The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1868-07-14

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almost superhuman strength, hifted him
above the boat railing The other quick
ly guessing his meaning, and winding
his arms around the neck of his com
psnion, they fell together in the boiling
food below We lowered the life boats
as quickly - possible : ropes were
thrown out, and every effort put forth to
save them, but in vain. They rose to
the surface of the water locked in each
others arms, and then sank from our
view forever.
The boat now rapidly rushed on.
coming near tho frightful rapids, while
terror struck faces were around US, at
the thought that no master hand was
near to guide us through the dark pas.
sages below. The scene which we had
just been called to witness, only made
our situation more terrific, while wild
and fearful eyes around US bespoke the
agonizing apprehension of the passen-
gers and crew. as we went madly plung-
ing to destruction, scarcely half q mile
from the gulf, whose dashing waves we
could distinctly hear. The Captain had
frankly told us Of his inability to guide
US through the periIous passage while
deck, gang way and cabin were, filed
with men, women and children, some of
whom were praying, some weeping,
others intensely crazy, with an agony
too intense for utterance. Women ca
gerly clutched their children, and nus
bands pressed their wives to their bo-
gether. The Captain stood at the wheel,
assisted by one OF the passengers, vainly
endeavoring to hold out to the last, and
guide her till every effort proved fruit
less, while, with strained eyes and looks
of despair. they looked through the al
most binding storm upon the craggy
rocks, lifting high their gray, bare heads,
out Of the water, and, upon which they
expected every moment to be dashed to
pieces. ss.
just as the frenzy had begun to calm
down into sober, earnest preparation for
the doom which awaited them, there
came out of the state room q fair young
creature, over whose head scarce sixteen
summers had passed. She was of me
dium height, and fair as the lilly Of her
northern cline. She donned dress Of
plain, black stuff, while the coat of one
of the deceased pilots was buttoned
tightly about her slight form. Her face
was ashy pale as she p,oun.ed the stair
way, and with her hair disheveled by the
wind, she exclaimed, in. voice which
rang clear as the notes. Of bugle above
the storm
81 know something Of this Lachine
rapid, and will use my best endeavors to
guide you, although we have everything
of wind and water against us. Let two
of the strongest and most self possessed
stand by me ct the wheel, while the rest
invoke His aid who even stilleth the
tempest, to guard our life laden bark
safely through the troubled waters
As if i'm derision Of her matchless cour-
age, the mad waves dashed higher, while
the thunder pealed a loud defiance to
her wortsA With palid face and lips
compressed she took her situation at
the wheel. while two powerful men stood
by to aid her as far as possible. With
firm hand she raised the glass and
swept the scene before her; then bidding
them have courage, the boat entered up
on its fearful course as if conscious of
the hand that guided it's destiny. Her
orders were given in clear, loud tones
while she stood proudly erect, her eyes
frightened into. a darker blue. till one
would have fancied her tho ruling spirit
Of the storm. The water dashed against
the side Of the boat, cnowning her fair
head with giiatering Drops yet she stood
unbending, while not an eye 10 all the
group, but gazed with mingled awe and
confidence upon that delicate form-
Once again the wheel slipped from the
grasp Of him who held it but q fair lew
elei hand arrested its progress. and
stayed the destruction which would 9TH
erwise have followed its ssFerve from
duty. Onward sped the noble bark, and
when darkness shut the last rock from
view, q shout went UP, high above the
storm, for her who had 80 bravely guided
US through the shadow of death.
She would receive no thanks for her
self, but bade US ''give thanks to Him
whose voice ruleth the storm" She re-
tired to her stateroom and was lost to
view. -
Around the cabin table that night.
about an hour before we entered the
harbor Of Montreal, we learned her his
tory. She was the daughter Of the mer-
chant who owned the line of boats, one
of which she had just saved from ruin.
Her mother died when she was a child,
and her father had yielded to her wishes
and allowed her to accompany him on
the boat Of which he was captain. By
degrees she became acquainted with ev-
cry bend in the beautiful river, while
calm and storm alike brought scenes of
beauty to her eye. She was now on her
way to visit some friends in Quebec,
where her father proposed joining her
to spend the winter.
A gentleman artist sketched likeness
on . leaf of his portfolio, as she stood
at the wheel, wrapped in the pilots coat,
with the glass in her hand, and the full
length portrait still graces the gallery
of arts in Montreal. Many a rough
hand grasped the snowy fingers at part