The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1859-08-11

ped from his hand, and nearly caused
an accident of pretty serious nature.
This annoyed his companion, and sharp
words again passed between them,
since when sullen silence had been
preserved.
When about two miles above the La
chine rapids, some of the rigging aloft
gave way, and the night-pilot mounted
the upper deck with a ladder and at
tempted to make it fast. The wind
blew fiercly, and while exerting all his
strength to stay the mischief, he lost
his hold and fell, the ladder coming di-
rectly down upon the head of our gov
ernment aid, wounding him pretty Sc
verely.
Not pausing to look at the cause of
the mischief, he siezed the unfortunate
man and with almost superhuman
strength lifted him above the railing of
the boat. The other quickly guessed
his meaning, and winding his arm
around the neck of his companion,
they fell together into the boiling flood
below. os
We lowered the life-boat as quickly
as possible, ropes were flung out, and
every effort put forth to save them, but
in vain.
They rose to the surface of the water,
still locked in each others arms, then
sank from our view forever.
The boat now madly rushed on, COM
ing nearer and nearer the frightful
rapid, while terror-struck faces were
around us at the thought that no mas
ter-hand was near to guide us through
the dark passage below.
The scene we had just been called
to witness only rendered our situation
more terrific, while wild and fearful
eyes around us bespoke the agonizing
apprehensions of the passengers and
crew as we went madly plunging to
destruction, scarcely half mile from
the gulf, whose FLASHING waves we
could distinctly hear.
The captain had frankly told us of
his inability to guide us through the
perilous passage, while deck, gangway
and cabin were filed with men, women
and children, some Of whom were pray
ing, some weeping and others nearly
crazed with an agony too intense for
utterance. Woman eagerly clutched
their children, and husbands pressed
their wives to their bosoms, with only
the hope of dying together. The cap
tain stood at the wheel, assisted by a
passenger, vainly endeavoring to hold
out to the last and guide her until eve
ry effort should prove fruitless, while
with stained eyes and looks of despair
they gazed through the almost binding
storm upon the craggy rocks lifting
high their gray, bare heads out of the
water, and upon which they expected
every instant to be dashed to pieces.
l Just as frenzy had began to calm
down into sober, earnest preparations
for the doom which awaited them, there
came out of the state-rooms affair young
creature, over whose head scarcely six
teen summers had passed. She was of
medium height, as fair as the lily of
her northern cline. She had donned
dress of plain black stuff, while the
coat of one of the deceased pilots was
buttoned tightly around her slight
form. Her face was ashy pale as she
mounted the stairway, and with her
hair disheveled by the wind, she ex-
claimed in voice which rang clear as
the notes of the bugle bove the storm
"I know something of this Lachine
rapids, and will use my best endeavors
to guide you, although we have every
thing of wind and weather against us.
Let two of you who are the strongest
, and most selfpossessed stand by me al
the wheel whilst the rest invoke His
aid, who ever stilleth the tempest, to
guide our life-laden barque safely
through the troubled water"
AS if in derision of her matchless
/. courage, the mad waves leaped higher
while the thunder pealed loud def
: ance to her words.
e With paid face and lips compressed
! she took her station at the wheel, while
two powerful men stood by to aid hel
: as far as possible. With a firm hani
she raised the glass, and swept th'
e sc enc before her, then bidding then
t have courage, the boat entered upol
e its fearful course, bounding onward, a
if concious of the hand that guided it
e destiny.
:, Her orders were given in loud, clea
s tones, while she stood proudly erect
n her eyes Frightening into darke
'- blue, until one would have fancied he