Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1864-08-24
THE ARTIC PRISON.
A Thrilling Story of Child and Dog


The ship swung heavily TO and fro-the
long yards crlaking and shiverlug upon the
masts.
The wind whistled with a thrill. weird
sound among the shrouds: and the shrouds
bent inward as though unseen bands or heavy
footed men We're ascending them. Ii was Il
dark night. vet not 50 dark but that we
could see the lofty icebergs by which we
were surrounded, looming up like Spectres
through the gloom. We We're toss ing about
ON the waters Of the Arctic ocean, and sub
iected to heavy sea and gale Of wind
oGr position was a dangerous one. We had
already begun to prepare RATS and to hoist
our chests ON deck-expecting every moment
tl.at the ship would be slowed by the ice.
Heavy ma>es were continually crushing
against the bows, and thuLdcring under the
counter, causing the vessel to shake an
quIver from stem, To stern, as though every
timber was about 10 give way. At times tbs
clncu>Sion would be So violent that All
hands would be thrown off their feet. and
tumble on top OF each other. Suddenly Il
viii face with glaring eyes aud quv
c.ing lips appeared among uS. 1t was that
Of the captain wife She had her hand
HpOn her husbanl arm, as she stood hear
the bow.
Lillian Lillian she gaspcd, where
is our Lillian
Lillian Good heavens! wife, what do
you mean ? left her with you III the ca
bin,
she is not there now-T have looked in
all the rooms Oh. God Luy child my
child - and the mother wrung her hands in
anguish, while her white face grew still
Writer
Wife wife = exclaimed the captain
half sternly, Il llian WAS with you when
| left the cabin surely you did not let
her leave your side at such Il time as
this
''Yes, yes - cried his wife, in accents of
the most piercing grief. 1t is all my fault
-.he is lost Ny little Lillian islost aud
! am he cause
For God sake. explain yourself, gasp
cd the captain.
Il left her down in the cabin, faltered
the agonizei mother, and came on deck,
a, wanted to speak to you. | thought
you were in the waist, SO | groped my way
there and tried to find you. Not seeing
you, | started on my return, fearing to
leave Lillian so long alone. But when
| reached the cabin again, she was not
there-gone gone God o.y knows
where =
Ian 2
Fore and aft, from every lip, in start
ling accents, the cry went up amid the
storm.
But the loud wind answered only with
deeper howl. The long yards creaked upon
their rusty rivett The heavy ce-berges
groaned and shook at they had done before.
The silvery accents of littl1 Lillian S voice
came not TO our ears, and we ielt as If it
were hushed forever But the walllng tones
Of the poor mother, and the despalrlng
shouts of the father-both of whom could
not bear to give up their child-continued
long after our own voices had ceased. Then,
we-roughhearted,c childless men though we
were-forgetting our own danger. gathered
about the afflicted pair, and tried to console
them. don't think we succeeded very
well, fer our voices trembled great deal
and the tears would come to our eyes. thouch h
We kept wiping them away with the cuffs OF
our heavy jackets Not one OF Us but had
loved little Lillian almost as well as the pa
rents themselves. She was but seven years
of age yet the earnest glance of her large
blue eyes would go straight to our hearts,
and make us feel kind and good towards
each other. To utter an oath when she was
near would have seemed like sacrallge Like
a lilly she had bloonled in our midst, shed
ding heavenly influence about us
StrOng-ah strong is the power OF lnno-
cent childhood over sinful heart
1t was while we thus stood clustered near
the blnnacle offering what little con, ,olation
We could to the captain and his wife, that
one Of the Ship crew-an old tar, by the
name of Bill Butler-came towards US, hold
ing few little torn shreds of cloth is his
hand.
l found these ere hanging on hook on
the outside of the bulwark, said Bill in a
mournful voice
1t is rart of Lillian dress shrieked
the captain ) voice.
The captain buried his face in his hands