The Portland daily press., 1865-07-17
Monday Morning, July Z, 1865.



the little brig commanded lay quietly at hel
anchors insiQe of the Hook.
We had hard time of it, beating about elev.
en- days oil this coast, with cutting notheasters
blowing, and snow and sleet falling for most oi
that time. Forward, the vessel was thickly Gov
cred with ice, and it was hard work to handle
her, as the rigging and sails were stiff and
yielded only wnen the strength of the men
was exerted to the utmost When at last we
made the port, all hands worn out and exhaust
ed, we could not have held out two days long
er without relief a
"A bitter cold night, Mr.. Larlin,' said 1 to
the mate, as l tarTied moment on deck to
finish my cigar. The worthy downeaster but
toned more closely his coat around him, look
ed up to the moon, and felt of his red nose be-
fore he replied
ITS whistle, Captain, as we used to say on
the kennebec. Nothing lives comfortable out
OF the blankets on such night as this
Ihe tide is running out swift and strong
It viii be well to look out for floating ice. M.
LarAin.' 4s5fo es1f-' I
Aye, aye, SIR responded the mate, and
went below. 80
Two hours afterwards was aroused from a
sound sleep by the vigilant officer. ~
Excuse me for disturbing you, Captain said
he, as he detected an expression ofvexation on
my face, but / wish you would come on deck
dS SOOil dS pOSclDle.' 'ttts Ii
Why, what's the matter, Mr.. Larkin p said
/. 7T g.-''
Why, sir, have been watching a cake of
ice that swept by as little distance, a moment
ago. saw something black upon 1t. some
thing that thought moved The moons mn
der cloud, and can't see distinctly. but so
help me, God, believe there's a child foatino
out to sea, in this night on that cake Office,
we were on deck before either spoke anoth-
er word. The mate pointed out with no little
difficulty, the cake of ice floating off to the lee
ward, and its white glittering surface was
broken by black spot; more could not
make out. I fo s5E
Get me glass Mr. Larkin, the moon win be
out Of that cloud in a moment and then we
can see distinctly 81 1s
keptmy 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 a brilIiancv
only known in Nothern latitudes. / put the
glass to ng eye. One glance was enough.
Forward therep SHOUTED at the top ofmy
voice, and with one bound Ireached the main
hatch and begun 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
'Seep he exclaimed in whisper, as he set to
MVlh W dlu Alc III Sttblllg OUT tle D0ab-fS6e'
there are two children ON that cake oficep
Two men answered my hail and walked Iazi-
" to the aft In an incredible short space OF
time we launched the cutter, into which Mr..
Larkin and myself jumped, followed by two
men, who took the oars. rugged the tilley.
and the mate sat beside me in the stern
sheet.
DO you see that cake of ice with something
black upon It, ladsp cried; put me along
side of that, and ! viii give you bottle Of
rum each, and months extra wages when
you are paid off
e' The men bent their oars, but their strokes
were uneven and feeble. They were used up
by the hard duty the preceding fortnight, and
though they did their best the boat made but
little more way than the tide. This was a
long chase-and Mr.. Larkin, who was suffer-
ing as he saw how little we gained, cried
out W ae
Pull lads, I'll double the Captains prize
two bottles of rum, and two months pay: pull
lads, for the love of mercy, pulp
A convulsive effort at the oar told how will
ing 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
far gone. Mr.. Larlin sprang forward and
seized the dcsertedoar u.d
Lie down in the bottom of the boat said he
to the men, and Captain, take the other oar ;
we must row for ourselves fa
| took the second mans place. Larlzin had
stripped to his Guernsy shirt, and as he pulled
the bow oar, waited for the signal stroke
1t came gently but firm, and the next mo-
ment we were pulling a long, steady stroke.
gradually increasing inrapidity, until the wood
seemed to smoke in our oar locks. We kept
time each with the long, deep breathing of the
other. We bent forward till our faces almost
touched our knees, and then, throwing all our
strength into the backward movement, drew
on our car until every inch covered by the
sweep had been gained. At every stroke the
boat shot like an arrow discharged from bow.
Thus we worked at the oar for fifteen minutes
lit seemed to me as many hours. The sewat
rolled oil me in great drops, and was envel-
oped in cloud Of steam generated from my
own body. s@.ss ga 9oEg
Are we almost up to it, Mr. Larkin?
gasped out. fAi' ail
Almost, Captain-dont give up; for the
love OF our dear little ones at home, don't give
up certainp d8r
Suddenly Mr.. Larkin stopped pulling. and
my heart for moment almost stopped eat
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 rext mo-
ment the boats side came in contact with
sometning, and Larkin sprang from the boat
with nus heavy feet upon the ice. started up,
ana caiiiilg upon the men to make fast the
boat to the ice, followed. f3il 8g af77 n
We ran to the DARK sno+ il, t,,a ,,e,,t, II
the mass, and found two little bovs fhe head
of the smaller nesting in the hocon, ~ Az
larger-and both were fast asleeni Tbe lotb
arsy, which would have undoubtedi,,
fatal, but for the very timely rescue. had over
come them.
Mr.. Larkin grasped one Of the lads. emf of,
his shoes, tore off his jacket, and then loos;no
his own garments to the skin, placed the chill,
ed child in contact with his own warm bodv
carefully wrapping over him his great coat
which he procured from the boat did The
same with the other child, and then we return
e9 10 the boat, and the men, partially recover
ed, pulled slowly back. aya ssl
Inc children, as we learned, when we subse
quently had the delight of restoring them t
tner parents, were playing on the ice, an
yentuled on the cake, which had jammed int
Ile heaa oi the river, ten miles above New
York. A movement Of the tide set The ice i,
motion, and the little fellows were horne ava,
on that cold night, and would inevitably bav,
perlsneu, put for Mr.. Larkin's espvinc them a
tne ice was sweeping out to sea.
How do you feel ?n | said to the mate m,
morning after this adventure ''-0 ''''''N' 'D
"A little stiff in the arms. canto,, J, tl,o No
Bile fellow replied, while the bio tears of crate
ful happiness gushed from his ewes "a littl
sun IN the arms, Captain, but very easv here,
and he laid his hand on his manly heart
nay quaint brave downeasterl He who
&c the sea INTO fury, and let's loose the temnest
VIII care for theel The storm NAV race with
oS.s opas ~. u rny BOSOM peace and sInshin