Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1866-05-30

boat seemed almost absolute Madness 1t was
evident that the men thought so too, though
rs We came up, one eturdy fellow shouted, aim
ready, mates, if yoo re going $" remark that
elected no response, for every one stood stolid.
ly gaslng out towards lhe doomed vessel.
just then, in the dull hase seawards, blue
hight shone out over the Water like dull star
but still no one moved. All at once. the old
man by my side Ibid hlod of my arm, and whis
pered: :" Give me lift, sir = and before |
knew hardly what his Object wa, be had
climbed into the boat. "Now, then you boys"
he shouted wildly; 81 can't stand this
come!''
Tne spei! was broken. Women were thrust
aside, and boats crew was soon made up
amidst The shrieking and wailing of sweethearis
and wives, who ran about tie beach wriDeing
their hands.
Hurray for old Marks p' shouted voice
at my elbow, and the crowd loudly cheered
the old man. Then were shipped and
all made ready, the old sailor seixng the steer
ing as he stood up in his place with IA life
belt and his hat blown off, looking nobler
th7n ever.
Now, you ell ready P" he shouted
NO, no, vas the cry and in the hush of
expectation, two men rose in the boat, dashed
of their lite bsits, and amidst half muttered
groans, leaped out from their places, and ran
up the sands TO the bark where they disappear
e1.
IS Two more :" shouted old Marks, and for
few moments, dread the peri, not a
soul moved /; then two stout lads came rushing
towards the boat, pursued by an elderly man
perfect giant.
stop them ~ he roared Yer shan 20
lads
lie came up TO them by the boat-side as
they were climblr < in, and endeavored to stop
their progress bat in his turn he was seized
from ehind by couple of men. and the two
newcomers were in half minute equipped for
the dire struggle before them, and in their pla.
' Let go - shrieked the man but the
others clung him, the signal was given,
the Carriage backed down into position, u e
time accurately chosen, and with wild &" hur-
rah y heard above the storm, the life-bost was
launched.
Ny attention had been so taken up that |
had ceased to look upon the man who was
struggling to regain his liberty but just as the
boat wa leaving its carriage, a bystander was
driven violently against me, and the moment
after l saw hgure dash across the intervening 2
space, and seize the side of the boat ; and then
came the roar of the storm and the rush of
spray, while for . few minutes the ll.e-boat was
invisible. Then short distance off she was
seen rising upon wave, and then disappearing
again into the dull haze, which, mingled with
the coming night, soon shut out everything from
gaze but the foamng water.
= Over seventy, SIR" shouted voice in re-
ply to a query. I" Old man-o'- wars man. Been
III many il storm but this here awful
Awful it was for so wild night had not
fallen upon that part of the for many
years and the folks upon the shore gazed
IN tie direction the boat had taken, they shook
their heads, and shouted III each others ears.
there was a long and awful pause. only bro
ken by the shrekIng If he wind, and then
came loud snouE, - Here sne comes !. and in
another minute, oOedent to their steersman,
the rowers timed their strokes to second,
that the boat, heavily laden, rode in upon the
summit of gaut wave SC far that twenty will
ing hands at her side, and she run
right Up the sands, and fifteen shivering, half
drowned fellow-creatures lifted out and hurried
up the shore.
Nov, my lads" cried old Marks, son to the
truck with her, anu we're off again"
Inc BOAT was soon mounted, and every
a. his post, tie father Of the ods taxing his
place 10y The side Of the old cock, vain for no
amount OF persuasion on either side could effect
a change
There was another cheer, rising above the
storm,and again the gallant were launched
into the surf, that seemed to curl round the
boat though TO I'll II in an instant. Ii rose
and fell dark amid the white foam for
an instant, and then seemed to plunge into
bauk of foggy biackness, for night had al.-
en-.
| could not drag myself away from the stir
ring scene around me, for L seemed held TO the
spot by strange fascinit itlOn. All al once
bright lurd ,ignt shot up, for a quantity Of
straw had on fire, and the flames roar
ed and cracked dry sea-weed and pieces of
wood were heaped up 10 increase the glare,
when appeared to glId the cres!s OF the waves,
ami threw into bold reh-f the hsur the
sand.-some gazing out TO ch-
ing eagerly the fringe Of breakers, ready TO
rush down and secure anythI0g tina might
washed ashore from the wreck.
More straw was heaped upon the fire, and
the flames and sparks rushed inland, as they
rose with the mighty current of air. and darted
across the sandoank. Out seawifd all seemed
black darkness, and the yes strained after the
life boat were tor while strained in vain.
All at there cry o. 50 Here she
comes :" but it was prolonged toto wild wall
of despair for by the light from The fire the
boat could be seen broadslde on, and Close in
shore ; aud then, after tossing about for mo
mept she was dashed, bottom upwards upon
the sands.
There was a rush to aid the men struggling
in the surf. Some were dragged ashore ; some
scrambled unaided from the water ; while
more thau sucked back, back by the
undertow but the life bel they wore kept
them a1oat and at last, more or less hurt, the
whole crew ashore-three being carried up
to the village insenslble.
now learned that, about halfway to tbs
vessel the strersman's oar had snapped IN two,
aud the boat fell into the trough OF the
when, in their efforts to right her, couple
more blades were brok en- wave swept over
them and washed two men from thelr seats
bat they regained their places, and then, with
the dread OF death upon them, the boat became
unm 4nageable IN their hands /; Tor III spite OF
the eHJrts of the old cockswain, the men ap-
pcare.i panic strick EN- and r wed at ran ION.
The light that giared upon the shore now
showed that it completely strewn with
wreck and looked with horror upon the Va
rious Signs which plainly disclosed the fate
OF the good ship. Spar, pank, beam, and
cask, en- ang led with rope, were ueIng cnurned
over and III the sand and twice 1
something dragged ashore and Carried away,
which sent a shudder through my Tame.
AT last, heart sick and weary. 1 turned away,
and inquired where the crew OF the boat were,
ana VINO had suffered wien, 10 my sorrow,
learned that the only one seriously injured was
old Marks, who had SO gallantly let the .xam-
pie that evening-an example which haG re-
suited III the saving of fifteen poor creatures
from a watery grave.
On entering village, soon found where
the old man had been conveyed, and few
minutes after l was at the bedside Of the suffer-
er. | found him sensible but with change
ln his counlenance that amount of pain or
suffering alone would have placed there. He
was quite calm, and suil-d l entered.