The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1865-07-25
THE RESCUE.

IL was III the uOnCn OF February, 1901 |
bright moonlight night, and Aintenss,cold, that
the little brig commended lay quietly at her
anchors inside Of the Hook.
We had hard time of it, beating about
eleven days off this coast, with emitting moth.
casters blowing and snow and sleet falling
for most Of the time. Forward the vessel was
thickly covered with ice, and it was hard
work to handle her, as the, rigging and calls
were stiff and yielded only when the strength
Of the men was exeIted to the utmost. When
at last We made the port, all hands worn out
aud exhausted we could not of held out two
days longer without relief
"A bitter cold night, Mr.. Larkin,' said to
the mate, as | tarried a moment on deck to
flush 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.
before he replied--
Tts whistler, Captain, as we used to say
on the Kennebec. Nothing lives comfortable
out of the blankets on such night az this
The tide is running out swift and stronp,
Ii will be we'll to look out for floating ice,
Mr.. Larkin,' .
AYE, aye, sir,' responded the mate, and I
went below.
Two hours afterwards was aroused from
q sound sleep by the vigilant officer. .t
Excuse me for disturbing you Captain,
said he as he detected an expression of vex-
alton on my face, but wish you would come
ION deck as soon rs possible ~ .-H &
why watts the matter, Mr.. Larkin7' said
H. s. s-.'---5,.I - -
why, sir, have been watching a cake of
ice that swept BY ne little distance, a mo-
ment ago saw something o1sbIsck upon, IL
something that moved, n The moons under
cloud, and can't see distinctly but 80 help
me, God, bslive there's child floating out
ito sea, IN this night, On that cake of ice.'
I'VE were on deck before either spoke anoth-
word. The mate pointed out with no little
difficulty, the cake of ice floating off the lee
ward, and it's white glitteripg surface was
broken by black spot; more could notmake
out. ,....- ID, ..s.. l.'II
get me glass Mr.. Lsrkin, the moon will
be out of that cloud 10 moment, spd then
we can see II distinctly 90
kept my eye upon the receding mass of
ice, while the moon was working it's way
through heavy bank of Clouds. The mats
stood by with the glass. When the full light
fell at last upon the water, with briliancy
|only. known in Northern ATTITUDES, put the
glass to my eye One glass was enough. "a
+ Forward therep shouted at the, top of nv
voice, and with one bound II reached the
main hatch and begun to clear away the
little cutter which was slowed away in the
ships yawi. Sf'. '5'' tsfa1 SO " -
Mr., Larkin had received the glass from INV
hand to take look for himself. ','o 5
'SeeP he exclaimed in q whisper, as he set
to work to aid me sin getting out the boat
see there aFett two children on that cake
of iceP %fs3s3IJ biz,
Two men answered my hail and walked
lazily aft. In an incredible sho IT space
of time we launched the cutter into which Mr..
Larkin and myself jumped, followed by two
men' who took the oars. rugged the ttilley,
md the mate sat beside me Pin the stern
sheet. At1dsIitah s lib5DH ~ 3'd9l
'Do you see the cake of ice with some.
tbing upon it, lads2' cried; .put me along
side OF that, and / will give you a bottle OIL
ruu, each, and a months extra wages when
you are paid off, 'o III i21 aas - az
The men bent there oars, but their strokes
were uneven aud feeble. They were used I'D
by the hard duty the preceding fortnight, and
though they dad their beet, the boat made
but little more way than the tide. This was
q long chase --and Mr.. Larkin, who was suf.
fering as he saw how little we gained, cried
out
Pull lads Eli double the Captains prize,
two bottles of rum, and two nonth'sS PAY;
pull, lads, for the love of mercy, puff u
conyulsive effort at the oar told bow
willing the men where to obey, ,but the |
strength of the strong man was gone. i One
of the poor fellows washed MS twice 10 recov. |
ering his oar, and then gave out, the other
was nearly as far gone. Mr. Larkin sprangl
forward aud seized the deserted oar.
d Lie down in the bottom Of the boat, said
he to the men, 'snd Captain, take the other
oar; we must row for life ourselves. a,t
Itook the second mans's place. Larkin |
had stripped to his Guernsy shirt, and as he |
pulled the bow oar, waited for the siceal |
strake. II came gently but firm, and the
next moment We were pulling a long. steady
stroke, gradually increasing in rapidly, .uutii
the wood seemed to smoke in our oar locks.
We kept time with the long deep breathing Of
tho other We bent forward till our faces al
most touched our knees, and then, throwing
all our strength into the backward movement
drew on onr oars until every inch covered ty
the sweep had been gained. Atevery stroke
the boat shot like an arrow discharged from
bow. Thus we worked at the oar for fifteen
minutes-it seemed to me as many hours.
The sweat rolled off in great drops, and Il
wad enveloped In cloud of steam generated
from my own body nH
'Are we almost up to il, Mr. Larkin?' I
gasped out.
Almost, CsptsiD-dont give up; for the
love of our dear little ones at home don't,
give up certainp 3a...st is'iT lH
Suddenly Mr. Larkiu stopped pulling, an d
my heart for a 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, [ 60 ,-5
"Gently, Captain, gently--a stroke or two
more there, that will do--and the next mo-
ment the boats.s side came in contact with
something, and Larkin spr ing from the b oat
with his heavy feet upon the ice. i started
up, and calling upon the men to make fast the
boat to he ice, followed. H.
a8 We ran to the dark spot in the eentreof
the mass, and found two little boys, the bead
of h. axr1alIar atli in tha han