Morris tribune., 1880-05-20
THE FISHERMAN OF LECQUE

some day to visit the Island of jersey on
the coast of France, the guide will, no
doubt, conduct you to the harbOr OF
Lecque, one Of the most picturesque sites
of this enchanting island. All around as
far as the eye can reach, gigantic cliffs,
where ON one side, the face of the rock
recesses and caverns.
No part of the ocean, in its course
encounters more terrible foes on which
TO eXpend its fury than at this point. All
the perils of land and sea and tempest
seem here to combine, as on a grand, tree
pleasure ground; and this warfare never
relaxes its power; where the sea en-
croaches pitilessly on the land; where
the rocks, battered increasingly by turbid
waves, crack, loosen and plunge at the
first roar of the tempest into the abyss
below, there TO aid another hidden OBJ
stacle TO navigation.
Everywhere can be seen the wave,
blanchlng into fringe OF foam as it pas
SEES over a sunken rect, and if arrested by
some marine bank IN its hayward
course, then it distorts itself III fantastic
shapes and tears asunder as ii in con
vulslon.
Unfortunate, indeed. is the incoming
vessel, if, amid the darkness of grim
night, she be overtaken by northwest
gale that drives the hapless wanderer on
the rocks of Casquet, or Paternoster, whose
name suggests the last invocation in the
hour of supreme peril. Destruction is
then certain, for the helm is powerless,
and the keel strikes on the rocks at the
bottom.
The strand of Lecque incloses a small
bay, which appears designed by Nature
as refuge for ships in distress which
have had the rare good fortune to escape
the rocks with which the channel is
thickly strewn. 1t forms harbor for a
large number OF fishing craft, whose
owners occupy cabins on the steep cliffs
above.
In November, IS, a frightful hur-
zlcane ragged over the Manche, and from
the narrow beach could plainly be dis
cerned signals of alarm from one of the
vessels which the resistless waves were
swiftly driving on the terrible reefs of
the Patenoster. To venture out from
shore to the assistance of these poor I'M
fortunates would be 10 devote ones self
uselessly to certain death. The fisher
men, who, on returning to port, had been
followed by these piercing cries of dis
tress, although their hearts were stirred
to their innermost depths, were power
less to convey help.
AT last an old sailor stepped forth, in
spired with heroic resolve. He might
perish victim to his devotion, but at
least he would make the trial of disput.
ing with the miserable sufferers the mad
strength of the pillows. He launched on
the sea life boat, and then called for a
volunteer to aid him in the fearful exper-
iment. No man came forward at the
summons. This failure was not a lack
of courage, but such an act required
more than courage-eVen grand hero
ism thus to voluntarily struggle with
the unclaimed winds and waters. The
enterprise seemed so reckless that the
bravest among them recoiled from 1t.
Just then, behold! young sallor-a
mere child -glided OUT from the group
of men, son of fisherman of the coast
and offered himself to serve as second to
the old man. Then, having already
mouated on the boat, he turned toward q
woman clad in mourning garments, ran
to her, and, throwing his arms about hel
neck, embracing her tenderly, said in
firm, yet boyish voice:
"Motheri let me go!"
"Now, this poor mother had been g
widow scarcely six months. Her hus'
band, brave fisherman, had sailed out Of
a little cove on certain morning tc
broadcast his net in the sea. Buta sud
den souall of wind arose On the fol
lowing day broken and splintered por
tions of boat drifted to the shore, while
nothing was ever seen or heard there
after OF the helpless sailor.
1t was to the afflicted survivor of this
lost fisherman that her only son prayed
consent to war-heroic folly !-against
the fury of the bitter sea, which had
served only few days ago, it seemed, al
the tomb of his father.
This mother, weeping bitterly, at frs
refused; then as she heard the despairine
cries of the shipwrecked crew, and cas-
her eyes over the seething waters, sh,
also discovered the flying signals of an
guish from the drowning victims. Sht
thought of husbands and of children who
were perlshing there, apd thus silcncec
her own desperate grief. Turning to he
son, this heroic woman said:
go, my child! I give thee my bless
ng, Have courage. May God 60 witt
thee and bring thee back safe and SOUND
to thy notherP'
The frail vessel, now at some distanc'
on its outward course, frightfully tossed
by the mad waves, could be family trac
ed by the anxious watchers on the shore
while the two heroic sailors, stralnlns
every nerve to keep the oars in plac
and hold It's course toward the fatet
ship, already sinking, could also b
seen.
Soon the bereaved mother could gaz
no longer. Crushed in spirit and tain
with emotion, she sank down uncOnsciou
on the rocky shore. The kindly fisher
men lifted her gently from the sand, ant
conveyed her to her cabin on the cliff
their eyes filling with tears as they be
lieved that this woman, already widOwe'
and forlorn, would on this day, lose al
that was dearest to her in the world
even her only and well-loved son.
A horrible cracking of timbers wa
now heard by those on the beach. TIL
staunch and beautiful ship had struck o.
rock, and the spectators watched II
title by little, sinking deeper beneat
he waves. Above the whlstling and til
roaring OF the hurricane could be hear,
for brief space, the shrieks uttered b
the miserable crew, suspended above a
awful gulf; then nothing could be dis
tinguished save the creaking of broke
masts, on which chung two or three stiff
ened and cramped sailers, waiting TO
death which came slowly. Dayligh
faded away, a last cry echoed throug
the air, fainter one followed, and the
only the growl Of angry waves RENAME
as they dashed each other over the rock
bottom.