The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-10-07


injury TO the lung also weakened his voice, and
there are traccs OF It to- this day.
IL was nearly 300 miles To saltwater. and as
no had not the means to ride he determined TO
walk that distance. Tho country was now and
ihnly settled. He was warned OF the dangers
from hunger and hostile Indians. but no was
not to be dissuadcd Five or six days out ho
was surprised by ~ band Of the sayngcs. How
he saved his scalp he never knew. But he was
robbed OF everything he had excepting the
clothes lie wore. Tho little food ho had in u
bag was taken. For three days he wandered
on without n mouthful to cat excepting a few
acorns. and nt the end of the third day fell on
hausted. There seemed nothing loft hut to
starNe where he was. but ns he turned over. he
spicd somc wilted turnip sk ms bestdc him. Emit
grants had weeks before cgmpcd on the spot.
The Earrings made him n delicious feast After
z nishts rest on INC oren prairie he pressed on.
All tho next day he had nothing TO stay his
stomach, hut Just Mt dusk hc saw n light ahead.
1t came from lttlu hut where an Irishman
and his wife were living.
The starving traveller begged for something TO
cat hut the lrshman said that he had nothing
but n little meal in the house: IL Murch wished
to share that he might and welcome. Hasty
pudding even, without butter salt. or sweet.
enlng, seemed u banquet to "A man who had
eaten nothing lut turnip skins and acorns
for four days. and To- pay the rishmnn for
supper and breakfast he went with his host tho
next day agn,vy2 milrs to tho pearcs, supply
station and helped him bring homo ON thcir
shoulders enough meal to snrvN Tor month
With his ha.. rcponishcl he started out again
and in the coutse OF day or two came to a littlo
settlement around sawmill. man was fuss
ing over the preparations for n frame house.
Do you want any help p asked Murrh.
, don't know. Can you dig cellar 2" asked
the man addressed.
can"
Go 10 work. then. at q shilling load" was
In a few days the cellar was dug. and then the
boss hired him t9 dig well. That was n hard
Job. for i seem,ed as though he never would
been secured in somc lankec-likc way. to pre-
vent caving in-ior there WAS no rock IN that
mRion-the boss asked him II he could cook,
That WIS something he had learned nt sea and
he was hired tu do the king for gang of men
who were coming out to work the mill at two
Next the young man. like Lincoln. turned
natnoatman. Work getting dull. he and his
at Stillwatcr large natbnat, and nnvigatcd it
down the Mississippi to Dubuque. some 40
miles. Leaving tho boat thcre they bought
small farms in Illinois and young Murch Was
mi ing the cows when he heard that Abc Lin
coin had been nominated for President. Tho
coming election was 20 hc the first at which lie
could vote for President. and. as he had been
brought up in the old Maine Democratic school.
and had an intense admiration FOR stephen 4.
Douglass. he made up his mind tO vote for tho
broke out aud young Nurch determined To en-.
list He made one attempt. and was rejected 10y
the physician on account Of the injury to his
lungs. lie went straightway TO another r.
same reason. Next be tried the navy but with
no better success. and so be made his way back
During this adventurous lie Murch showed
the Down East stun that Wa in him hy several
daring and successful attempts To- save llfo and
when the writer asked Him If the reports that
had brcn Cleaned % these attempts were tru" he
modcsly admitted that they We're. They
wouldn't interest the public" he said. because
they have nothing to DO with my political vcws %
But am enabled to tell YOU about them. Mtile
he WIS coming from Charleston : { 10 New
York IN constcr, with two pass, nsors. a fearful
gale struck tho schooner when oN the dangerous
| Maryland coast She hornme unmanagcablc
Her spurs were snapped. aud she seemed ~ bo
rapidly going upon the shoals. Tho captain
shut hlmself IN his cabin and told the pgesen-
gers that there was no chance for them. Every
instant they expected 70 hcQr the grating sound
amt feel the shock as the schooner stru X. The
crew was trrror-stricken, Then Mur'h clled
what could be done. .Fiward Murphy. an
lrishman. from Long Island. promptly vol.
"%'gn C9sTy %tmtnt y E Es IN waaed n'nh n tnS tnnSps s
about them. managed with axcs l. right thc
hcadyl from shore. Ia the morning ~" was
| s'uddlnE along almost under haro poles hut
| out oi danger Tn" passengers sought out
/ Murrh and Murphy and gave ga 'h OF thcm "A
! god I.c'". Mr. Mur'h docs not soc TINT there
| WIS any lnrt uar credit Ia this. for be- regards
an adventure ou Lake Michigan which resulted
10 the saving Of five lives and TO do that he
| riskDd lis own.
hc was at Prro Marquette with his brother.
! one oi thc sudden and violent gales character
! entity beyond control making for the shoals
| The breakers wer" yaN high tho llfe-snylng
! hltklhH WIS az "a Lislulltt. NAu NOBODY III tlN
| The little lake r0wboats. The schooner pushed
| through "a shoal. the breakers pounding her
/ sdrs with tremendous force. From the shore
| they could See the crew making signals and
thrr" wa- woman on the deek.
huron dni his hrOlnrr decided to try To reach
| them in u rowboat. They were told that there
was no chance for the boat to live in such sea.
" " hat are you going 10 do Stand here and
see them drown n wls the Young fellows only
reply. A. he and his brother pushed on In
siHntt the roWboat was swampod. Thoy made
.I pln AF. a
Then Murch ran To Oank whore he could be
easily seen. and began to make signals with his
arms, The captain OF the schooner understood.
ana, fastening board t9arope. threw II int the
sea. Az hlurch expected. the board was blown
ashore. Fastening the end OF the rope u n
stump, Ia" two started once moro in the little
hoat. and Wcre able to Dull themselves along. al
though the sea broke ovur them ut every wave.
hall illling tho boat with wHter Thus they
reached the schooner. ana before she broke
NJ succeeded in getting the captain. his wife
and child and the crew fyo in nll tn The shore
One cold. wild. stormy day in the winter of
1865. Will. Murch was II stone cutter on an
island IN Penoiscoi Bay. steamer wis seen to
theTcghout. Signals Of distress w"rr flying. bat
1t seemed folly to attempt u rescue without tne
rogulntion Ii iie-saying appliance. There WIS "a
station near 10y. Tut therr seemed TO be ho Signs
oiAu> help 'onng from that quarter.
th" steamer. A. last he said quietly Boys. We
must Z out there" and SO saving, begun to
male h- preparuons. II WIS fully five M leg
from ruorr. with dangerous rrH lrHiing; hui
tour mon volunteered to 20 with tho intrepid
sulor. Every onr on shore expected 10 -re
the Little boat cupoiH'd. tut she reached tno
st'uwcr ut the same mOmont with the row from
tie iio-saying station. Tho steamer Wtn tho
Grurgiu. running OtWorn New York. and st.
john. She had formerly becn Confederate
priN.ictr. SlD went 90 plrfNS soon alter tho
officers and crew wore taken OIL
In the fail Of 1873 Mr., Murch heard splash
ami cry for help from some on" vino had lulru
into tho Druwar, River from ono Of the philn-
dcphia piers, llc WIS IN the city. cxpecting TO
take urOIeller for Boston. Throwing of Us
cont. hii, and waslroat. he jumped into the
water. sni2'd the man, an held him until hcp
came. Thon he quietly disapprarcI. To TINS
day the rescued does not know who his rescuer
was.
II Th0mps political principles are bad"
said Mr., Lynde VI ioc;land. as he. with others
told these stories. no one can doubt his hu.
nauity. and 1t II lust these qualities. displayed
in thousand ways IN everyday life. that have
given him the hold he has on tho people IN this
district
Early in 1861 whllo preparations were being
mado TO repair and strengthen Fort Gorges in
Portland harbOr. large number OF derricks
had been sHt up. but there was delay bocauSo
there wns no one who could nix them. boss
stonecutter. Clark by name now in Hockland
tolls the following; | remember ono afternoon.
IN tho works about the fort. seoing n 1.-the
hriEht-cyed young follow como into the yard.
lie wasn't large, but WHY He stood looking nt