The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1861-11-06

quickly as possible, ropes were thrown
out and every effort made to save them
but in vain. They rose to the surface of
the water still locked in each Others
arms, and then sank FROM our view for
ever
The boat now rapidly rushed on, COM
ing near the frightful rapid, while terror
struck faces were around us, at the
thought that no master was near to guide
US through the dark passage below. The
scene which we had just been called to
witness only made our situation more
terrific, while wild and fearful eyes
around US bespoke the agonizing appre
hension of the passengers and crew as
we went piungiug madly to destruction,
scarcely half mile from the gulf, whose
dashing waves we could distinctly hear
The captain had frankly told US of his
inability to guide US through the peril
Gus passage, while the deck, gangway
and cabin were filed with men. women
and children, some of whom were praying,
some weeping, others intensely crazy with
an agony too intense for utterauce -
Women eagerly clutchcd their children,
ana husbands pressed their wives to their
boSous with only the hope of dying TO
gether. The captain stood at the wheel,
assisted by one OF the passengers, vainlS
endeavoring to hold out to the last and
until every effort should prove fruitless
while with strained eyes aud looks of de.
spair, they gazed through tue almost
binding storm upon the craggy rocks,
lifting high their gray, bare heads out
the water, and upon which they expected
every moment to be dashed.
Just as frenzy had begun to calm down
into sober earnest preparation tor the
doom which awaited US, their came out
of the state.room fair young creature,
over whose head scarce sixteen summer,
has passed. She was of medium height,
and fair as the lily Of the northern clime
She douned dress of plain black stuff
while the coat Of one of the deceased pi-
lots was buttoned tightly around herslight
form. Her face was ashy pale as she
mounted the stairway, and with her hair
disheveled by the wind, she exclaimed, in
u voice which rung clear as the notes of
u bug le above the storm
Il know something Of this Lachiue
rapid, and will use my best eudeavors to
guide you, although we have everything
Of wind aud water ~gainst US. Let two
of you who are the strongest and most
elt.poSse>sed stand by me at the wheel
while the rest invoke His aid who ever
stlllcth the tempest, to guard our lile-
laden bark safely through the troubled
waters =.
As if in derisron Of her matchess cour-
age, the mad waves dashed higher, while
the thunder pealed "a loud defiance o hor
words. With pale face and lips con-
pressed, sue took her station at The wheel,
while two powerful men stood by TO aid
her as far as possible. With firm haad
she raised the glass and swept the scene
before her; bidding them to have cour-
age, the boat entered upon i;s fearful
course. bounding onward, as if conscious
OF the hand that guided its destiny. Her
orders were given in clear, loud tones,
while she stood proudly erect her eyes
frightened into darker blue, until one
would have f,pcied her the ruling spirit
Of the storm Tie water dashed against
the side of the boat, browning her fair
head with glitterlng drops yet still she
stood unheeding. while not an eye in all
that group but gazed in mingled awe and
confidence upon that delicate form -
Once again the spoke of the wheel slip
ped FROM the grasp Of him that held it,
but fair hand arrested its progress and
stayed the destruction which otherwise
would have followed its swerve from du,
ty. Onward sped the noble bark, when
darkness shut the last rork from our
sight, one deafening shout rose high
above the storm for her who had So
braTely guided US through the shadow of
death.
She would receive no thanks tor her
self, but bidding US give thanks to Him
whose voice ever ruleth the Storm" she
retired to her state room, and was lost to
view.
Around tie cabin-table that night,
about an hour before we entered the har.
bor of Montreal, We learned her history.
She was the daugter of the merchant who
owned the line of boats, one Of which
she had just saved from ruin. Her
mother died when she was a child, and
her father bad, yielding to her wishes,
allowed her to accompany him in the
boat of which he was captain. BY de-
grees she had became acquainted with
every bend 10 that beautiful river, while
calm and storm alike brought scenes Of
beauty to her eye. She was now on l.er
way to visit some friends iu Quebec,
where her father proposed joining her