The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1874-06-19
LIFE FOR LIFE.


"Save him! save my son He cannot
swim ;" The mothers eyes were wild, her
gray locks streaming on the wind, her hands
clasped.
She was aboard little schooner, bound
from Axua to St. Domingo, on the island of
Hayti-one Of the West Indies. There were
aboard, besides the distracted woman, several
passengers, among them Herbert Went
worth, a fne-looking midshipman Of eighteen
on his war to his sloop-of-war, the Congress,
then at anchor in the harbor of St Domingo
Hearing the cries of the woman, he turned
round, to see her amidships, now wildly ad-
dressing herself to a Spanjard, one Of the
passengers.
Pedro, for the love Of God, save my poor
boy You can swim -
''Ay," answered the Spaniard, Struggling
his shoulders, 80 can the sharks. There are
plenty of them hereabout, and, Santa Maria!
don't want to get in their jaws! Besides,
the schooner has no boat to pick US up"
Wentworth, rushing to the rail and look
ing astern, as the schooner was now brought
up into the wind, saw the woman son who,
as it afterward appeared, had been knocked
overheard by the jibing of the main-boom,
struggling in the sea.
Near the young midshipman lay coil Of
rope. lie fastened an end about his breast,
beneath the arnpits, and, throwing of his
shoes, sprang overheard. Reaching the spot
where he had last seen the drowning youth,
he dove, and was fortunate enough to clutch
his hair and bring him up to the surface.
Soon the men aboard the schooner had hauled
him and his burden to the vessel, and, few
minutes later, the youth was clasped to his
mothers breast.
''God bless you, sir" she said, to the
young officer, and overwhelmed him with
her thanks.
That same day the schooner arrived at St.
| Domingo, and parting from the mother and
her son, Wentworth hired boat and board
ed his vessel, the Congress.
As may be imagined the youth in a few
/ years was promoted.
Five years after the adventure above re-
| corded he found himself in command of the
Argus, a neat little gun-brig, making one
! of the fleet under Commodore Porter, sent
! out to break up the nest of pirates at that
With him he took his beautiful young
wife, Florence, who, having relatives at
/ Cuba, was to remain there until her hus-
| bands cruise was ended.
At length, as the vessel neared the coast
| of Cuba, in the neighborhood of old Bahama
| Channel. whittier she had been driven by
/ head winds, Florence, standing on the quar-
! ter-dcck by Herbert's side, could not repress
her tears at the thought Of their coming
! parting. she tossed her long, ripping tresses
/ of brown hair back from her glorious
shoulders, and her supple, well-developed
form quivered Had she and her husband
been screened from observers, she would
! have thrown herself into his arms and wept
upon his breast.
Ahead of the Argus was q low, suspicious
looking schooner, standing, under full sail
for the shallow water among the reeds along
the coast Wentworth, who had been watch
ing her keenly, crowded canvas in pursuit.
Meanwhile the sun dimmed by a yellow
ish mist. and dark, lowering clouds rolling
along to windward betokened gale at hand
so the captain made every effort to oyertaki
the schooner before the storm. just as she
was within quarter of mile of the reefs
lie sent shot across her bows, compelling
her captain to heaye to, the breeze having
moderated so that at present he could no
hope to escape his pursuer.
Wentworth kept on, until within half :
mile of the schooner, when, not caring viii
his vessels draught to stand up any close
to the reef rocks, he lowered his cutter, anC
manning it with q good crew pulled along
} side the schooner.
just as he sprung aboard, squal strucl
the vessel, and down she went almost on he
beam ends, driven with roaring bows towar'
the rocks.