The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1863-07-01
"sTOP HER! STOP HER p
ny VIRGINIA p. TOWNSEND.

out on the broad Atlantic. The heavy
clouds coursed like gray woolens the face
of the sky, the great waves rushed and
thundered at the vessel, and clutclied and
struck at her with their fierce hands, and
dashed over her decks the salt spray of
their wrath, and rocked her TO and fro
the stately steamer, rs she struggled on
ward with the winds and the waves
leagued together for her death. The din
ner was over, few of the bravest of the
passengers-determined to face all dan
ger for the sake of witnessing that sub
lime spectacle, a storm Mt sea-were
plunging and stumbling their way up the
stairs to the deck, when one of these sud-
denly stood still, every nerve thrilled with
the awful terror of the words which had
smote his ear from the lips Of the chief
officer-thut cry which is the most fear
ful-tho most significant of danger and
death of any. words which can be uttered
on board ship
"Stop her! Stop her!" The com
mand rang like clarion above the hoarse
fury of tho wind-above the awful tu-
mutt of the waves. The captain caught
the sound, and the next moment, swift
and sudden rs lightning, he had rushed
past his appalled, passenger, his white face
only betraying the dread at his heart.
Was an iceberg sailing down upon them
"A vast white mountain ready to grind
and crush, and bury the doomed vessel
under her cold feetl Had the fair steam
er, which had set her face so proudly To-
ward the West, sprung a sudden leak, and
must the anxious freight of hearts she
carries, 90 down at last under those hun
cry waves; and must the eyes that watch
ed and waited for the beloved at home,
grow dim with weeping for those who
came not?
"Stop her Stop her"
The swift thoughts-tho terrible fears
gave new courage to the passenger who
was groping his way to the deck, and al
most rs soon as the captain mounted it,
the former was at his side. Their eyes
swept the wide, hcaving ocean, and on
the right they beheld six men struggling
and battling for life with those mad
waves, six men suddenly swept overheard !
In moment boat was lowered. 1t did
not seem possible that she could live a
moment in that awful sea; but there
were plenty of brave hearts on board TO
risk their lives for the lives Of their broth
ers, and in moment, manned by stalwart
hearts, she put off. Then came the long
hope, and fear, and waiting on board the
steamer-the straining of eyes through
the storm for the sight of the little boat
struggling her way towards the drowning
men. At last she was seen returning.
The passengers gathered in breathless
crowd to watch her, and count the num-
Der of her rescued. There wore four in
the boat-there had been six overheard
One old man, his hair showed white
with the winter of his years, pressed for
ward-his son was among the missing !!
The old mans face was white as his sons
was, whether it lay unconscious in tho
boat, or had gone down in the triumph
ing waves. The old father leaned over
and searched the faces in the boat. They
were four, but tho one for which lie
sought was not there!
"My boy is lost!' criad the old man,
in voice that made the heart Of every
passenger stand still, so full was it of hu-
man loss and anguish. All alone now
the old man must make his way to the
new, strange country, whittier he and his
son were going togethcr-whither the
brave heart and the strong arm had lured
the old and feeble one, in the hope OF