Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1860-02-09
8 FREEHOLD N. J. THURSDAY MORNING FEBRUARY O. 1860.

couldn't think what would bring the old
man cut in such Weather, SO | went over
and spoke to him.
- Pretty rough morning for you to be
Out; Mr.. Wayman. says /.
Oh, Ben,' he says, Il am mighty
glad to find you herel Yes, yes; this
wind most blows itie over. can't stand
it like | used to. | see Uncle Jerry's
boys go up shore this morning, SO I've
been keepin' kind of lookout with my
glass. ] can't see very well, Ben, but
nigh as | can make out there's vessel
of some sort about two miles in the offing.
She lays head to, and can't tell whether
tits ship with her mizzeI g0hB BIZ
brig. Any way she's dragging hef On
chors, and when she gets to the sand
they'll pHil Through pretty FAST
80 There's where she'll Bring up, then
says |, pointing to the bar: Though, If,
there's any body aboard that knows
enough, they might make rag of sail oil
her and bring her round the Upper end
Of the shoal into still isatef, and if her
anchors wouldn't hold then shed ground
where the surf wouldn't hurt her 4 bit.'
The old man shook his head. No,
there amt no pilot aboard, or they
wouldn't be where they are. | see she'd
have to strike here away, so | come
down to look If anything could be done
with Jerry's boat
80 The boat is all right, Mr.. Wayman,
but how long would she live in a sen like
that?'
g. No boat could go on to the bar and
ever come back. Ben; but she might be
taken to the inner edge Of the shoal and
be of help when the wreck breaks UP.
could do it if / was younger, and they
say you have quick hand In boat,
Benz but young folks is sheery these days;
faint like it was when | was yotng.'
Il didn't say any thing to that. but
| took another sharp squint to wind ard,
and thought | see faint show of spars.
Twas gone before coHld be sure; but
began to wish the boys were home; so
asked the old man to go down to the
boat House and help me fire the gun. He
thought twas no use, as 1t Couldn't be
heard more thai Ralf mile to wind'ard ];
but we concluded to try it, and had fred
two rounds when Jerry come down. He
reported brig in sight so we fred
again, three rounds being the signal OF
distress. The boys were near BY when
We first fred, and soon come running in.
They were wet, cold, aud hungry; SO
made 'em all go up to the house while
they could, thinking they'd need comfort,
maybe, before they got another chance.
Jerry and | set about building big
FIRE Under lee Of the boat house; and by
time we Had done that, the brig was IL
plain sight about mile off shore. If /
had been aboard her then I could have
saved every stick and stitch; but those
wh0.werc there must have given up, for
they didn't try to do the first thing.
We laid ways down to the water, and
when the others came back lifted the boat
on to rollers. Then We all stood round
the FIRE and Waited. That IS the hardest
thing | ever have to do. Kllthe courage
in the world can't keep d man from
shrinking when he has to stand idly on
the shore and See a noble ship driving on
to certain destruction. Wifi human be,
ings, maybe, clinging 10 the rigging, only
to be swept off when the sea breaks over
her. No one spoke around the Gre that
day as we watched the brig Coming in.
Size was drifting very slowly t.t fist j;
but, as Wayman had fofsseen. When her
anchors touched the sa9d thet didn't
hold at all, and she drove along fearfully
fast.
"By THIS time 4 great many Shore folks
were gathered round the FIRE, and when
| asked for volunteers to GO to the boat
every man offered. chose crew OF
eight, taking every man. as they stood !;
and while they were taking the boa,
down old Tommy Wayman came. to me
and asked pardon for what he had said.
| know you'll not let an old MINIS talk
tempt you to do any thing foolhardy,
Ben !; but if you shnuid never come back
I'd ieel guilty about yod long as i've.
| shook hands with the old man, and told
him twas no time to remember such lit
tile tEfhgs {; and for the rest, with the
blessing Of Providence, Id bring the
boat safely back with more in her than
she took out.
Z q We were little to leewafd Of the
brig when we started, but she drifted past
Us now very near the bar. / could not
see her, as held the boat almost to the
wind, and didn't dare ttfrn my head round
even an instant, but / knew when she
struck by the faces Of the men. Watch
ing my chance, put the boat sharp
about on the back OF sea, and we drove
down toward the wreck. just as Il
caught sight Of her she lifted on ire
mendous wave, aud then pitched forward !,
striking SO heavy that her foreunast snap
ped like pipe stem and went over the
side. as 81
" As we ncared her put the boat head
to windward again, and we lay almost in
the surf waiting for some sign Of life =
'RhAre was no one on deck, and after
watching while. straining OF, the oars
to hold our own, we had about concluded
she Was deserted, when one Of the men
thought he saw signal from the cabin
windows. Next time she lifted they