The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1879-12-02
1t is as well to state here that Miss
Lindsley's Christian name was Barbara.


In distress was booming. A storm had
come up suddenly, and clouds as black
as the pail of death covered the sky
The wind shrieked and ragged with ter
rifle force. The waves beat upon the
beach with q sullen roar. Anon glare
of vivid lightning would cut athwart
the gloom, and the thunder would crash
through the heavens with sound like
the rending of universe. Truly, 1t was
a wild, wild night
Farmer Lindsey was sitting before a
blazing fire, listening to the roar of the
storm without. His wife sat close to the
corner of the chimney.
" 1t is an awful nightl' she kept NUT
tering.
Above the howliug of the wind, and
the roaring of the sea, came the boom
of the minute-gun of the doomed ship,
heard for the first time by Farmer
Lindsey.
81 Hark what was that ?' he cried as
he suddenly sprang to his feet, in list
ening attitude.
Il heard nothing but the Storm" re-
piled his wife.
But did," exclaimed Mr.. Lindsey,
-" signal-gun of distress from the sea.
Some poor vessel is being hastened on to
its doom.''
But vessels never come ashore here"
said Mrs. Lindsey.
"Ay, they do" said her husband;
rarely, however. L remember that
twenty years ago, before we were mar
ried, many poor dead body was washed
ashore from wrecked ship one
night"
Boom came from over the sea.
All you heard that? ?''
4" Yes, 1 heard that" answered Mrs.
Lindsey, her lips white.
"The vessel will go to pieces on the
rocks" said Mr.. Lindsey solemnly.
Mrs. Lindsey wrung her lands.
Can nothing be done to save the poor
wretches on board ?" she cried.
fear not" answered her husband.
But get me my great-coat, and 1 will
hasten over to Ogden's 3, and rouse them,
to get them to go with me down to the
beach. We may be able to render some
aid."
Mr.. Lindsey was soon inside his over
coat.
Build on rousing fire, wife," he
said, " for if any poor wretch should
OH nadh he ,oI aIg
have to carry him here. Oh | my Ian
tern. Strange that should nearly for
get that"
The lantern was lighted. The door be-
ing opened, a fierce gust of wind swept
in; but Farmer Lindsey drew his coat
about him, and went out into the storm.
Hollo !" he shouted, ten minutes
later, at Ogden's door.
Hollol" was returned from inside
the house.
"Did your hear that gunY'
" Yes"
You are going down to the beach ?"
Yes" was shouted from the inside
"we will be ready in a minute"
The door of the house opened, and a
man in an oiled coat peered out.
:" Is that you, Lindsey ?" he asked.
Lindsey gave an affirmative answer
to the question.
The boys are lighting their Ian
terms" said Ogden. Hollo Jack
Tom ~
"Cominp. sir ;; answered voices.
Richard Ogden, and the stalwart
young fellows, his sons, came out
They went back, for short time toward
Farmer Lindsley's house, and then
turned down the beach. Down on the
shore they stopped.
The wind was. shrieking and bowling
as madly as ever, and they sea was like
raging monster seeking his prey.
Ugh it's bad night !" cried Rich
ard Ogden it's an awful night for
those poor wretches out yonder ~ Q
have not heard the gun lately"
said Lindsey. 'Can she have struck
already 2"
:" think not, !" was the reply.
To confirm Ogden's words, once more
the minute gun walled out. The men
strove to look out over the boiling sea
but naught save the dense whiteness of
the yeasty waves could be seen.
Suddenly, vivid flash of lightning
seemed to divide the heavens in twain