Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-03-30
VOL. XXXVIII.

how The flames are creeping towards Us
hereP Go, go, my dearest, my own true
wife! Don't unman me by making me
fear for you Go down where | can feel
that you have chance for safety
Bob Thorne! she exclaimed, with hel
eyes looking straight into mine. "Am
your wifeP'
Surely. surely, thank Cod" NUT
tered. But go, go"
my post is here, just as much rs yours
is" she answered firmly. Il will
stay here, Bob, and it you die, | will die
too. We will make our wedding TRIP
together, my dear husband, even if it be
into the next world. Keep to your duty
and never mind me, Bob. There is hope
for us yet, and if it comes to the worst
whv"-and Il grave sweet smile crept
around her lips-"we are still together
dear l. We"
saw it was no use to urge her any
more. and besides something swelled il
my throat. so that could not utter q
word SO Just gripped the wheel hard
and looked right ahead, though every
thing looked very dim just then, and my
devoted darling stood calmly at my side
watching the flames that were creeping
closer and closer upon us, leaping arounc
the pilot house like hungry demons fol
their prey.
'Thorne," shouted the captain, "comt
down. Lower her and yourself over the
rail. Wen catch you. You cannot stay
there any longer. We are very near the
shore now, and the est we'll take oul
chances on"
1t was I'm awful temptation. I knew
that did follow the captains advise, bott
Mollie and would be safe, for | was :
good swimmer. and should the boat moi
reach the shore, | could save her and my
self; but then if | did this, would | no
deliberately expose every one of the three
hundred souls on board to destruction
True, the boat might keep in her couls Sc
during the short space remaining to bt
passed merely from the impetus of hel
approach, but again she might Rot-anc
then?
| looked at my dear wife inquringly,
"Stck to your post, Bob" she said
mo, sir" | shouted back. II shal
stick to my post: | shall stay till | rur
her clear on shore or die tirstP"
"My brave Bob-my noble Bob" mur
INJURED Molie.
But alas for my devoted Molie! ala.
for me! Not the pilot.house only, but tn,
entire deck around it was surrounded b,
Hames. 1t was to late too lower ourselve
to the deck below. The railing was al
ablaze.
My arms released from their guardian
, ship over the wheel, clasped Mollie clos
, to my heart; but my eyes and brain wer'
busy seeking for some mode of escape
, from death that seemed each instant more
certain.
All at once my eyes rested on the pad
die box. 1t had not taken fire yet; TIN
flying spray had saved it. | had only t.
dash across the hame-swept deck ant
fling open little door on its side, whicl
afforded ready access to the wheel, t.
lower my precious charge to the waite
f beneath with safety. No sooner though
of than done.
] Take my hand, Molie," | said, IAN
run with M. We shall be saved, afte
< all Wrap your shawl across your mouth
Now, now-runm
Leapino down on the deck, we spe
hand in hand to the paddle box | dashe
open the little door, and pushed Molli
+ inside, passing i'll myself, and drew thu
! door close again shutting out the cage
: flames whose angry roar pursued us as W
t dropped gently down into the shallow
0 water and crept beneath the wheel.
e Our appearance was hailed with shou
of delight and relief, for all had given u
e up for lost, and we must have been bu
e for the heaven inspired thought of th
It wheel house
/, Now that the danger was over, poo
.. little Molie tainted, and no wonder. BU
Y she soon came out all right; and as tn
$ people began to find out that the "brav
S little girl as they called her, was realI
e Il bride of only II few hours, and that W
. were on our wedding trip, there was
regular ovation, followed up by nine dea
1t ening cheers The island upon which tn
C Mobilia had been beached was low, sand
o and uninhabited, altogether nor an invi
e ing place for 800 people without partc
}. of shelter to pass half a day upon, yo
@ even in this plight there were few grum
blers in our midst.
O There was no room in our hearts fc
e any feeling but that of thankfulness fC
d our preservation from a fearful death, an
II after the peril of the last hOnr or two
d seemed "a small matter to wait patientl
{ for the coming of the relief boats that "
If knew were sure to arrive before man
hours went past.
n Though some miles from any large city
e we knew that the burning steamer mu,
have been seen from the farm hous'
Il scattered along the river bank, ar
it that from these notices of the disast,
l. would he sent to the nearest town. An
" so it was. Before nghtfall several sma
steam boats arrived, and after that but
4 few honrs elansed before we fonnd ou