Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1864-06-21


We had hard time Of IL, beating about
for eleven days of this coast, with cutting
nOrthwesters blowing, and snow and sleet
falling for most Of the time. Forward. the
vessel was thickly coated with ice, and it
was hard work to haodle her, as the rig
glDg and sails were stiff aud yielded only
when the stronghold the men was exerted
to the almost. When at last we made the
port. al hands worn out and exhausted,
We Could not have held out two days long,
er without relief.
"A bitter cold night, Mr.. Larkin,' said
to my mate, as | tarried q moment on deck
to finish my cigar. The down easter but
toned bis coat more tightly around him,
looked up to the moon, and felt of his red
nose before be replied:
IT'S whistler, captain. as we used to
say on the Kenaebec Nothing lives come
Portable out Of the blankets on such q night
as this
The tide is running out swift and strong.
It will be well to look out for floating ice.
Mr.. Larkin.'
AYE, aye, sir, responded the mate, and
/ went below.
Two hours afterwards [ was aroused
from asound sleep by the vigilant officer
Excuse me for disturbing you, captain
said he, as he detected an expression Of
vexatioh on my face, but wish you would
come on deck as soon as possible
why, what is the matter, Mr.. Larkin =
said I.
why, sir, l have beer watching a cake
of ice that swept by Us a little distance, a
moment ago. / saw something black ND.
on 1t. something that thought moved -
The moons under n cloud. and can't see
distinctly; but so help me God, i believe
there's child floating out to sea, in this
freezing night, on that cake of ice.'
We were on deck before either spoke
another word. The mate pointed out with
no little difficulty, the cake Of ice floating
CT to leeward. and its white, glittering sur
face was broken by black spot; more
could not make out
Get me the glass, Mr. Larkin; the moon
will be out of that cloud in a minute. and
we can see distinctly
/ kept my eye upon the receding mass
of ice, while the moon was working its
way through heavy bank of Clouds
The mate stood by with the glass. When
the full light fell at last upon the water.
with brilliancy only known in Northern
latitudes, put the glass TO my eye. One
glance wac enough.
Forward three ! shouted at the TOP of
my vioce, and with one bound l reached
the main hatch and began to clear away
the little cutter which was slowed away in
the ships yawl.
Mr.. Larkin had received the glass from
my hand to take look for himself.
See he said a whisper, as he set to
work to aid me in getting out the boat
see, there are two children on that cake
of ice.'
Two men answered my hail, and walk
ed lazily aft. In an incredibly short. time
we launced the cutter, into which Mr..
Larkin and myself jumped followed BY
two men, who took the oars Irigged the
tile, and the mate sat beside me in the
stern sheet.
DO yon see that cake of ice with eome-
thing black upon it, ladsp l cried; put
me sluugside of that, and l will give Won
q bottle Of rum each, and a mouths ex
ira wages when you are paid off,
The men bent to their oars, but their
strokes were feeble and uneven. Thew
were used up by the preceding fortnight
and though they did their best. the boat
made but little more way that the tide
+.
in. who was suffering as he saw how little
we gained, cried out:
Pull lads, I'll double the captains
prize; two bottles of rum. and two months
pay. pull, lads, for the love of mercy,
pull p
A convulsive effort at the oar told how
willing the men were to obey, but the
strength OF the strong man was gone. One
OF the poor fellows washed US twice 10 re-
covering his oar and then gave out: the
other was nearly as far gone: Mr.. Larkin
sprang forward. and seized the deserted
oar.
Lie down in the bottom of the boat,
said he to the men; now captain, take the
oar; we must row for ourselves
| took the SECOND mans place. Larkin
had stripped to his Guernsey shirt, and as
be pulled the bow oar, / waited for the
signal stroke. II came gently, but firm,
and the next moment we were pulling a
long. steady stroke, gradually increasing
in rapidity, until the wood seemed TO
smoke in our locks. We kept time each
with the long, deep breathing of the other.
Such pull! We bent forward until our
faces almost touched our knees, aud then.
throwing all our strength into the back
ward movement, drew on our oars until
every inch covered by the sweep had been
gained. At every stroke the boat shot like
40 arrow. Thus we worked at the oar for
fifteen minutes-it seemed as MANY bours.
The sweat rolled of me in great DROPS, and
was enveloped in cloud of steam gen.
Grating from my own body.
Are we almost up to it, Mr.. Larkin p I
gasped out.
Almost, captaiu-don't give up: for the
love of our dear little ones at home. don't
giveup, certain y
Suddenly Mr. Larkin stouped uulIinp.
and my heart for moment stopped- beat
ing, for the terrible thought that he had
given out, crossed my mind. Butt was
quickly treasured by his voice.
Gently, captain, gently-e stroke or
two more-there.- that will do'-and the
next moment the boats side came 10 con-
tact with something, and Larkin sprapp
from the boat with bis heavy feet upon the
ice. ] started. up, AID calling to the two
men to make fast the boat to the ice, fol-
lowed.
We ran to the dark spot 10 the center Of
the mass, and found two little boys, the
head of the slnaler nesting in the bosom
of the larger-an6 both fast asleep. The
leteargy, which would undoubtedly have
proved fatal, but for the timely rescue, had
overcome them. Mr.. Larkin graspad one
Of the boys. cut of his shoes, tore Of his
jacket. and then loosing his own garments
to the skin, placed the chilled child 10 con-
tact with his own warm body, carefully
wrapping over him his Own great coat,
which he procured from the boat. I did
the same with the other child-aud then
we ret6rDed to the boat, aud the men, par
italy recovered, pulled slowly back.
The children, as we ieafued when we
subsequently had the delight of restoring
them TO their parents, were playing on the
ice, and veotured on the cake, which had
jammed into the head of the river, ten
miles above New York. a movement of
the tide SET The ;nn In rnn.;c. "a * ~.