Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-11-11
THE DAILY PRESS.


mONuAN N"'''''''''' ''''''' '''''''NON hmhEh II
The Life Boat.
The year of grace 1861 came on our
English northeastern coast in storm of fury.
For the two ast days Of the dying year
tempest had been brewing; and on New
Years day, when we quiet city folks were
exchal ging compliments Of the season."
many anxious eyes were turned sesward,
and many an anxious heart grew sick as
the wind rose and still rose. Many vessels,
southwark bound, put about and had to run
as far as Leith Roads for shelter.
Soon after daybreak, on the first ofJanu-
ary, the coast-guard men on Tynemouth
Point, looking out to seaward, saw a vessel,
deeply-laden, with flag Of distress flying.
She was struggling to get to the northward,
but struggling in vain, and rapidly driving
in upon the coast. The coast-guardsmen
followed her along the shore, and, as they
went on, the people Of the villages turned
out to join them so that, ere long, each
headland had its anxious crowd, looking,
plying, trembling 1t was a sad sight to
see. Tie vessels sails had mostly blown
away, and she grew more and more uu-
manageable amid the terrible seas that
broke around and over her.
1T length, abandoning the desperate eff
fort to get to the northward, her crew, as
the last chance of life, ran her on the Whitby
Sands. She was so deeply laden that when
sle struck she was still three quarters of a
mile from the shore. 1t was impossible to
reach her with rockets. Only one hope re-
mained-the Lfe-boat AS fast as they
could run through the driving wind and
rain, coast-guardsmen and fishermen made
off for Cullercoats where was stationed the
Percy life-boat. Six horses were fastened
to her carriage, and down they came with O
gallop to the sands. She was splendidly
manned-thank God no life-boat is ever
useless for want of brave men to form her
crew The men pulled out as for their own
lives, and not a moment too soon did they
reach the ship, which was now broadside on
TO the sea, her crew in the rigging and
the waves breaking over her half-mast high
Cleverly and deftly was the life boat laid
alongside the vessel was grappled, and the
boat held to her by strong rope, Instantly
the crew made toward their deliverers; but
even as they left the rigging three of them
were swept into the sea. The life-boat was
handled with a glorious skill two of the
crew were at once picked up, and as the
third man went down to his death strong
hand seized him with grasp of iron by his
hair, and dragged him up to life. Two
other men were got into the boat did any
remain on board the ship? Yes how so
overlooked, how so left to die, weknow not
but the little cabin-boy remained. The
boys cry for help grew pitiful; he had got
wounded in the head, and was covered with
blood. One of the crew has since said that
every face round him grew white and sick,
and tears came from eyes little used to shed
them. They clenched their teeth, and with
their own lives in their hands dashed in
their boat TO save him. The sea beat her
back They dashed in again, to be swept
back once more. Again they tried the
poor boy, meanwhile, crying terribly in his
loneliness and despair. He was so young
and the coast was so near But in another
minute the vessel would part, and the fall
of her masts would crush the life-boat.
Then sacrificing one life to save many, o
brave man gave the order to ''cut the rope"
In an instant she was swept away under
the vessels stern not q second too soon,
for at once the mainmast fell with an aw
ful crash on the very spot she had just left,
and the vessel parted in two. The boy
his face was covered with blood-fell into
the sea. Clenched in agony Sor clasped in
prayer his little hands were seen once
twice-lifted over the waves; the tempest
swept away his poor boyish cry before the
roar and tumult of the winds; he did not
rise again. The life-boat was pulled back.
Imagine, if you can, how every heart on
shore beat fast and hot; how, running to the
life-boat dashing into the surf, men would
drag her ashore imagine, if you cln, how
the saved would feel, and how the brave
would sorrow for the lost-and answer me,
is not such work infinitely grand and no
ble2 Has it not somewhat special claims
upon our aid