Beaufort Republican. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1871-1873, 1872-07-04

OUT.
Will stepped back little to get full
view, ~ z
"That's fne,'' he cried; they'll, see
that ever so far, [ know"
So George made it fast there, and came
down. Then they both walked back a
few yards for George to see how it looked,
and having satisfied themselves that it
would do, they went back to the cottage
and got to bed.
While all this was going on, there, far
away in the darkness, were the poor men
clingjng to the wreck, yet expecting every
momeut that the vessel would 60 to the
bottom. When the captain saw that there
was no hope OF saving the ship, he had
ordered the boat to be lowered. But no
sooner had the first man stepped into it
than a violent wave tore it clean away
from its fastenings, and that one man was
alone on the dark, wild sea. 1t was of
no use trying to use the oars. Away he
went, at the mercy of the winds and
waves-he knew not whittier. Hour at
ter hour passed; and, still tossed and
driven on the raging sea, he became so ex-
hausted with cold and fatigue that he lost
hope. and almost wished he had gone down
with the sinking ship.
But suddenly as he rose on the crest of
a great wave he thought he saw light!
Before he could be sure, he was down
again in the trough of the sea. How anx-
iously he waited for another wave to lift
his boat on high, and then how eagerly he
strained his eyes in the direction OF the
light! Yes, there it was sure enough; a
little, Pickering, glimmering light, far
away on his left. But the wind and the
waves were carrying him beyond it. He
seized the oars, and struggled hard to
turn his boat. But all his toiling was in
vain; he could make no way against such
a sea. "Still," he thought, " fancy it is
not quite so violent as it was; and if can
manage to hold her back bit, and keep
the light in view, the storm may abate be-
fore long, and then may get her round"
Poor fellow! He could scarcely pull the
oars, and found himself for sometime drift
ing further and further from the light.
But still, the storm was gradually abating,
the winds became less violent, the waves
less wild, and at length he managed,
though with great difficulty, to get his
boat round. Hope sprang up within him,
and he pulled away with all his remaining
strength toward the light. 1t was fear
full struggle. Worn with long toiling, he
felt at every stroke that his strength was
leaving him. But he held on, gradually
coming nearer and nearer, until, just as
he was on the point of giving way, his
boat touched shore. He scrambled out,
and with one desperate effort reached the
shore. He dragged himself YEARLY out of
IT ach of the tide; and, thanking God for
his deliverance, sank exhausted on the
sands. "When / have got little rest" ;"
he thought, "I'll find out what that light
is."
Let US now see what became of the poor
fellows on the wreck. When they saw
their boat swept away in the manner
have described, they gave up all for lost,
and looked for nothing but watery grave
But God, in His providence, had help at
hand which they knew not of.
When it was known at the life boat sta
ton that ship was in distress, the great
est excitement prevailed, and the brave
and sturdy fellows who had often manned
the life boat before came hurrying togeth-
er, determined to do all that could be
done to save the shipwrecked crew.
When Old Bluff arrived he found all in
readiness. He took his place In the life
boat with the rest of the crew, and off they
went.
| will not attempt to describe the diff
Guilty and danger of the task, or show you
how courageously and resolutely they held
on their way. / will only say that, after a
long and fearful struggle with the winds
and waves the wreck was reached, and
every soul on board saved. When at last
after hours of absence-the life boat got
back to the shore, the people gathered
there gave a great shout of Joy, and re-
ceived the poor shiverlng creatures from
the wreck with the utmost kindness.
Only one of all the ships crew was miss
ing; it was the poor fellow who had been
carried away at first by the boat.
The old fisherman stayed until all were
safely landed, and then, thinking that his
Tong absence might alarm the boys, he left
the others to look after the shipwrecked
sailors, and started for home.
AS he came near, he saw the light shin
ing from the tree.
"Why, what does this mean?' he
thought. "Have those boys been up the
tree while I've been away? 1t looks un-
common like it."
He made haste toward the tree to see if
they were still there, and was presently
met by the ship-wrecked sailor. The poor
man had followed the light until, to his
surprise. he found that it was only a Ian
tern hanging from the branch of tree
AS he stood gazing up at it, and wonder
ing why it could have been placed there,
he heard footsteps approaching. Hoping
that he might be guided to some place of
shelter, he turned aside to make inquiries,
and as | have said. met the returning
fisherman.
"Can you tell me, friend" he said.
"where can find a lodging of some sort z
Pm stranger here, and not long ago es-
capped from the wreck out yonder, and |
don't know where to 60, or what to do"
"We'll soon put that all right, then"
said the fisherman. "My cottage stands
just behind the light there, and you're
heartily welcome to what shelter we can
give you."
"You're very kind" said the stranger,
"and Pm grateful to you; but, tell me,
did you hang that lantern up in the tree2"
"Not l." said the fisherman laughing
81 know'd nothin' of it till caught sight
of it comm along. But I expect it's
some of nv bows doin's. Nobody goes UP