Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1873-11-11
PRAY 1LW4YS.

~ II 81 - " ~ u '''
The following incident occurred OF
Lake Erie nearly forty years ago.
The principal parsonage in the MARIA
tive WAS Christian sailor, john
employee as first mate under Captain Z
who had command ol one OF the TIVE
ships which some ambitious persons IN
Buffalo set ailoat on Lake Erie during the
fierce hcatui the speculation which rage'
like a torres, lire over the West. tor i lev
years prior To 1886.
Determined to lead The navigation o
the season, the ship left Buffalo immc-
diately after the harbor was cleared ol ice
supposing. what was quito - u>ua. occur
renee. that the wind would carry the ice
up the lake. break It up. and 80 diSpcrst
it that they would have no further trouble
with il; but lu their great surprise. a'
they neared the upper end oi the lake,
they found themselves moving between
two immense fields OF ice, that on tho
right. extending. apparently. 10 the
Canada shore, that on the lett moving
before the wind slowly. but surely
down upon them
The ship was not prepared for an Arc
tic encounter ike this. ana how to escape
from their perilUus position was, oI
course. an anxious question. But TIVE
courses presented themselves, and
whether either ui these WAS practicable
remained to be seen. The first was to
land on the ice. aud so make their way tc
the Canada shore Oar hero, john,
volunteered the attempt 10 reach the
shore 1t was. of course. traught with
fearful hazard; but he succeeded in
making the exploration and in returning
safely TO the ship, but only To report that
the ice was entirely detached from the
shore. and that escape in this direction
WAS impossible.
The second method was 10 reach The
open water through the channel between
the ice. fields in the ships boats; but tins
idea was soon abandoned, for. at the
rate the ice was moving before the wind
il was very certain that the two fields
would meet long before the boats could
reach open water. and. ii caught. they
would be crushed like egg shells. Wha
was 10 be done? Officers. sailors, pas
sengers looked in silence and with pallid
cheeks upon the approaching foe. ln
front, as far as could be seen. there wa!
nothing but that narrow channel, and nc
wind to carry them through to The opel
water.
Under these circumstances the captain
called the passengers and As many OF the
crew rs could be spared from the decE
into the cabin. made plain statement o
their danger, and OF his entire want oI
power to afford them reiei; and though
not protesting Christian, said. 1--WE are
in the hands of God il He does not in
terpose Tor us there is no help, no hope.
Ii any of YOU know how TO pray, | wlsl
YOU would DO So" There sat that dcs
pairing company with bowed heads IL
dead silence, so still YOU could hear youl
heart beat. In that terrible momen
John -, the pious mate, raised hi
head, and just in whisper said, LET u:
pray" Officers. passengers. sailors a
once quietly went down upon their knees
and naught was heard, except now anC
then u deep-drawn sigh or Il half sup
pressed sob, while the converted sailor
in simple, childlike language, told in th,
ears of Him who holds tue winds in hi
fists, and the sea in the hollow of hi
hand, their exposure and danger, tn
interest they each had in their own lve'
and the lives and happiness of others
fathers. mothers. wives, children, an'
friends; humbly confessing their SIN
and just exposure To pain and penalty
aud then, with fearful penitence anC
loving lrustfulness. supplicating mere,
aud deliverance through the crucilied an'
exalted Redeemer.
After the prayer the captain and mat'
went on deck, and who can tell wha
were their thoughts or feelings wheI
they saw that, during that solemn mo
ment OF penitent prayer, the wind ha'
changed. and now, instead OF BLOWN!
the crushing ice field upon them. it Wa
blowing tue ship slowly, but surely
through that open channel. In the pres
ence OF that strange fact the captain an'
mate uncovered their heads, and JOIN
-, looking alolt at The nearly nake'
yards. said. shall put some more can
vas on her. captain? ?" NO" said th
captain, "don't touch her. some one els
is managing the ship" And SO the un
seen Hand did lead them 10 the oper