The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1878-08-09

III ScIIIeu iHesJ uer over uer tne nOdrS
roar Of the advancing tide reyerberatel
in the air, mingling in my brain witt
J the strange rattle as of bells that woul,
never cease to jingle therein. How re
morseless they seemed, these waves hur
rying up like hounds who view thei
prey. And yet it was solemn scene
and what there was ofdignity and grand
eur IN the sight half reconciled me I,
the thought that my life would be swal
lowed up ere long in these advancin,
batallions of serried waves, for now tn,
bitterness of death was passed its ter
rors had vanished; felt profound sad
ness-that was all.
How far could l climb up the Shiny
slippery posts and buttresses that seemed
to mock me with their lying proffers o
safety? \ couple of cross beams or tie
, which bound together the lower end o
the piers afforded at their intersection
sort of angular resting place, where
could, for a time, perhaps, find a refuge
from the waves. This was far below
high water mark, so that to reach il
would only give me short respite from
my final agony; but for all that l deter
mined to attempt it. As soon as the
water covered the little island on which
l stood | would try to climb that slippery
beam that arose from the sand, in which
it was partly buried, at an angle of about
forty five degrees.
With the tide rose the wind; with the
wind came rain and fog. The moon
blurred and indistinct shown faintly for
awhile, and then vanished altogether
although her diffused light made every
thing darkly visible. Soon the waves
we're dashing at my feet, the sand a pulp
beneath. Now was my time to make my
last effort for little more life. But !
found that / had overrated my own
powers. / crawled few feet up the
slippery timber, then fell back Again
l tried it, and again, but it was of no use
Strength does not come of eager desire
TO be strong. All that I could do was to
clasp my arms around the 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, fercer bill
lows would come in with a devouring
sweep, covering me with its spray and
foam, receding again, but at each reces-
sion leaving greater depth of swaying,
lifehke water. These attacks, like buff
fets from the hand of some skilled boxer
left me weaker and weaker at every
blow; and it was so treacherous, too, the
water. 1t would draw away for time,
leaving me free almost to my knees, and
then, as if driven by sudden impulse, it
would gather itself up and return in a
great seething swathe of water that
would swallow me up from head to foot.
The end was fast coming now. l had
ceased to feel anything. Only dogged
determination to stick to life to the last
kept me clinging to my beam. But what
was that sound? A long and piercing
scream, a roar and q rumble and a rattle;
it was an engine. An engine coming
along the completed part OF the bridge,
shrieking and screaming and dashing
out great watts of white steam into the
stormy AIR. The sound gave me fresh
life and vigor. Human creatures we're
within reach, at all events. If 1 could
make them hear might yet be saved.
The engine came slowly along and /
heard the voice of men shouting to one
another. Why, then, should they not
hear me? tried, too, TO shout, but my
voice stuck in my throat couldn't
make a sound louder than whisper; no,
not with all the good will had 10 shout
ike an archangel.
The engine came so near at last that /
could see the glow of her fires through
the interstices of the flooring of the
bridge. And now there we're men stand
ing with lanterns at the very extremity
of the bridge, and still | could not make
them hear.
For an instant the glad thought struck
me that 1 had been missed, and that
these men had come to look for me: but
the next moment saw the folly of the
idea. Days might elapse before my fate
was known. 1t was not even yet beyond
the time had fixed for reaching home.
No: the me-. we're railway workman,
perhaps going TO a nights shift of work
ON the bridge, and couldn't make them
hear.
Suddenly / heard sharp, quick bark,
and then growl as of anger or inquiry,
and was conscious that there was adog
with the men above. The dogs faculties
were keener than the mems; perhaps it
was possible might make him hear, so
| barked a shrill, swapping bark, with
which had often deceived my own ter
rier, Jock. The dog acknowledged the
challenge and replied furiOusly. Then
heard the voice of a man shouting to
the dog to be quiet, but the dog barked
still more furiously, standing at the very
edge Of the platform, as though it would
throw itselfover. Then some men came
to the edge of The platform, too, and then
in my extremity gave a cry-a wild
despairing cry. Then huge, hoarse
wave dashed over ME.
Ifit had not been for the conscious
ness that help was near could not have
held on against the furious rush of wa
ter; but 1 did hold on, at least think 50
and when the waves receded, a bright,
dazzling light shone into my eyes-a
light from the bridge where some one
was holding what seemed to be a porta-
BILE sun, but which was actually q piece
of burning magnesium wire. Then;
everything disappeared in the blackest
darkness.
did you see anything7" cried a voice.
"Im not cure; thought I saw some
thing mover"
A couple of lamps from the engine
were now brought and placed at the edge
of the platform; they lit up the beams
and rafters of the bridge, but the light
seemed lost in the dark waters. Ali
they would never see me. Once more
| had strength to cry.