The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1866-06-20

the dull haze, which, mingled with the
coming night soon shut everything from
our gaze but the loaming water
"Over seventy, sir" shouted a voice
IN reply TO query. "Old man.o'- wars
man. Been in many storm but this
here's awful"
Awful it was for so wild night had
not fallen upon that part of the coast for
many years; and as the folk upon the
shore gazed in the direction the boat had
taken, they shook their heads, and shout
ed in each others ears.
There was a long and awful pause,
only broken by the shrieking of the wind,
and then came loud shout: "lIere
she comes ~ and in another minute,
obcdicnt to their siecrsman, the rowcrs
timed their strokes to second, SO that
the boat, heavily laden, rode in upon the
summit OF a gi mt wave so far that twen-
ty willing hands were at her side, and
and she was run right up the sands, and
fifteen shivering, half. drowned fellow
creatures lifted out and hurried up the
shore.
"Now, my lads" cried old Marks, son
to the truck with her, and we're off
again"
he boat was soon mounted, and every
man at his post, the father Of the two
lads taking his place by the side of the
old cockswain for no amount of pcr5ua-
sion on either side could effect change.
There was another cheer, rising above
the storm, and again the gallant crew
were launched into the surf, Il a.
seemed to curl round the boat as
though to fill it in an instant. 1t rose
and fell a dark mass amd the foam for
an instant. and then seemed to plunge
into bank of foggy blackncss, for night
had fallen.
| could not drag myself away from the
stirring scene around me. for | seemed
held TO the spot by strange fascination.
All nt once lurid light shot up, for Il
quantity of straw had been set on fire,
and the flames roarcd and crackled as
dry sca-wccd and pieces Of wood were
heapcd up to increase the glare, which
appeared to gid the crest of the waves,
and threw into bold relief the figures on
the sandS-some gazing out to sea some
watching eagerly the fringe Of breakers,
aready to rush down AMI secure anything
that might be washed ashore from the
wreck.
More straw was hcapcd upon the fire,
and the flames ard SPARKS rushed inland
as they rose with the mighty current of
air, AMI dlrtel across the sani-bunk.
Out scaward all seemed black darkness,
AMI the eyes strained after the life-boat
were for willie strained in vain.
| All at once there was cry of ''IIere
she comes" but it was prolonged into Il
Wild wall Of despair; for by the light
from the fire the boat could be seen
broad,ide ON. and close inshore; AMI
then, after tossing about for Il moment
She was dashed, bottom upwards upon the
sands.
There was a rush to aid the men
struggling in the surf. $ me were drag
| ged ashore; some scrambled unaidcd
| from the waters while more than one
was sucked back by the undcrtow but the
liie-bc'ts they wore kept them anoat +;
and at last, more or less hurt the whole
crew was ashorc-ihrce being carried up
to the village inscnsiblc.
! now learned that, about halfway to
the vessel, the stecrmans oar had snap
ped in two, and the boat fell into the
/ trough Of the sea when, in their efforts
to right her, couple more blades
were broken; wave swept over them
and washed III myn from their seats but
they rc9alncd their places, AMI then with
Il dread of death upon them, the boat
became Interchangeable in their hands :;
for in spite OF the efforts of the old cock
swain, the m'n appeared panic,tricken,
and rowcd at random
The light that garcd upon the shore
now showed that it was completely strewn
with wreck and | looked with horror
upon the various signs which 50 plainly
disclosed the fate of the good ship.
/ Spar, plank. beam, and ca,k, cntangled
with rope, were being churned over and
over in the sand; and twice | saw some
thing dragged ashore, and carried away,
which sent shudder through my frame.
AT last, heart sick and weary, turned
away, and inquired where the crew of
the boat We're, aud who had suffered 4;
when, to my sorrow, learned that the
only ono seriously injured was old Marks,
who had 50 gallantly set the example that
evening-an example which had resulted
in the saving Of fifteen poor creatures
from wdteIy grave.
On entering the village, soon found
where the old man had been conveyed,
and few minutes after | was at the
bedside Of the sufferer. found him sem
Siblei but with change in his countc-
nance that no amount of pain or suffering
alone would have placed there. lie was
quite calm and smiled as entered.
elias she gone to pieces ?" he whisper
ed, stopping TO wipe the blood away that
oo1cd from his lips,
81 fear so," replied; ''lhe shcre is
strewcd with wreck"
81 knowed she would" he gasped.
'Poor things, poor things low many
did we bring ashore ?"
told him fifteen.
. "a L - ba n,roauaJ sI,ot o.o,.L 80.