Northern Ohio journal. [volume] (Painesville, Ohio) 1872-1896, 1874-03-21

BY VIM. A. sIGOURNEY.
ssHEsS !
&NEIGHT-dark, wild and gloomy
S4N night, came down upon the
A1G world of waters, and still the
mEH tornado RACES in all its horrors
of wind, lightning. rain and thunder;
and there in their frail, open boat, we
will leave the hapless little ones speed |
ing on and away right out into the very
heart of the broad Atlantic. We will |
bid them goodnight, and glance back
to their home-tO their fond mother,
rendered desolate in heart by the dread 1
that has fallen upon upon her
in the loss of her children.
At the moment when the children
Mrs. Howard had glanced
out toward the cove, and for few min
utes she watched them with all a moth
er's fond pride, as she saw them sailing
to and fro on the quiet waters of the lit
tie cove; and then some visitors called,
and came down, when neighbor came
running in with the heart-rending in:
telligence that the boat had been seen
only few moments previously, several
miles out to sea.
The first terrible shock almost killed
her; but soon rallying all her woman's
energy and mothers love, she rushed
forth from her home, and regardless of
the furious storm, aroused her neigh
bors, and besought them with all the
eloquence called up by the deep an
guish of her riven heart, to lend their
aid in the recovery of her lost darlings.
There was no vessel near, and to ven-
ture out to sea in such storm with
such small craft as were usually kept
along the shore in that vicinity, was
worse than madness; and so immediate
dispatches were sent to the city, not
only to the owners of the vessel COM
manded by Captain Howard, but to the
pilots, and within short time, two of
the staunchest pilot boats, manned by
extra, picked crews of gallant souls,
were speeding on their swift-winged
course in search of the lost children.
Mrs. Howard, herself hastened to the
city, to urge with her presence and in
fuehce, more prompt action; but the
two vessels had been gone an hour when
she arrived, and SO she repaired to the
residence of Mr.. Winton, the owner OF
the vessel her husband commanded, to
await the return of those who had so
suddenly and nobly gone forth i'm that
mad storm in search of her darlings.
Leaving her there in state of fevered
anxiety, hoping in the very teeth of des-
pair, we, too, will go forth into the
wild, yelling gale to look upon most
sublime ocean picture.
1t was past midnight-dark as the
deepest, gloomiest cells of an inquisito-
rial dungeon, save when the vivid light
ning's flash lit up the Cimmorian black
ness with glare riyalling that of the
MONDAY sun.
Some eighty miles to the east of San
dy Hook, lay, hove to, an able vessel,
inward bound, in one of the most ter
rifle gales that ever swept along the
northern coast of America. The gale
had set in an hour before sundown, and
ever since dark the vessel had been hove
| to under the shortest possible canvas,
heading up west southwest, with the
| gale comingiu violent squalls, out al
| due northwest.
'Do you think there is any danger tc
| us or the vessel, Captain Howard?' in
| quired one of the half-dOzen passengers
who stood near the commander of the
noble ship, by the projecting roof of the
round-house.
Not the least, Mr.. Astor. You are
as safe here as you would be at your
own house in the city. She is a new
| ship, and have had no opportunity OF
] trying, her before; but l am
perfectly satisfied with her behaviour.
In fact, never saw any craft conduct
herself quite so well in husricane like
this. Ills terrible night, however, apd
God help those who may chance to be
out in a less able craft than ours. For
the last hour / have been thinking OF
my wife and children. My wife will
not sleep one wink tonight. She never
can in a storm like this when am from
home. was cast away once on the
Long Island shore, not mile from
home, in jnst such gale, only it was
| from the southeast. l would give q
home, only for my wife's sake. But we
must-my God what is that?'
| continuous flash of lightning Lit M
the surrounding space and as the dark
ness shut in again, faint, but clear
distinct-sShip a-hoyn uttered either by
Il female or a child, came down on tht
blast directly to windward.
A moment after, the hail was re
peated, and another flash of lightning
revealed boat driving square down be.
fore the gale, and almost under the yes.
sel's quarter. Ere one could count five
the shrill, quivering cry came up from
the boat, as it shot past the noble shiI
not two fathOms clear of her -rudder.
children in that boatr yelled Mr.. Astor
who, with the captain was peerins
down over the taffrail as the boat flew
past.
'Put your helm hard up, my man,
said Captain Howard, in a voice as calm
as mans voice could be; and then cal
ling the first and second mates, wht
! were both on deck, he informed them O.
the fact that boat with three children
in it, had just gone past, and then CAV,
his orders:
i 'Mr. Carey, please 60 out on the fiyins
jib-boom end and keep look out for tho
boat; and mind, Mr.. Carey, if we com,
up with it, you can lay the vessel so a.
to bring the boat close aboard on thu
larboard side-larboard, remember
Don't. for your life, make a mistake
Go forward now sir, and if we saw,
those children, one thousand dollar.
shall be your reward
Then returning to the first mate, h
continued; 'Mr. Watson, you will brac
! the yards all square, which, withou
making any more sail, will send th
vessel through the water somewhat fas
ter than the boat is going. Having don
this, rig six single whips-two on eacl
OF the lower yards-on the larboar,
, side. Place the blocks far enough on
| for the falls to drop abO 1t a fathom clea
of the ship, and then reeve off goo,
studding-sail gear, bringing both end
in on deck, with a running bowline il
| one part, and the other led along for
fall, stationing three good fellows a
each- In the meantime, will get tn
. ship steady before the wind, and Harry
| my man, you keep her so. Don't le
| her yaw an inch! steer her as il you
, very soul depended upon it; and With
I an hour after we reach New York eac
D one of you shall have hundred do
lars
4 And now, Mr.. Astor, will you pleas
+ call up the third mate, and all the ger
f tlemen passengers? want them |
: stand by the whips in order to help tn
:. sailors if necessary. We must save thos
]. children, and do 1t. too, without tl
: boat coming in contact with the ship,
> that would be instant destruction to
.s and them in such sea-
! 'Al ready,-the whips, sir!' eau
from the first mate, and the next m
ment voice rang out from the i'll
boom end! Boat right ahead! Stead
!, y as you go!'
. Now, then, my lads, who'll into the
running bowlines with me and star
10 by to pick up the children?' anxious
4 II.