The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1860-01-04
RAVENNA, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4, 1860


much: I thought saw her, standing not
far of, upon q huge sea, with her arms
stretched implOringly towards me-snw her,
then, with my eyes open, as | have often
seen her in my sleeping dream -" =,
At this point the captain was cut short in
his speech by the cry of "LIGHT.HD !" from
the deck. They hurried up and found the
men crowding forward.
"What ia il :" Lester asked.
al think it is light, sir" replied Parker.
Here, sir,-just stand here.-Now turn your
eye about four points upon the larboard bow.
Welt, now, till she rises.-Ha-there -
there !-See Did you see it, cir !"
Yes-he had seen it; and he knew it mus,
be light upon the shore; but it was gree,
way off. He watched until he had seen Il
several times, and then he remarked to hil
mate that it must be light house. The
light was bold and distinct, and evidently al
considerable height above the level of the
sea; for, had it not been so, it could moi
have been seen at that distance. After Q
short consultation, during which reference
was had to the chart of the Northumbe erlunC
coast, it was decided that this light must be
upon Dorton Point. To the north of Dor
ton, as the captain knew from personal ex
perience, as we'll as from the chart, ther,
was snug harbor, Of easy entrance. Thes
! things were settled.
As soon as it had been determined wher
the light was, Captain Lester made ell pos
sible haste TO determine his course of action
Had the thing been practicable, he woult
have laid his ship to; but that could not b.
done. No one even gave it q serious thought
So it was determined that the ship shou
stand on, at least till something further wa
discovered.
At half.p1st twelve the gale had modsra
:ed considerably. The light was now to b.
seen very plainly whenever the ship rose
and tie captain and his officers felt sure ths
they were right in their calculations.
AT all events" said the former, "w
have no choice bnt TO stand on, at least---
He WAC interrupted by cry from tn
bows that made every soul start with horror
"BREAKERs BREAKERs !"
Captain Lester eap,d forward, and in
very few moments he was satish I'd that tn
warning had not beer ftlae one; for h
could not oGly hear the awful roar Of tn
breaking seas. but he fancied thGt he coul
see the cleaning Of the white foam as
flew high in the air. As quickly as possibl
the topsuil was taken off, and the anchor
cut loose. The pnnderous grapplings plune
ed into the hissing sea, and the iron cabl
were spun through the hawse holes lik
Lightning. Snap went the starboard chain
aud in moment more shock was felt o
the lsrbpnrd anchor found bottom; but
could not hold. The cable parted as thoug
it had zen hempen string, and on swep
the devoted sh p.
"In heavens me" gasped Griffin
| 'NnHl UDeS lUio LHcuH Oec
is eliI burning os brightly as ever-at leas
a league away-and ye. here ure the rock
directly under oar bows What can
man 7"
Maurice Lester did not answer; but an ol
weather 'aten sailor, who stood at tn
wheel, and who had looked thousand dan
gers in the face, answered Tor him:
"IT's A WREcHER's BEACON ! I've see
such things alore. There aint no use Il
firm the gun, sir. That light was put ther
to lead poor jack to his death that the coas,
sharks might pick his bones!"
BREAKERS Rocks On the siarboar
bo,Vs NO On The larboard !-PoRT |!
But fl was too late for mortal help. Tn
, ship had met her doom. She went upon tn
rocks with crash that sounded high abov
the roar of the elements.