The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1861-09-25

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wheel slipped from his hands and near
ly caused all accident Of pretty seri
Gus nature. This annoyed his com
panion. and hard words passed be-
tween them, since which time a snllen
silence had been preserved.
When about two miles above the
Lachine rapids, some Of the rigging
aloft gave way, and the night pilot
mounted the upper deck with a ladder
and attempted to make it fast The
Wind blew fiercely, ind while exerting
all his strength to stay the mischief, he
lost his hold ard fell, the ladder coming
directly upop'the head Of our govern
ment aid, wounding him pretty Sc
verely. Not pausing to look at the
mischief, he seized the unfortunate
man, and with almost superhuman
strength lifted him above the boat
railing. The other, quickly guessing
his meaning, and winding his arms
around the neck Of his companion,
they fell together in the boiling food
below We lowered the life boats Us
| quickly as possible. ropes were thrown
ouo, and every effort put forth 70
save them-but in vain They rose
to the surface of the water still lock-
ed in each Others arms, and then
sank from our view forever
The boat now rapidly rushed on,
coming nearthe frightfnl rapid, while
terror struck faces were around as,
at the thought that no master hand
was near to guide MS through the dark
passage below The scene which we
had inst been called to witness only
made our situation terrific. while wild
and fearful eyes around Us bespoke the
agonizing apprehension OF the passeE-
gers and crew as we went plnnging
madly to destruction, scarcely half a
mile from The gulf, whose dashiug
waves we could distinctly hear. The
captain had frankly told us Of his in
ability to guide us through the peril
Gus passage, while deck, GangRay aud
cabin were filed with men, women
and children, some of whom were
praying, some weeping, others intense
ly crazy with an agony too intense
for utterance. Women eagerly clutch
ing their children, and husbands press
ing their wives to their bosoms with
only the hope Of dying together. The
captain stood at the wheel, assisted 10y
the passengers, vainly endeavoring to
hold out to the last, and guide her un-
til every effort should prove fraitless,
while, with strained eyes and looks Of
despair they gazed through the al
most binding storm upon the craggy
rocks lifting their gray, bare heads
oat of the water, and upon which they
expected every moment to be dashed
to pieces.
just as frenzy had began to calm
down into sober, earnest preparation
for the doom which awaited them,
there came out of the stat Groom y fair
young creature, over whose head
scarce sixteen summers had passed. =
She was of medium height, and fair as
tie lilly Of her northern cline. She
donned suit Of plain blackstuff, while
coat of one of The deceased pilots
was buttoned tightly around her slight
form Her face was ashly pale as'sbe
mounted the stairway, and wish her
hair disheveled to The wind, she ex-
claimed, in a voice which rung clear
as the notes of a bugle above the
storm
81 knew, something of this Zach
inc rapid, and will use my. best eadea-
vofs to guide you, although we have
everything of wind and water aeinst
us Let two of you who are the
strongest and most lsell-possessed,
stand by me at the wheel, while The
rest invoke His aid who ever stileth
the tempest to guard our life-laden
bark safely through the troul led
waters"
AS if in derision Of her matehless
courage the mad waves dashed high
err, while the thunder pealed loud
defiance to words With palid face
and lips compressed, she took her sta
tion at the wheel, while two powerful
mea stood by to aid her as far as
possible With 7, firm hand she raised
the glass and cwept the scene before
her, then bidding them to haze courage
the boat entered upon its fearful
course, bounding onward, as if consci-
GUS Of the hand that guided lis desti,
ny.
Her orders were given in clear,
loud tones, while she stood proudly
erect, her eyes frightened into dark
or blue, until one would have fancied
her ruling spirit of the storm. The
water dashed against the side of the
boat, cro@ning' her fair head with
glittcriug d ops yet still she stood
unheeding, while not an eve in all
that groupe but gazed with mingled
awe and confidence upon that delicate
form. Once again the spoke OF the
wheel slipped from the grasp of him
who held it, but fair jeweled hand
arrested its progress, and stayed the
destruction which otherwise would
have followed its swerve from duty;
Onward sped the noblo bark, and
when darkness shut the last rock from
our sight, one deafening shout rose
high above the storm for her who had
so bravely guided US through the shad.
ow of death.
She would receive no thanks for her-
self, but bidding US give thanks 70
Him whose voice ever ruleth the storm,