Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-05-18
IAN emigrant ship ?''
sVoo -

like this ~
1--WE will do our best for you," said
Brewster, cheerily. 1--WE will save all,
if we can. Is there any chance of your
holding together for another hour?"
Hardly, sir. Already hole is knock
ed In our bottom, and the water is rushing
IN rapidly. If the wind should abate,
there might be chance for us; but blow
ing as it does now, a few minutes will de-
eide our faten
"God help you, then. We can take halt
OF you in our boat this time; and if pos
sible for us to return we will rescue YOU
all"
1t was difficult to decide who should be
taken, and who should be left That is
never question which is easily answered.
There was a woman on board with child
in her arms. She must be saved, at all
events. There were two or three boys,
whose parents had been lost, and two or
three old persons, feeble and helpless. :.
All of these had been lashed to the deck,
or to some of the bulwarks and it was a
task OF some difficulty and no little peril
TO release them and convey them on board
the boat. But it was finally done. and
they were secured to the ropes which hung
from the gunwale
1--WE have ten men," said Brewster,
land can take five more Decide quickly
who it shall be, for there is no time to
| lose."
The Captain and mate resolved to re-
main. From the rest five were finally Sc
lected, and taken on board. The remain
ing twenty were left to their fate. Push
ing off as speedily as possible, Brewster
and his crew pulled for the shore. 1t was
no easy task. The wind was furious, and
the waves dashed high. Every moment
seemed their last. More than once they
were completely submerged. There was
danger that the feeble would perish from
cold. The woman especially was faint
and dropping. She had wrapped her
desperately, with all the tenacity Of des-
pair.
"Cheer up" said Brewster, in his COM
forting way. sTry and hold out Well
soon be ashore. If the Lord 80 wills. Put
in my hearties, "he cried to his men. "Pull
away"' And pull they did, like brave
men and true.
In the mean time, our bonfire was kept
up. and it served as guide to the return
ing boat. The clouds had lifted, and
were broken in riffs. Through these there
was glimmer of light; and aided by this,
and the light from our fires, we were en-
abled to watch them with considerable
clearness. The watchers on the beach had
not been idle. Accustomed to storms,
they knew what to expect, and were on
the lookout for signs from the wreck. Sud-
denly, a voice shrilly cried: ''See there !
a body!' and in they hurried and dragged
it to shore. 1t was the body of q woman,
bruised and battered, with frightful
wound over the eyes. She was clad in
neat, but coarse garments, and her
disheveled hair, matted and tangled, was
streaming around her neck and waist. 1t
was sad sight !-one that moved the
heart to pity.
"Io! another body" second voice
cried.
Yes, another! And still another "a
third-a fourth-until finally six were
washed ashore One of these was the
body of a woman. one of girl, one OF
an old man. and the other two were the
bodies of laborers, as appeared from their
clothes
The bonfire was kept burning. Burgh
staid on the cliff to supply it with fuel. l
clambered to the shore, and stood there
fascinated with horror-gazing awe struck
upon the lifeless bodies. Never before
had | seen such sight. The gayest heart
would have been sobered before it.
| Just at this time, the boat touched the
strand, and in a few moments the rescued
ones were hurried ashore. They were
cold and stupid, and scarce able to move.
The woman especially was ready to drop.
The child was bright, and was quietly
sleeping in its mothers arms. All! a
mothers love How sacred it is forget
full of self; thinking only of the one dear
er than life Did it matter to me that she
was poor and destitute? Was she not rich
in the wealth of her love? Did not that
make her princess? Three or four of
the stoutest men cared for the sufferers,
and led them to their homes behind the
cliff. Before morning, the mother was
dead! The child survived.
"Now. my heartes - said Brewster to
his companions, "at it again ~ LAY, ay,"
was the reply, we're all ready" and in
they Jumped. 1t was play to them to
wrestleiwith death. All who knows what
a world of courage is hid under the jack
ct of a hard-fsted sailor? Rough he may
be, uncouth in manners but his manhood
is royal. Dauntless bravery wins the day.
Forth they pushed. the wind still bowling,
the sea still raging. Forth they pushed,
to peril their lives for suffering strangers,
Forth they pushed, determined to succeed
or perish in the attempt. Resolute fellows
God be with YOU.
Itwas a hard struggle, harder than ever.
The waves were strong, and tossed them
like feather. Once we saw them dashed
on rock. We thought they were lost.
Fortunately, they succeeded in clearing
its edge. Twice they were lost from sight
enterely-buried beneath the Kissing
waters,-a baptism which none of them
will ever forget. But up they came, the
boat riding as gracefully as duck, not
man of them daunted. not man OF them
harmed. On they sped But alas Before
they reached the fated vessel. it staggered
and went downtown, down. into the
yawning abyss. Fragments OF the isv, wrees ees
were still afloat, and to some OF THESE tns
survivors clung. Ten were lost Ten were .ae
saved captain and mate were "''o"s 'ne
'"tes, A sad record noble ship. a thing of
life. finely rugged, and thoroughly
equipped, leaves port with prayers and
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