Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1880-04-08
THE RESCUE.
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A Sketch by "The Captain. I"


1t was in the month of Febru-
ary, 1881, bright moonlight
night, and intensely cold, that
the little brig / command lay
quietly at her anchors inside of
the Hook.
We had a hard time of it,
beating about for eleven days
offthis coast, with cutting north
casters blowing, and snow and
sIeet falling, for most of that
time. Forward the vessel was
thickly coated with ice, and it
wasshardl work to- manage her,
as the rigging and sails were
stiff, and yielded only when the
strength of the men was exert
ed to the utmost. When at
length we made the. port, all
hands worn do wn and exhaust
ed, we could not have held out
two days longer without relief.
"a bitter cold night, Mr.. Lar
kim" I said to my mate, as /
tarried for a : moment on the
deckto finish my cigar
The worthy Down Easter but
toned his coat more tightly a.
round him, looked up to the
moon and felt his red nose be-
fore he replied: saR ba9i ~
"It's a whistle, captain, as we
used to say on the Kenncbec.
Nothing lives comfortable out
of blanket in such a night as
this % '--
"The tide is running ont swift
and strong; it will be we'll to
keep a sharp look out for the
floating ice, Mr., Larkin."
"Ay, ay, sir" responded the
mate, aud | went below. IlIQ
Two hours after I was arots-
ed from sound sleep by the
vigiiant officer.
-NExcuse me for disturbing
yol, captain, ,''ls;lid he, as he de-
tected an expression of vexatiOn
on nv face; s'but | wish you
would turn olit and come OF
deck as soon as possible." e.
"Why, what's the matter, Dir
Larkin 2'4SEF02EEBEE
"Why, sir, | have been watch
ling a cake Of ice that swept by
at little distance moment ago
[ saw something black upon it
something that | thought NOV
ed: the moons under a cloud
and [ couldn't see distinctly,
but really ] think there's a child
floating out to sea in the frcez'
] ing night OH that cake of ice.' ,
we were ON deck before Ell
ther spoke another word. The
mate pointed out, with no lit
tie difficulty, the cake of ic'
! floating off to the leeward, an'
its white glltfering surface wa,
5 broken by 4 black spot; more
could not make out.
e"Gct me the glass, Mr. Lar
: kin; the moon will be out O
4 that cloud in a moment, ant
then, we can see distiRctly."0
| kept my eye on the reccd
I ing mass of ice, while the mool
was slowly working her wa.
). through q heavy bank of clouds
;1Thc1 mate stood by with a glass
d When the full light fell at las
= upon. the water with u brillian
: cy only known in our norther
L attitudes, l put the glass to m.
! leye. One glance was enough
?. sFerward there,lPo / shoute
e ,e, at the top Of my voice, and wit
{ one bSand Z reached the mai
h hatch, and began to clear ava
the little cutter which was stow
ed away in the ships yawl H
Mr.. Larkin had received th
glass from nv hand to take ?
! look for himself nfS1l -
{ any Godp he said in a whii
= : per. as he set to work to aid m
rs In getting ont the boat; SIN
God, there are two children o
ne that cake Of ice 80 ~
h. The men answered my ha
ei 'd and walked lazily aft. In a
Id incredibly short space of tim
lie we launched the cutter, in,
I'd which Mr.. Larkiir and mysel
I'd jumped, followed by TWO me
4 who, took the. oars. | riggs
at the tilIer, and .he mate sat b
6 side me in The stern sheets.
y ado you sec the cake OF It
nd with something black upon ]
q :" lads ~ / cried; s'put me along
side of that, and I'LL give you
ir- bottle of rum each tonight, al
IA a months extra wages whe
les you are paid Off. vaaI q.
=. The menlbent to HE ears, b1
u their strokes were uneven al
'es feeble. They were used mp |
- the hard duty of the previol
nts fortnight, and though they d
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