River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-11-21

/ I looked around me, and found that
had fallen upon little island. narrow
spit of sand that had formed in the eddy
caused by the pier of the bridge. On
each side of it ran strong and rapid
current. All this I saw by the light OF
| he moon, sometimes bright, sometimes
obscure, as she parted her way among the
fast driving clouds.
| Distantly across the waters shone the
| lights of the little town. saw in its gas
lamps, which sparkled brilliantly IN the
night, and from out OF the rocks which
showed against the sky line, here and
there the soft light of candle in cot
tage window cleaned like fairy lamp.
On the other side of the estuary there
were no lights, but the straiuing eye
might discern the gloom OF high hills,
that seemed, indeed, only like some dark.
some chasms in the sky but as | watched
saw tiny star that was gliding among
the rocks. Now seen. now lost, | follow
ed il with longing eyes, and listening in
tently heard the chatter of horses hoofs
and the murmur of wheels rising and
failing as the road wound in and out
among the rocks further or nearer. Ii
was some carriage rolling rapidly toward
home toward my home, and here was /,
a castaway.
shouted, but my voice seemed lost in
the great space. The wind carried it up
the river, and blew il away into stuffed
| fragments. /. was useless TO cry; no one
would hear me. How long should have
TO live3 Was there any chance that l
might escaped / could not swim; the
channel on either side was. therefore, an
impossible barrier. Even had | been an
excellent swimmer, doubt if, 10 my en-
feebled state,I could have won the further
bank of the channel, where the current
was running the least swiftly. How
| long would my island remain uncovered
by the sea-
Six or eight feet above my head tangl-
ed masses Of seaweeds hanging IN the in
terstices of the woodwork, showed I e
highest reach of the ebb had commenced
an hour before started from Abermaw.
Allowing an hour for my subsequent adj
ventures, the ebb would still have three
hours to run; then another three hours
would elapse before the tide would reach
me. remembered that | had flask of
metal in my pocket which still contalued
dram of brandy, and then had few
fragments of biscuit remaining of some
that my wife had packed for my use a
couple Of days before. | drank the
brandy aud munched the biscuit and felt
again hopeful. Six hoursl Why, in that
time help might come. Death was no
longer imminent.
But was entirely wrong. The strong
southwesterly gales had piled up the wat
ers about the mouth OF the estuary, 50
that the ebb was checked and the flood
increased and the tide ran out only some
three hours. I must hive been longer on
the sand, too, than | had calculated, for
as watched the waters hurrylng down
on each side of me, noticed the current
seemed to slacken all of a sudden; then
il stopped, so that fragment OF bleach
ed WOO that was floating downward
come to rest, then moved slowly once
more upwards The tide was turned.
In very short time TIE vast expanse
of waters before me, that had just now
seemed broad river outlet, scored and
marked W tn sand banks, assumed the ap'
pesrance of an agitated sea. Short waves
hurried along, their white crests CLEAN
ing the moonlight; they came in serried
lines, tier over tier; the hoar roar of the
advancing tide reverberated in the air.
miDgling in my brain with the strange
rattle rs of bells that would never cease
TO Jingle therein. How remorseless they
seemed, these waves, hurryi1g up like
hounds who view their prey. And yet 1t
was solemn scene; and wha: there was
of dignity and grandeur in the sig hall
re:onciled me to the thought that my
|. r -. lApar in
these advancing batallions of serrled
waves, for now the bitterness OF death was
passed its terrors had vanished; felt
profound sadness shat was all.
How far could I climb up the Shiny,
slippery posts and buttresses that seemed
to mock me with their lying protfers OF
safetyg A couple of cross beams or ties
which bound together the lower ends OF
the piers afforded at their intersection
sort a angular resting place. where /
could, for time, perhaps, find n refuge
from the waves This was far below high |
water mark, 50 that to reach it would
only give me short respite from my
final agony; but for all that determined
TO attempt it. As soon as the water COW
cred the little island on which stood ]
would try TO Climb that slippery beam
that rose from the sand, in which it was
partly buried, at an angle of about ro:ty-
five degrees.
With the tide rose the wind; with the
wind came rain and fog. The moon,
blurred and indistinct, shown family for
awhile. and then vanished altogether, al
though her difused light made every
thing darkly visible. Soon the waves
were dashing 81 my feet, the sand pulp
beneath. Now was my time to make my
last effort for little more life. But
found that | had ogerrated my own pow
ers. | crawled foot up the slippery
timber, then fell back, again tried 1t,
aud again, butt was of no use. Strength
does not come of eager desire to be strong
All that Icould do was to clasp my arms
around tho beam and stand upward,
awaiting the coming of the waters.
The water rose, not gradually, but In
pulses. Smaller waves came and went,
and left no change of level; but every
now and then some heavier, fiercer bill
low would co ne in with devouring
sweep, covering me with its spray and
foam, receding again, but al each reces-
sion leaving greater depth Of swaying,
lifelke water. These attacks, like buff
fets from the hand of some skilled boxer,
left me weaker and weaker at every blow;
and il was 50 troacherous, too, the water.
1t would draw away for time, leaving
me free almost to my knees, and then, as
| if driven by sudden impulse. ii would
gather itself up and return in great
seething swathe of water that would
swallow me up from head to foot.
The end was fast coming now. had
CEASED to feel any thing. Only logged
determination to stick TO life TO the last
kept me clinging TO my beam. But what
was that soundl A long and piercing
scream, q roar and rumble and a rattle;
it was an engine. An engine coming
along the completed part OF the bridge,
shrieking aud screaming and dashing out
great watts of white steam in the stormy
air. The sound gave fresh life and vigor.
| Human creatures were within reach, at
all events. If I could make them hear
might yet be saved.
The engine came slowly along and l
heard the voice Of men shouting to one
another Why. then, should they not
/ 7 10 lint 70