American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1858-09-02
J CITY OF LANCASTER:
thur sday Morning, Sept, ?, 1855
AM EXCITING SCENE.

IL was In the month OF February, 1881,
b bright moonlight night and intensely
cold, that the brig commanded lay at her
anchor. Just inside Of Sandy Hook.
We had hard time Of it, beating about
eleven days off the coast. and the snow az d
sleet falling for the most Of the time, For
ward. the vessel was thickly covered with
ice, and it was hard work to handle her,
as The rigging aud sails were stiff, and
yielded only when the strength OF the men
was exsrted to the utmost. When at length
we made the port. all hands were worn
down and exhausted; we could not have
held outtwo days longer without relief. -
"a bitter cold night. Mr.. Lsrkin," |
eaid 10 my mate, as tarried moment on
deck. to finish my cigar S#E
The worthy Down-easter buttoned bis
coat more tightly around him. lo' ked up at
the meonj and felt his red nose, before be
replied.
ATS whistler, Captain, as we used to
say on the Kenebec. Nothing lives COM
Portable ont ofblankets, in such night as
this" ...... ,o
"Ths tide is running out swift and
strong--it will bc well to keep sharp look
out for the floating ice, Mr.. Larkin."
"Aye. aye sir" responded the mate,ahd
I went below.
Two hours after, was aroused from a
SQUAD sleep by the vigilaut officer.
Excuse me for disturbing you, Captain,
said he, as he detected an expression o.
vexation 10 my face; "but | wish you
would turn out and come on deck as soor
as possible
"Wby-whafsthe matter, Mr.. Larkin9'
"Why, sir. Ihave been watching cake
Of ice that swept by a little distance few
moments ago, | saw something black upor
it-somethiug that thought moved. The
moon was under cloud and could not
see distinctly; but lido believe there's a
child floating out to sea, this cold night
on that cake Of ioe."
We were on deck before either spoke an
other word. The mate pointed out with
no difficulty, the cake Of ice floating off tC
the leeward, and its white glittering sur
face was broken by black spot-more,
could not make out Of it.
"Get me the glass, Mr.. Larkin-th'
moon will be out OF the cloud in mo
meut. and then we can see distinctly"
1 kept my eye on the receding mass o
Ice, while the moon. was slowly working
Its way through bank Of clouds. Tb
Mate stood by with glass. When to-
full light fell at last upon the water, with
brilliaucy only known to northern latitude
I put my glass to my eye. One glanc
was enough.
FORWARD thersl" shouted. at the to
Of my voice. and with one bound, reach
ed the main hatch and began to clear th
ships .yawl. s6.5
Mr. Llrkiu had received the glass fror
my hand and took look for himself. .
"My Godp' he said in a whisper, as ;
set to work to aid me 10 getting out til
boat--"My God! there are two children
that cake of icel' s"t t'
Two man answered my call, and wake
laSily aft. In an incredibly short space
time we launched the cutter, into whic
Mr.. Larkin aud myself jumped. followe
by two men who took the oars. l rigge
the tiller, and the mate sat beside the stel
sheet. S
"Do you see that cake Office. with som
thing upon it, lads?" / cried "Put n
alongside ofthat, and will give each
you bottle ofrum to night, and month
extra wages when you are paid off," ~
men bentto their oars, but their strok
were uneven aud feeble. They had be-
used up by the proceeding duty Of the Ia
fortnight, aud though they did their be'
the boat ma . but little more than tide.'
This was 9 long chase, and Mr.. L., y
was suffering as he saw how little he gal
ed, cried out to the men:
"Pul lads---Pll double the Captain
prize-two bottles Of rum and two mont
pay. Pull. lads, for the love Of GodP'
a :cnvulsive effort Of oars told how v
li1g the men were to obey; but the strenl
" the strong arms had gone, One of