Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1876-11-24

and rush of the tempest, q terrible,
agonizlng scream from half hundred
throats, told what had happened Some
unfortunate craft at the mercy of the
waves, without lights, or unable to raise
them, had met the steamer In full career.
There can be no conception of the terri.
BILE force of such meeting. The crashing
timbers, the shrieks of brave men, rose
above the turmoil of nature. Then the
steamer reeled on, staggering like a
drunken man, and the unfortunate craft
was blotted out George had caught
Myra, and held her close until the first
tumult had subsidized, and he felt the
steamer gliding by unobstructed, when
he released her, and rushed out into the
| gloom and took command of the steamer
again. For two hours they rushed on,
and the storm subsded, when the mate
came to him and whispered, in horri-
fed tone: i'f'9 i..,t
We have sprung leakF t'f"
For q single instant the two men
looked at each other in Mortified sur
prise, and then George spgang for his
trumpet. "To the pumpsl" he cried.
Work with will, men" .
They worked on as only men can who
are working for their lives. But, fast as
they labored, the water poured In faster
than the pumps could draw 1t out. 1t
gained inch by inch, and George hurried
about preparing the boats for the saliva
tion of the passengers. The storm had
subsidized as quickly as it rose, but
though they now rocked idly upon the
waves they felt that they were doomed.
:" Get out the boatsp cried the sailors.
Pumps can't save US. The steamer
must go down" W. s..t. ....
They made a rush for the boat on the
starboard quarter, but George Manly
stood before it, q revolver in his hand,
and warned them sternly back: II am
Captain of this boat yet, and my passen-
gers shall be saved first, my crew next,
and myself last of all. But the man
who lays a finger upon any of these
boats, except order it, is dead man" T"
They quailed before the determined
Captain, and when he called to certain
ones to help lower away the boat they
quietly obeyed him. One by one the
frightened passengers descended, until
there was only room left for the four
rowers and the mate who was to COM
mand the boat. "Away with you, ;" said
George. "You have compass, Wat
kins?" ..t-.
"Ay, ay, sir. God bless you, Cap
tainw
The boat pushed off, and the. remain
ing one was lowered. 1t was larger than
the one which had just left the steamer,
but not large enough to hold all. George,
with his own hands, placed Myra in the
boat, and put the child in her arms. No
one remained upon the steamer except
Myra's husband and Manly. The sailors
began to grumble. .u /. ..s- ..
=" Come along, Cap. She is getting
heavy. But both of you can't come in
this boat; she won't stand it."
" know il" said George, calmly. 81
am not going with you. Gale Aerrick,
get into that boat. The steamer will not
be afloat in fifteen minutes" 't
az will not CO." said Gale. .let. ..e
"You must" replied George, almost
fiercely. "And before you go l want
you to take this letter. When you know
that am dead, give it to your wife. If
l live, return it to me-"
He thrust the sealed letter into the
hand of the husband, and, seizing him
suddenly, forced him into the boat and
cast off the painter. The boat and
steamer parted in the darkness, and
George Manly remained upon the ILL
fated craft, happy in the consciousness
that he had heard her voice praying them
to return and save him. He was glad
they did not attempt it. The boat was
loaded heavily already, and his weight
would be too much. Climbing to the
quarterback, he sat calmly down and
awaited his fate. The last they saw of
him, under the glare of the steamers
lamps, was his hand stretched out in a
mute gesture of farewell. Living, no
man ever saw his face again, and it was
two days when they found his body
upon the sands. When he was buried,
Myra's husband brought the package
which this brave man forced into his
hand that fearful night, and opened it.
He had written hastily In pencil:
MYRA-Farewell until the coming of a
brighter morning. GEORGE.
Inclosed was will bequeathing all
his property to Myra. He had made this
will long ago, and carried it with him,
directed to her. He had written in pen
Gil beneath it: "Teach the little child to
think kindly of the man whose name he
bears. Myra never forgot that prayer,
and in the after-days her son revered
the memory of no man more that of the
young hero who died in the darkness
that other lives might be saved.-Har-
per's Monthly for December.