aye, aye, SIR responded the mate and I went be-
low.
Two hours AFTER was aroused from sound sleep bv
the vigilant officer
Excuse me for disturbing you, Captain said he as
he detected an expression of vexation my face but
wish you would turn out and deck as soon as
possible"
Why-whats the matter, Mr.. Larkin?'
"Why, sir have been watching cake of ice that
swept by at little distance few moments ago [ saw
something black upon it-something that l thought
moved. The moons under cloud, and could not see
distinctly, but do believe there's child floating out
to this freezing night on that cake of ice
We were on deck before either spoke another word
The mate pointed out with difficulty the cake of ice
floating off to the leeward and its white gtterng sur
face was broken by black spot-more, could not
make out
Get me the glass, Mr.. Larkin-the moon will be out
of the cloud in moment and then see distinctly
| kept my eye the receding mass of ice while the
moon was slowly working its way through a bank of
clouds The mate stood by with a glass. When the
full light fell at last upon the water with brillancy
only known to our Northern atitudes put my glass
to my eye One glance was enough.
Forward, there !" [ shouted at the top of my voice
and with bound reached the main hatch and began
to clear the ships yaw
Mr.. Iarkn had received the glass from nv hand and
took look for himself
"My God he said in q whisper, as he set to work
to aid me in getting out the boat My God! there
are two little children on that cake of ice"
Two men answered my call, and walked lazily aft
In an incredibly short space of time launched the
cutter into which Mr.. Larkin and myself jumped-fol
lowed by two men who took the l rugged the til
Ter, and the mate sat beside the stern sheet.
"DO you see that cake Of ice with something black
upon it atts ?? cried; put me alongside of that and
I'll give you bottle Of rum each tonight and month
extra wages when you are paid off, The men bent to
their oars but their strokes and feeble
They used up by the preceding duty of the last
fortnight and though they did their best the boat made
but little more than the tide. This was long chase
and Mr.. L., who suffering he saw how little we
gained, cried OUT
Pull lads-IIl double the Captains prize-two bot
ties of rum and two months pay. Pull lads for the
love Of God p
A>convulsive effort of oars told how willing the men
to obey but the strength of the strong arms were
gone. One of the youngest fellows washed us twice on
recovering himself and then gave out the other was
gone. Mr.. Larkn spraDg and seized the deserted oar
Lie down in the bottom of the boat said he to the
man. "a and Captain the other oar we must row for
ourselves"
7 took the second mans place-Iarkn had stripped
to his Guernsey shirt he pulled the stern oar wait
ed for the signal stroke 1t gentle but firm and
the next momeut pulling along, steady stroke
gradually increasing in rapidty until the wood seemed
to smoke in the locks We kept time cach by the
long deep breathing of the other Such pull We
bent forward until our faces touched knees and then
throwing all strength into the backward movement
until every inch gained At every stroke the boat shot
ahead like all discharged from a bow. Thus We
worked the for fifteen minutesit seemed to
many hours. The sweat rolled off in great drops and
was enveOped in a steam generated from my own body
" Are we almost to it, Mr. Larkn % I gasped out.
Almost Captan-dont give up; for the love of oul
dear ones at home-don't give up, Captain
The oars flashed the blades turned up to the moon
light The men who piled them were fathers and hat
children the strength which nerved them at that moment
was more than human. Suddenly Mr. Larkn stopped
pulling and my heart for moment almost ceased beat
ing for the terrible thought that he had given out flash
ed across my mind. But quickly reassured by
: his voice:
Gently Captain, gently--a stroke Or two more
there, that will do and Larkin sprang from the boa
with his heavy feet upon the ice started, and calling
to the to make the boat fast to the ice followed
We ran to the dark spot the centre of the mass
and found two little bOys-the head of the smaller nest
ling in the bosom of the larger Both fast asleep
The lethargy which would have been fatal but for tn
timely rescue had overcome them. Mr. Larkn graspet
of the lads cut off of his Shoes tore off his Jacket
and then OosEg his garments to the skin he place.
the chilled child in contact with his warm BODY
carefully wrapping over him, his great coat, which b
produced from the boat / did the with the othe
child, and when returned to the boat, and the mel
partially recovered, pulled slowly back.
The children, we learned when subsequentl
had the delight of restoring them to their parents wer
playing the ice, and had ventured the cake whic
had got iammed in the bend of the river ten mile
d above New York movement of the tide set the ic
in notion and the little fellows borne away on tina
cold night and would inevitably have perished, but 70
n Mr.. Larkns spying them they sweeping out t
5 sea.
f How do you feel? | said to the mate the mex
morning after the adventure
a little stiff in the arms, Captain the noble fellow
replied while the big tears of grateful happiness gushe
from his eyes little stiff in the arms Captain bu
very easy here and he laid his hand upon his heart
: Nv quaint, brave downeaster He who lashes the Sc
into fury and lets loose the tempest, will care for thee
: The storm may rage without but IN thy bosom peac
4 and sunshine will always abide.
e Later Camp Scott.
ST. LOUIS June pa letter to the Republica
says that Capt Marcy passed on the 18th OF May
on the Cache LIE Poudre river and expected to reac
the camp in fifteen days
Col Loders arrived at Fort Laramie May S0th, wit
the wagon-road train.