Daily Republican., 1881-11-18
WON FROM THE SEA.

goNsyy paChou ny pIOtby SlIOuR CIoueH-
tials, applied to the Lighthouse bu-
reau for the place now hold on the
Goats Head lock, the house Of which
had just been finished, and the lamp
that WAS to be mounted therein daily
expected. As no one on the coast SEEM
ed fortunately to cars for the appoint
ment, l was, after examination IA to
competency and sObriety, put in charge.
I WAS q young man, having just turned
the corner of my twenty-tirst year. An
assistant was given ne. He was an
intelligent young fellow about my own
age. He had followed the sea, and
was as earring as a lion. Onr lives were
monotonous enough at first. 1t is true
we had provided ourselves with a
checker-board, chessmen and cards,
and our library was respectable. 1t
contained four or five hundred books,
mainly rOmanCcs and histories. To
these we devoted ourselves and in the
course of year or two had mastered
their contents. Henry Parsons-that
was my assistants name-seldom went
TO the mainland, and crossed over to
it once month to buy provisions, oil,
imprisonment at all agreeable.
For three years Parsons and myself
led this eventlesa, humdrum existence.
Like prisoners in acell, we were becom-
ing used to it. We rarely exchanged
words. 1t was an effort for US to speak.
When we did open our lips it was to
utter what we had to say in monosyll la
bles, and briefly rs possible.
In the winter of tho fourth year a
terrible storm from the nor nor. west
bore down Opon ua making tho water
tremble and shoot up even as far As the
lantern, while the huge waves, as they
broke against our sure foundations,
made the tower itself tremhle and al
most bend like reed before the blast.
| II the midst of the fearful war of the
elements, Parsons, who stood lnanfully
in the gallery watching the light, his
garments wet to the skin with the
water that leaped high in the air and
fell in showers all over aud about him,
cried to me:
"There isa ship at the otfiug, Mark
SON."
Can you see her?" | cried.
w ITO dl '"ClCu. W. SUC
something black, but tits indistinguish-
able They are sending rockets from
her"
"Whcre is she now?'
"My Cod" he cried. "rhe ship is
drifting towards us. She appears un-
manageable, as if she had lost her helm
They are sending up sisoal rockets of
distress, or danger How can we help
them, snouId the ship come afoul of the
rocks"
He looked ont again, and then, with
ont waiting for an answer, cried:
"The lamp is safe now, Mr.. Markson.
Come, let's 90 down and see If We can.
not help some poor creature to save
his life. We can get out the lifeboat,
and | guess We can manage it some
how"
The brave fellow ran down the steps
in advance of me, and on cautiously
opening the door that gave access to
the rocks on which the tower is placed,
peeped out.
A wave struck him and poured into
the interior of the building. We
watched our opportunity, and when
the water fora moment receded we
sprang out on the platform. Wecl
the entrance securely, then leaped in-
to the liteboat prepared tor action.
We heard grating then q pound
ing noise. The black hulk was aground.
The waves were leaping over her.-A-
round her the sea boiled and lashed it.
self furiously. In the momentary luIl
OF the storm we heard the voices OF
those on board crying for help help!
Even now when | recall tie terror Of
that night my blood curdles and grows
cold in my veins.
We launched the liieboat The wind
and sea were too strong tor rs. We
could but wait and watch. We thought
we saw the great shi p reel TO and fro
like a drunken man, and then from her,
and above the voice Of the tempest,
there came a roar, and tearing grinding
noise; the belabored vessel had parted
We could see in the turbu-
lence of the sea the hull 90 to pieces. 1t
was a paper in the storm. On the
planks, torn from her sides and decks,
we thought we could see human beings:
"Now" shouted my assistant in my
ear: "now let's see if we canno5 save
some of those people"
We pushed into the boiling, surging,
frothing sea. Vigorously We worked |
at the oars. 1t was all in vain. A
white object floating near attracted my
attention. 1t was within arms reach.
l grasped it and drew it beside the
boat. 1t was woman. The face was
upturEed. The eyes were open and
CLASSY. 1t was y corpse. For felp to
take this in | mOtioned rather than
spoke. Pars )ns bent over and shouted
in my ear
ave cannot help the dead. 1t is the
living we must seek and sava,'
A wave struck the corpse, and before
l could secure it, it was torn from my
grasp. again seized my oar and to-
gether we worked slowly toward the
wreck, which was now rapidly break
ing up.
Parsons saw body fastened to a
plank. He thought there might be life
in it. Wepulled toward it. He reach
ed out, leaning far over the side of the
boat. AS he grasped the body tie boat
surged and swung around. In an in
stant my true friend was pulled out in
to the terrible sea. Before could com.
prehend what had happened he was
far out of my reach, beyond all human
aid. My good fellow had lost his life
TO save that of another.
While attempting to control the boat
| saw close to its stern another object.
1t was also on plank. l could see it
move. | leaped aft, and seizing it, drew
it rapidly on board.
Fortunately for me the wind and the
waves carried the liiehoat toward the
lighthouse. 1t was under perfect com
Inand. Again good luck favored me.
The boat was lifted clear upon the rock
and within reach Of tie platform by a
great wave.
With the seeming strength of a giant
lifted my waif of the sea in my arms