Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1871-07-20

tar,o 10 Lewiston, To the imminent
danger of sc,tfs, boats. and such
like small crafts that happened to be in
the wake of the immense waves il
rolled to either shore Of the river.
There was on one of those upward
trips, a large number Of passengers,
mostly Enslish, who were bound for
the West. Among them was yonng
woman who was on her way frGm the
Old Country, at the instance OF All
uncle who had come to America some
time previously, but who. as WAS
atterw ard learned, suddenly died
about the time vf her departure from
England.
Her husband had heen for many
wears IN the e. st India service, un''l
his vessel was wrecked,an' he and his
crew lost. She had one child, boy
of five wears Of age, to whom she was
greatly attached.
The weather was pleasant, and she
spent much of her time on deck view
ing the scenery If the Thousand Is
lalds, which was At that time more
attractive and romsntic than II is
now. She expressed unbounded de.
light in it. overehangiug beauty, aud
los, nn oIpr1ituniiy Ia listen 10 the
legends connecte.! with the most re
mark able points of Unrest. M one
on the boat knew ~ much about
thrm, or could 40 well recite them,
a. Captain Maitland he devoted
himself ass,iu"u>ly tn this lady, in
whom he always found an appreclatlve
listener.
The boat had cleared Kingston,
and was well ont into the bread lake.
As the day declined the waves be-
came calm. Many Of the passengers
were on the deck viewing the magnl,
ticent sunset, when they were startled
by piercing shrek. All turr"d Ia
seq what was the matter. There
close 10 the railing stood this Young
woman wringing her hands and cry,
ing in frantic anguish, y save him
save my boy = rhe situation was
seen in an instant. Her lite son had
falleu overheard from the stern of the
boat. She was with difficulty re.
strained from leaping after him.
The steamboat was stopped NJ soon
as possible, and hoats were instantly
lowered. He happened to he wrap
ped in thick woolrn CLOAK, which
was securely fastened to him; and
this IN his fall acted Az n parachute,
and prevented him from immediately
sinking. In remarkably short time
the little fellow was recovered, aud
was found to be uuharmed.
When he was brought to his moth
pr, she was held by strong men, and
stiIl shouted for them To save her
child. II was ia vain that he was
placed near her. She seemed obliv-
ionS Ia his presence, and continued
shricklug for help She was taken
away by main fnrre, and placed IN n
sale-rnoln, where every available
N. ans was tried to bring her To rea
son, bat without success. She was
maniac. The little boy, when fully
re-oyprrd tried to make himself
known to his mother but she would
only look will and shrek for them t"
say. her child When the beat mr.
rived mt It's destination, she was, with
M little delay a. possible, placed IN
an asvlum, where she remained dn.
r'n. the hong years, harnele-s even III
her rawlings.
Ca tain Mai'',n was tender heart
cd man and sn,ing thai the lonely
hnv had M on. tu care E'r him, pro.
cured him n hom' With a relative at
his. an fnalv adopted bin A. the
bnv grew older he manifested great
prrd;l,ctiua f,,r sailors life, md the
captain brnnghr him mp to h'- "wn
profession. Often he w"ul 1isit his
poor mother. who did not appear tn
change in the least IN her n"" settled
state of insanity. She never seemed
Ia recooniz- him. hni AT times would
s.ak an sad and ask 5" m"urnfuiiy
for her child, that the boys heart
would almost break.
Th. Captain tollnwed his profession,
and the bov, whom he had l"arneh To
low. A. bis own ..a. became well
vers.d in al kn ,wledse pertaining to
navigass"n.
/, was some hfeea years after the
scrid.u, which had brrs'tt her ct rea-
SON that one mmning the Captain
was surprised to scp the young mans
mn,her come on board his vessel.
She bceoed so p,tcp,siy /" accompany
him on his downward trip that hr
consented. Sh" had escaped fr"m
the asvlnm, and had wandered to the
lake .hnr. srd found the vessel.
VIVA, mnt,er- i, p thought the Cap.
tain. now old AT gray, aud about to
resign hi. place TO his ah"pted so',, -
: It j. hut on" mare trip that / SHAH
make. and how can do better than
10 pratify the wish Of poor creat'Ms.
whose life for 6i.een years, has been
by the shlp@reck OF reason
and who for that long time. has never
ceased to hear the monrnful waves ~
they rolled over her broken heart ?
She shall 90 with me- said the Cap.
tain. the change may do her good.'
So the hest state room was provi.
ded. and fitted up a. II she had been
a duchess. She seemed 10 appreciate