The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1873-04-25
WI i S G ellan Q GUS.
The Dreadful Shipwreck.
THE HERO or THE ATLANTIC.

W hen horrors such as the wreck of the
Atlantic come before us we can at times dis
tinguish the highest attributes ofmanhood
rising amid the gloom Of death to make
known the kinship of man to our ideas of
the divine. The rock that shivers the state
ly ship, the vessel that breaks upon the rock,
the water that swallows, the hurricane that
losses the waters are things material and in
sensible. Man alone amid all ''the horrid
war of winds and waters raging" can stand
out from the Internal surroundings with
CLEAN of the Godlike upon his brow Sud
den disasters, like revolutions, produce
their heroes from unexpected sources
They are tossed up by the waves, as it
were, and the world can admire, although
it may not understand. That one Of the
heroes Of the wreck of the Atlantic should
prove to be an Episcopal clergyman, Mr.
Ancient, ought not to astonish any one :;
but because of the very fitness of the mans
profession for his seIt-nbnegation, hiscour
age in good cause his devotion to the
Masters doctrine of charity, many will find
cause for wonder That, in the most gal
liant manner, he risl1ed his life dozen
times to save the life ofothers that he was
the first in the boat to rescue the last man
y,
when men used to the tcrrOrs of the deep
shrunk back from the task, places him in
the front rank of those rare heroes that the
world can praise and admire without a
single detracting breath He was clergy
man, men may say, and self-sacrilice is the
great rule under which he had registered
life his Master, the Great Shepherd, not
only risiied, but gave up His life for His
flock. 1t would follow naturally from this,
that his heroism arose only from q sensi-
tive appreciation Of his duty to God, to
himself and to his fellow man. The world,
| however, will rightly rate his hcroism as
| something higher than mere bounden duty.
HOW OFFICER FIRTH WAS SAVED.
a correspondent tells how the Rev. Mr..
Ancient saved officer Firth, at the wreck
of the Atlantic. Mr.. Ancient's account of
| the part he played in the fearful tragedy
was vivid and interesting. When he reach
ed the wreck, which took place about two
miles from his house, most of the saved
| had been landed. He sought to find them
shelter, till his attention was attracted by
| the man and the woman in the rigging and
boy on the wreck. He went to Mr.. Ryan,
the magistrate, and said, "Thc water is
smooth enough; you can get alongside in
a boat" They were then hauling the boats
on the shore. "But you cannot get at them
when you get out there" said Mr.. Ryan.
"Give me boat and some men put me
on board, and | will get them"
A boat was manned, but when they
| nearcd the ship the men would not put
him on board. They loved their pastor,
and thought it certain death to put him on
the vessel. Mr. Ancient entreated them.
"John," he said to the most solcltous of
the crew, "If am doomed | won't hold
you responsible. Put me on board" While
they were backing and filling the boy fell
out. They picked him up, wrapped n
coat around him, and landed him.
Finally the men agreed to put Mr.. An
cient on board. The ships side was then
at an angle of so degrees, and the fisher
men have not got over their admiration for
their pastors skill in climbing it, and in
running the rail he found piece of one of
the braces in the main rigging, made one
end fast and carried the other along with
him. When he reached the outer davit he
shouted to the man in the rigging, "You
are an officer, are you not ?'' YES" was
the reply. 'Then you know how to make q
bowline 2" "Yes, sir" Mr.. Ancient then
threw him an end of the rope, first taking
a turn around the davit. Now put conf
dence in me and move when | tell you"
Mr.. Firth followed his directions, and
the minister led him along the rope, TAX
ing in the slack as he went. Whenever he
slipped the turn round the davit and the
strong arm of his rcscuer held him. A
great sea swept over and washed the officer
l,,H Nr1S Jn, ,,n Il I. II I,
ken my shins, have broken my shns.'
"Ncver mind your shins man it is youi
life we are aiter!' Finally he got him tc
the main rigging and to the vessels side
and let him into the boat by rope, and
the man was saved.
Mr.. Ancient was formerly a Scripture
reader in the British navy, but has been a
Prospect for six years. He passed his ex
animation, and has taken orders, deter
mined to become fisher Of men. He is
man thoroughly in earnest, but not sc
serious that he could not laugh heartily
when he spoke of officer Firth's solicitudt
for his shins.
SEARCHING FOR THE DEAD.
Around the wreck were twenty or thirt,
boats, some filed with fishermen from TIN
shore, graphing for floating pieces of TIN
wreck, or watching the work of the divers
Captain Sheridan chose one of his mos
skillful, experienced and intelligent divers
John Stone, to search the vessel and repor
the result. Clad in his rubber armor, will
lifeline and tube he prepared to descend
The face front was closed, the two men il
the boat started the air-pump, and tn
diver went over the side of the boat ant
| n 1 4 Al Al.