American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1858-09-02
LANCASTER OHIO THURSDAY MORNING, SEPTEMBER O. 1855

youngest fellows washed US twice, in re.
covering himself, and then he gave out;
the other was gdne Mr.. Larkin sprang
and seized the deserted oar.
"Lie down in the bottom of the boat,
said he to the man; "ahd Captain-the 9th.
er oar--we must row for ourselves"
l took the second mans place-Larkin
had stripped to his Guernsey shirt; as be
pulled the stGrn oar, waited for the sig
nal stroke. Ii came gentle, but firm, and
the next moment We were pullinga long.
steady stroke, gradually increasing in ra.
pidity, until the wood seemed to smoke in
tue oar locks. We each kept time, by the
long deep breathing, Of the other. Such
pull! We went forward until our faces
touched our knees, and then, throwing till
every inch gained. At every stroke the
boat shot ahead Ike an arrow discharged
from bow. Thus ne worked the oars
for fifteen minutes-it seemed SO many
hours to me- The sweat rolled off in
great drops, and l was envsloped in steam
generated from my own body.
care you almost to il, Mr.. Larkin?'-
l gasped out.
"Almost CAptAin--don't give up; for the
love Of dear ones at home, don't give up,
Captain" r'.i'
The oars flashed, as the bladesN turned
up to moonlight. The men who piled
them were husbands and fathers; the
strength which nerved them at this mo,
ment was more than hGmar. Suddenly
Mr.. Larkin stopped pulling, and my
heart for a moment, almost ceased beating;
for the terrible thought that be had given
out flashed across my mind.
Gently, Captain, gently--a stroke of
two more--there, that will do" and Lar.
kin sprang from the boat with his feet up.
on the ice. Istarted and calling to the
men to make the boat fast to the ice, fol-
lowed him.
We ran to the dark spot on the centre Of
the mass, and found two little boys--the
head of the smaller nesting in the lap Of
the larger. Both were fast asleepl The
lethargy which would have been fatal, but
for the timely rescue had overcome them.
Mr.. Larkin grasped one Of the lads, cut of
one OF his shoes. tote off his jacket, and
then looseuing his own garments to the
skin, he placed the chilled child in contact
with his own warm body, carefully wrap
ping over him his great coat, which he
procured from the boat. l did the same
with the other child. when we returned to
the boat, and the men. partially recovered,
pulled slowly back.
The children. as we learned. when We
subsequently had the delight of restoring
them TO their parents, were playing on the
ice, aud had ventured on the cake which
had got jauimsd in the bend of the river
len miles above New YORK. A movement
Of the tide set the ice in motion, and tbt
little fellows were borne away on that colo
night, and would inevitably have perished
but for Mr.. Iarkin's spying them as the.
were sweeping out to sea. o.
elbow do you feel?' said 10 the mate
the next morning after the adventure.
;, "a little stiff il the arms, Captain, til
noble fellow replied, while big tears of hap
piuess gushed from his eyes; "a little s!il
10 the arms. Captain, but very easy here,
and he laid his hand upon his heart. M
quaint, brave Downeaster, He who lash
es the sea into fury. but in thy bosom
, peace and sunshine will always abide.