The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-10-18
A NARROW ESCAPE FROM A wATERY
GRAVE.
Two Little Children Drift Across Lake Austin
in Row Boat During a High Wind.


Two Little Children Drift Across Lake Austin
in Row Boat During High Wind.
On Wednesday Of last week two children
Willie Hyde, little boy eight years of age,
son of Z. w. Hyde of Poultney, and his
consin Allie Barker, little girl nine years
old, were over near Lake Austin chestnut
ing. After gathering nuts awhile they
went down to the waters edge and got into
a beat that was drawn up on the shore
with one end in the water. They were
playing in the boat and shucking their
chestnue, when, before they were aware,
they heard the boat grating upon the sand
and they were afloat upon the water before
they had time to jump out on land. There
were no oars in the boat, nothing but
stick, with which the little boy turned the
boat around two or three times, but was
unable TO paddle 1t against the wind to the
shore. They screamed to some large boys
they saw further down tie shore for help,
SAW themselves drifting further from the
shore. There was high, north westerly
wind at the time and the white-caps relied.
The children were terribly frightened and
the little girl was determined to jump from
the boat, but tie boy would not let her he
said he could not see the bottom then, al.
| though not far from the shore. and
| he knew she would be drowned. The &C.
| e .;,,I
about and they drifted quite rapidly out
into the lake. They gave up screaming for
help when they found their cries were I'M
heard. They said they covered their faces
with their hands and cried and prayed to
God to save them. Their feelings can bet
ter tc imagined than described, as they
were tossed here and there with the waves,
expecting every moment to go to the bot
tom. but they had the presence of mind to
sit very still and float as the waves carried
them adult persons could have done no
better. AS the boa. neared Cones Point
the little boy again took the stick and tried
to paddle ashore and it was almost mir
acle that the boat was not upset. In their
efforts to reach the shore the wind took
them farther southeast and they were at
last washed ashore at what i, called Cas-
ties Landing They had no doubt
drifted more than three miles and had been
out on the water several hours. They
went to MIR. C.s house and asked him to
bring them across but he told them the lake
was too rough and he did not want to row
them over against the wind. They then
went farther down the shore where they
saw fishing boat near the shore trolling,
The little boy waved his cap and by shout.
ing, they attracted the attention of the gen.
tleman in the fishing bost--a Mr.. Taft from
Weston-who kindly volunteered to take
them over. He rowed them up as
far as Cones Point and landed them there
not daring to cross. He told them he was
not much used 10 managing a boat against
the wind, but would stay with them till
their friends came for them. The parents
Of the children will ever be grateful to him
way home. Meanwhile Dwight Barker, q
younger brother of the little girl, who was
on shore at the time the boat floated away
with the children, after watching them ou
of sight, almost paIalyzed with fright rar
home for help, and their friends soon met
them and took them home in safety. Il
wss perious trip and was a miraculous
escape from death by drowning, and thest
two children will long RENE mber the lessor
taught them to put their trust in God il
time of trouble, knowing His help is never.
failing. Con-.