The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-06-02
MISCELLANY.
The Rescue.

Il was In the month of February, 1881,
% bright moonlight night, and intensely cold,
( lat the little brig 1 commanded, lay quietly
At her anchor, inside OF the Hook.
We had hard time of 1t, beating about for
eleven days off the coast, with cutting north
casters blowing, and snow and sleet falling
! Or the most OF the time. Forward, the vessel
was thickiy coated with ice, and IL was hard
work to handle her as the rigging and sails
were stiff and yielded only when the strength
81 the men was exerted to the utmost. When
IT. last we made the port, all hands worn out
stnd exhausted,we could not have held out
Two days longer without relief.
A bitter cold night, Mr.. Larkin," said
10 my mate, as | tarried ON deck a moment to
buttoned more tightly his coat around him,
looked up to the moon, and felt of his red
hose before he replied;
'lt's a whistler, Captain, as we used to say
on the Kennebec. Nothing lives comfortable
out OF the blankets on such night as this"
f" The tide Is running out full and strong
1t 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
sound sleep by the vigiant officer.
Excuse me for disturbing you, Captain,
SAID he, as he detected an expression of vexa.
ton on my face, "but wish you would come
on deck as soon as possible"
Why, what is the matter, Mr.. Larkin p
said l.
why, Sir, have been watching that cake
oil ice that swept by US little distance, mo
ment ago. saw something black upon 1t
something that 1 thought moved. The moon
Is hid under cloud, and / can't see distinct.
~. but so help me, God, | believe there's
child floating out to sea, in this freezing
night, on that cake of ice"
We were on deck before either spoke an.
other word. The mate pointed out with nc
little difficulty, the cake of ice floating off tc
the leeward, and its white, glttering surface
was broken by a black spot; more could not
make out.
Get me the glass, Mr.. Larkin, the moor
will be out Of that cloud In a moment, and
then we can see distinctly"
kept my eye upon the receding mass
Of ice, while the moon was working its wa,
through heavy bank of clouds. The matt
stood by with glass. When the full ligh
fell at last upon the water, with brillan
ey only known in Northern attitudes, pu
the glass to my eye. One glance was enough
Forward there.' shouted at the top O
my voice, and with one bound l reached The
main hatch, and began to clear away the little
cutter, which was slowed away in the ship
yawl.
Mr.. Larkin had received the glass from m,
hand TO take a look for himself
"SeeP he said Ia a whisper, as he set I,
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 walked la
lilly aft. In an Incredibly short space of tim,
we launched the cutter, iuto which Mr.. Lar
Kin and myself jumped, followed by two men
who took the oars. rugged the tiller, and tn,
mate sat behind me in the stern sheet.
do you see that cake of ice with some
thing black upon 1t, lads?" cried; put mt
along side Of that, and will give you bottle
OF rum each, and a months extra wages wher
n you are paid off,"
The men bent their oars, but their stroke.
were uneven and feeble. They were used ar
by the hard work Of the preceding fortnight
and though they did their best, the boat made
but little more than the tide. THIS was a long
chase-and Mr.. Larkin, 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.'
A convulsiye 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 In recovering his oar
and then gave out; the other was nearly as
lar gone. Mr.. Larkin sprang forward and
seized the deserted oar.
Lie down In the bottom of the boat" said
he TO the meu, land Captain, take the 9th.
er oar; we must row for ourselves
l took the second mans place. Larkin had
stripped to his Guernsey shirt, and as he pull.
cd the bow oar, waited for the signal stroke
II came gently, but firm, aud the next mo-
ment we were pulling long, steady stroke
gradually increasing in rapidity, until the
wood seemed TO smoke Ia our oar locks
We kept time each, with the long, deep breath
ing OF the other. Such q pull! we bent for
ward, until our faces almost touched our knees
and then, throwing all our strength into the
backward movement, drew on our oar until
every inch coydred by the sweep had been
gained. At every stroke the boat shot like an
arrow discharged from bow. Thus we work
ed at the oar for fifteen minutes-it seemed
TO me as many hours. The sweat rolled of
me In great drops, and / was enveloped ii
cloud OF steam generated from my own
body.
Are we almost up to it Mr.. Larkin ?"
gasped out.
Almost, Captain--don't give up: for the
sake OF our little ones at home, don't give up,
certain"
Suddenly Mr.. Lsrkin stopped pulling, and
my heart for q moment almost stopped beat
ing, for the terrible thought that he had given
out, crossed my mind. But was quickly re-
assured by his voice.
"Gently, Captain, gently-a stroke or two
more-there, that will do"-and the next mo-
ment the boats side came in contact with
something, and Larkin sprang from the boat
with his heavy feet upon The ice. started up
and calling upon the men to make fast the
boat to the ice, followed.
We ran to dark spot in the center of the
mass, and found two little boys, the head of
the smaller one nesting In the bosom OF the
larger-and both were fast asleepi The leth-
argy, which would have undoubtedly proved
fatal but for the timely rescue. had overcome
them. Mr.. Larkin grasped one of the lads,
cut of his shoes, tore of his jacket, and then
loosing his own garments to the skin, placed
the chilled child in contact with his own
warm body, carefully wrapping over him his
great coat, which he procured from the boat
/ did the same with the other child, and then
we returned to the boat, and the men. partial
ly recovered, pulled slowly back.
The children, rs we learned when we subse-
quently had the pleasure of restoring them to
their parents, were playing on the ice, and
ventured on the cake, which had TANNED
into the head OF the river. ten mile above
New York. A movement of the tide set the
ice In motion, and the little fellows were
borne away on that cold night, and would
inevitably have persisted, but for Mr.. Larkin's
espying them, as the ice was sweeping out 10
sea.
How do you feel p said to the mate, the
morning aner this adventure.
"a little stiff IN the arms, Captain the
noble fellow replied, while the big tears OF
grateful happiness gushed from his eyes, "a
little stiff in the arms, Captain" but yer
easy here, and he lay his hand on his man
ly heart.
My quaint, brave downeasterl He who
lashes the sea into its fury, and lets loose the
tempest, will care for theel The storm NAV
rage without, but in thy bosom peace and
sunshine abide always.