Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-01-14
THE ARCTIC PRISON.

The ship swung heavily to and fro-the
long yards creaking and shyering upon the
masts.
The wind whistled with a shrill weird sound
among the shrouds; and the shrouds bent in
wards as though unseen bands of heavy footed
men were ascending them. 1t was dark
night, yet not so dark but that we could see
the lofty icebergs by which we were surroun-
ded, looming up like spectres through the
gloom We were tossing about on the waters
of the Arctic Ocean, and-subjected to a
heavy sea and gale of wind--our position
a dangerous one. We had already begun
to prepare RATS, and to hoist our chests oil
deck-expectlng every moment that the ship
would be stove by the ice. Heavy masses
were continually crushing against the bows,
and laundering under the counter, causing
the vessel to shake and culver from stem to
stern, as though every timber was abort to
give way. AT times the conclusion would be
so violent that all hands would be tn own off
their feet, and tumble on top Of each other,
in a manner that was far from agreeable
Suddenly white face with wild glarng eyes
and quivering lips appeared among us. 1t
was that of the captains wife. She had her
hand upon her husbands arm, as she stood
near the bow.
Lillian Lillian" she gaspcd, "where is
our Lillian ?"
Lillian? Good heavens wife, what do you
mean? | left her with you in the cabin y
She is not there now have looked in
all the rooms Oh, God! my child my
child y and the mother wrung her hands in
anguish, while her white face grew still
winter.
Wife wife !" exclaimed the captain half
sternly, Lillian was with you when left the
cabin; surely you did not let her leave your
side at such time as this !"
eyes yes!" cried his wife, in accents of
the most piercing grief. at is all my fault
she is lost! My little Lillian is lost and
am the cause!"
For Gods sake, explain yourself" gasped
the captain
q left her down in the cabin, faltered the
agonlzed mother, land came on deck as |
wanted to speak to you. | thought you were
in the waist, 50 | CROPPED my way there and
tried to find you. Not seeing you, l started
on my return, fearing to leave Lillian so long
alone. But when | reached the cabin again
she was not there-gOne! gone God only
knows where "
Lillian !" Lillian has any one seen Lilian?"
Fore and aft, from every lip, in startling
accents, the cry went up amid the storm!
But the loud wind only answered with a
deeper howl. The long yards creaked upon
their rusty rivets. The heavy iccbergs groan-
ed and shook as they had done before The
silvery accents of little Lilian's voice came
not to our ears, and we felt as if it hushed for
ever. But the wailing tones of the poor
mother, and the despairing shouts of the
father-both of whom could not bear to give
up their ehild-continued long after our own
voices had ceased Then we-rough-hcarted
childless men though we Woodworking
our own danger, gathered about the afflicted
pair, and tried to console them. don't think
we succeeded very WELL for our voices trem-
bled great deal; and the tears would come
to our eyes, though we kept wiping them
away with the cuffs of heavy jackets
No one of us but had loved little Lillian al
most as well as the parents themselves. She
was but seven years of age yet the earnest
glance of her large blue eyes would 90 straight
to our hearts, and make Us feel kin. and good
towards each other. To utter an oath when
she was near would have seemed like sacrilege.
Like lily, she had bloomed i'll our midst,
shedding heavenly influence about her.
Strong-ah strong in the power of limo
cent childhood over sinful heart
1t was while we thus stood, clustered near
the pinnacle, offering what little consolation
we could to the captain and his wife, that
one of the ships crew-an old tar, by the
name of Bill Butler-came towards US, hold
ing a few little torn shredS of cloth in his
hand.
& found these ere hanging on a hook on
the outside of the bulwark" said Bill in
mournful voice.
1t is part of Lilian's dress" shrieked
the captains voice.
The captain buried his face in his hands
with groan, and we looked at one and
another in sad silence. There could no longer
4 49, -, i
fallen overheard.
The few remaining hours of the night wore
away. The gale subsidized. Miraculously, as
it seemed to us, the ship had escaped being
stove and as the sea had gone down with
the gale, there was now no more danger.
Overwhelmed with grief, vet feeling it his
duty to try and console his wife, the captain
descended into the cabin, leaving the man
agement of the ships affairs in the hands of
the mate. Presently the steward came on
deck. He wished to know if any of the
hands had seen Blusco that morning. This
was the name of large Newfoundland dog,
which had been great favorite with Lillian,
and she had taken especial delight in feeding
him. The dog had grown extremely fond OF
his young mistress, and would show his at
tacllment In many ways peculiar to his kind
Now that their darling was lost, the captain
them-thinkins that the sight of him might
afford a melancholy consolation to his wife
Having searched the cabin through without
being able to find the animal, the steward
came on deck, as we have said, to inquire i
he had been noticed by any of the hands
We all answered in the negative. None o.
us had seen the dog since the previous night
Thereupon the ship was ransacked fore and
aft, for the missing animal; and although we
searched in every nook and corner, he was
not to be found.
While we were all wondering what haG
become of him, the man at the masthead
sung out that there were whales astern. The
mate instantly ordered the boats to be low
cred, and before we had scarcely time to di
vest ourselves of the idea that we were still
looking for the dog, were padding swiftly il
the wake of great fat bow head. The whale
made straight for field of ice in the dis
lance, and went down when he had got in tht
midst of it. We followed him almost to thu
spot where he had disappeared, and then la.
motioness and silent, waiting for the mex
rising. Large masses of ice, flashing glori
ously in the early rays of the sun and mould
ed into thousand different shapes, surround
ed our little craft on every hand, floating b,
majestic s1owneSS and now and theI