St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1871-05-19
IN ocean ~ ait.

/
N rch day in the year 1927, group Q
fishermen were watching with anxious
eyes Il gallant ship which was being toss
ed hithcr and ththcr 10y the powerful
waves. 1t seemed as though that huar>e.
tongued monster, the sen, was playing d
game of baltlcdorc and shuttlecock-the
coed and gallant ship aforesaid, the West.
ern Sun, with two hundred and fifty
passengers, all told, being the shuttlecock,
and apparently getting the worst of it.
Ever and anon the booming of the gun
signallcd TO tie inhabitants Of the little
village that the vessel was in distress.
Nubly rode the huge creature through
spIay and foam, ascending and descend
ING the watcry hills with terrible rapid
ty; but these waves were bearing pas
scm.crs, car@o and ship towards certain
destruction. The mighty pillows Of the
great Atlantic Ocean were pouring their
broadslcs over her massive bulwarks ;
and every procauli0n that the cl, ar head
of the captain could de, ise, and the stout
hands and hearts Of the sailors carry in
10 execution, was being takeH To keep
her clear of the rock bound coast.
Forward and forward she rides to
ruin. What fearful sight TO those
anxious watchers on the shore, powcrless
to save, No boat would, or could, live
in such Il sea it was madness to attempt
the rescue Of the doomed passengers
and English eyes for once were compelled
to Look calmly on distress.
Up spake an old, weatherbca fish
erman, whose face, although il had been
exposed year after year, to the fury OF
many storm and many blast, yet,
glistening with excitement, reminded one
forcibly Of those saints of old 50 marvel
lousy portrayed by the early masters
"Comrades," said he, while Il heavenly
light seemed to shine from the clear, full
blue eyes, ''it shall never he said that
Dick Stcadi;lSt saw n sail in distress
without getting out his boat to ai! Say,
who'll come ~
81 will, and /, and | :" exclaimed halt
Il dozen eager voices.
"Comc along, then, Jim Harvey
said the old fisherman, singing IL tall,
well built young fellow, with an honest,
open, handsome countenancc, powerful
limbs, and deep, bread chest, tcslifyine
that the old mariners choice was Il wise
one.
"Ict me 90 with zee, Dick" cntreatcd
one or two voices but Stcadfast merely
replied, Gone is enough and if we GO
TO the bottom, jim has got nobody to
gricvc for him, nor have either. Come
along, jim
The boat, the only thoroughly sea
worthy one in the village, was brought
out ImpeiuousIy she impclIcd herself
against the breakers, but was us impctu-
ousIy driven back. Again and again
was the frail thing launched into the
deep, and as often did the mountains OF
breakers dash her TO the beach. But
Dick was not to he conquered hy the
sea.
''Niau and boy, I've buiicted and rode
the waves for sixty years, and dye think
I'm going TO let them be master now
Not if know it"
This was said with quiet dctermina-
tiCn, and showed how earnest was the
man with the work he had rather reck-
lessly undertaken. Again those hardy
fishermen assaulted the sea, the boat was
forced through some waves and over
others till at last she was quite clear of
the shore, with its long line Of foaming
breakers.
The rain almost blinded them, so thick
and heavy was it but in spite of ire
mendous difficulties the brave hearts held
their course towards the distressed ship.
The darkness became deeper and the
heavens blacker, and ii was only when
flash of lightning illnmined the vast
watery theatre that either ship or shore
could be distinguished by the occupants
Of the little boat, and then only when
on the crest of some gigantic wave.
Darker still became the night, thicker
and heavier the clouds, and earth. sea,
and skies were enveloped as with large
black pail
what minutes of anxious suspense
was the next quarter of an hour. What
moments OF intense excitement to watch
ed and watchers! Oh, for just one flash
of lightning athwart the heavens, to en-
able the boat TO reach the ship!
Oh, for one-just one-fash more,
for the passengers of the ill-fated West
ern Sun to behold their danger, or their
chance of escape, from those awful rocks