The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1875-05-27
THE CREW OF ST. GATHERINGS.

THE CREW OF ST. GATHERINGS.
On bright August day in the year
1860, young Tom Bradstreet, in his little
skiff, rowed up and down Lake Chewas-
set, looking at the University crews as
they practiced for the race that was to
take place the next day.
On the right, beneath the edge of the
green woods, Toms glad eyes beheld
the men of st. James, pulling their forty
two strokes, and flying along like an
arrow. Further off was the crew of Cam
worth, spinning toward the upper end
of the water. To the left were the mag
niticent fellows of Holmon Hall; and last
and finest of all, in the middle of the
lake, coming, as Tom thought, like
" chain-shot," were the giants of St.
Catherine's-their six long oars dipping
as one, their six brown backs swaying
like clockworlx, and their magenta head,
kerchiefs rising and falling together.
Toms heart leaped as he saw them.
His admiration of this crew had made
him its warm partisan, and he never
doubted but that its men would win the
race.
The " "strokeoar was young Hercu
les named Windham, as handsome and
agile fellow as ever led race. This
was Toms hero. He had watched him
with an enthusiasm that glowed and
grew every day, till it amounted to q
kind of worship, and he had haunted
the racecourse on his skiff, and hung
about the lighthouses for chance to
hear the splendid champion speak, or
perhaps win glance of his eye.
Windham was too busy to notice his
boy admirer, although he was very kind
hearted, and ready, on occasion, to serve
the poorest being that needed him.
st. GATHERINGS crew came sweeping
on. Tom, all on fire with excitement,
leaped up and fixed his eyes upon his
hero. He could see his great muscles,
his rich brown skin, his eager, handsome
face, his magnificent motion. In parox-
ysm of ardor and delight, he leaped to
his feet and swung his hat, and shouted
and hurrahed like crazy boy.
As he did SO, he slipped from the
thwart, and pitched forward on his face
The skiff lurched. The large stone that
was used sometimes to anchor it, rolled
overheard into the deep watar, entan-
Cling one of Toms arms in the rope, as
it went down.
In moment the boy was helpless,
dragged under the water by the running
coils. The crew of st. Catherine s heard
the splash, but rowed on, thinking it was
only boys frolic. They shot past the
skiff just as Tom disappeared beneath
the surface of the lake.
"Hold on |" cried Windham: "back-
water ! stop her!''
The boat, with its six strong men,
rowed back to the skiff. The instant
Windham's, eye caught sight of the taut
rope he saw the nature of the accident
Carefully raising himself, he stepped
into the skiff and motioned his men to
pull away. Then seizing the rope, he
drew it rapidly up, and soon the arm of
the drowning boy came in sight under
the clear water. But the wet coil slipped
Tom was gone
Quick as thought Windham dived after
him, while his crew, waiting on their
oars at little distance, kept anxious
watch of the spot. Every man was
ready to plunge in to the rescue, if it
should be necessary. In minute Wind
ham came up, He had Tom in his arms.
He placed him in the skiff, face down,
took in another man from the race-boat,
and set him at work to resuseitate the
almost lfeless boy, while he grasped
the oars and made for the nearest boat
house.
He had scarcely pulled a hundred
strokes when he met another skiff, con-
aiming two men.
"See here - Dried he, "here's a boy
that's nearly drowned. Do you know
who he is p
" It's quite likely he's my nevvy,"
said one of the men, in a cold and heart
ess tone. "That's his skiff you're in:
cts see him, and the man rowed along
side.
eyes, that's him." said he, peering
over the thwarts. "He's alters gettin'
himself inter mischief"
"Where does he ive2" roared Wind
nam, full of wrath at the mans GOODNESS.
Point out his house, will your"
"Its right behind yer-over there"
pointing to a small cottage at the edge
If the lake, close by.
Windham turned abruptly, and shot
oward the shore, with his eyes, ever
md anon, fixed upon the helpless form
hat lay, with its sodden brown hair, in
he bottom of the skiff. 1t was some
ime before Tom came to himself, so that
le fully realized what had happened, and
Who were about him. The young man
lad carried him to the cottage and re-
lived him, and when, weak from ex-
iaustion, he opened his eyes, the first
,erson he saw was Windham.
The poor boy, in all his hard work, had
lever experienced much that was beauti-
ul and gentle, and now the sight Of the
Zero of his devotion standing by him and
ooking on his face, made him smile in
pite of his weakness. The tears filed
lis eyes, and he feebly put out his hand.
Windham took it in both of his.
"Did you get me out2" said Tom, in
faint voice. H-.,4
.1Th -: s., m 4, ,