Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-02-01

IHt htsCuts
It was in the month of February, 1881,
bright moonlight night, and intensely cold,
that the little brig commanded lay quietly
at her anchor inside of the Hook.
We had hard time of it beating about
for eleven days off this coast, with cutting
northeasters blowing and snow and seet
falling for the most of that time. Forward,
the vessel was thickly coated with ice, and
it was hard work to handle her. as the rig
ging and sails were stiff and yielded only
when the strength of the men was exerted
to the utmost. When at length we made
the port, all hands worn down and ex-
hausted, we could not have held out two
days longer without relief.
"a bitter cold night, Mr.. Larkin," said /
TO my mate, as | tarried for a moment
on deck.
The worthy down-easter buttoned his coat
more tightly around him, looked up at the
moon and felt of his red nose before he re-
piled. It's whistle, captain, as we used
to say on the Kennebec. Nothing lives
comfortable out of blankets on such night
as this"
"The tide is running out swift and strong;
it will be well to keep a sharp lookout for
the floating ice, Mr. Larkin."
Gay, ay, sir" replied the mate, and
went below.
Two hours afterward was aroused from
a sound sleep by the vigiant officer
"Excuse me for disturbing you, captain"
said he, as he detected an expression Of vex-
alton on my face, " but | wish you would
turn out and come on deck as quickly as pos
sible."
"Why, what's the matter Mr.. Larkin ?"
"Why, sir, | have been Watching a cake
of ice that swept by at a little distance a
moment ago; l saw something black upon
it-something that | thought moved-the
moons under a cloud and could not see
distinctly, but really believe there's a child
floating out to sea, in this freezing night, on
that cake of ice.'
We were on deck before either spoke an
other word. The mate pointed out with no
little difficulty, the cake of ice, floating off
to leeward, and its white, gittering surface
was broken by black spot-more | could
not make out.
"Get me the glass, Mr.. Larkin the moon
will be out of that cloud in moment, and
then we can see distinctly"
kept my eye upon the receding mass of
ice, while the moon was slowly working her
way through heavy bank Of clouds. The
mate stood by with glass. When the full
light fell at last upon the water with bril-
liancy only known in our northern latitudes,
put the glass to my cyclone glance was
enough.
"Forward, there p shouted at the top of
my voice and with one bound reached the
main hatch, and began to clear away the
little cutter which was slowed away in the
ships yawl.
Mr. Larkin had received the glass from
my hand, to take look for himself. "My
God !" he said in whisper, as he set TO
work to aid me in getting out the boat
"my God, there are two children on that
cake of ice p
Tho answered. NY hall, and walked
lszily aft. In an incredibly short space of
time we launched the cutter, into which Mr..
Larkin and myself jumped, followed by the
two men who took the oars ! rugged the
tiller, and the mate sat beside me in the
stern sheets.
ado you see that cake of ice with some
thing black upon it, lads ?" | cried "put
me alongside of that, and I'll give you
months extra wages when you are paid off"
The men bent to their oars, but their
strokes were uneven and feeble. They
were used up by the hard duty of the pre-
ceding fortnight, and though they did their
best, the boat made little more way than
the tide. This was long chase, and Mr..
Larkin, who was suffering as he saw how
|
double the captains prize; two months
pay; pull, lads, for the love of God, pull !"
A convulsive effort at the oars told how will
ing the men were to obey, but the strength
of the strong men was gone. One of the
poor fellows washed us twice in recovering
his oar, and then gave out the other was
nearly as far gone. Mr.. Larkin sprang for
ward and seized the oar.
"Lie down in the bottom of the boat"
said he TO the man "and, captain, take the
other oar; we must row for ourselves"
took the second mans place; Larkin
had stripped to his Guernsey shirt, and as
he pulled the bow, waited for the signal
stroke. 1t came gently, but firmly and the
next moment we were pulling long, steady
stroke, gradually increasing in rapidity I'M
til the wood seemed to smoke in the oar-locks.
We kept time each by the long, deep breath
ing of the other Such pull We bent
forward until our faces almost touched our
knees, and then, throwing all our strength
into the backward movement drew on the
oar until every inch of the space covered by
the sweep had been gained. At every stroke
the boat shot ahead like an arrow discharged
from bow. Thus we worked at the oars
for fifteen minutes it seemed to me as many
|. hours. The sweat rolled off me in great
drops, and was enveloped in steam gener-
ated from my own body.
"Are we almost up to it, Mr.. Larkin ?" |
gasped out.
"Almost, captain,-dont give up for the
love Of our dear little ones at home don't
give up, captain !!
The oars flashed as the blades turned up
= to the moonlight. The men who piled
them were fathers and had fathers hearts
J. the strength which nerved them at that mo
ment was more than human.
Suddenly Mr.. Larkin stopped pulling and
Y my heart for moment ceased its beating
for the terrible thought that he had giver
, out crossed my mind. But was quickly
treasured by his voice. "Gently, captain
o gently-a stroke or two more-there, tina
I will do; !" and the next moment the boatl
I, side came in contact with something, anC
u Larkin sprang from the boat with his heavy
: leet upon the ice. | started up and, calling
upon the men to make fast the boat to tn,
ice, followed.
3, We ran to the dark spot in the center o
d the mass, and found two little boys, tn
{. head of the smaller nesting in the bosom o
g, the larger both were fast asleep Tn
" lethargy, which would have been fatal bu
for the timely rescue, had overcome then
Mr.. Larkin grasped one of the lads, cut OF
his shoes, tore off his jacket, and then looS
' |
. the cold child in contact with his own warn
body, carefully wrapping over him his grea
coat, which he procured from the boat.
did the same with the other child and W
then returned to the boat and the men, pa
TALLY recovered, pulled slowly back.
The children, as we learned when we sui
sequently had the delight of restoring theI
to their parents, were playing on the ice an
ventured on the cake which had jamme
into the bend of the river ten miles aboy
New York. A movement of the tide set til
ice in motion, and the little fellows wei
borne away on that cold night, and woul
inevitably have persisted but for Mr.. La
kin's espying them as the ice was sweepin
wo out to sea.
~ allow do you feel 2" [ said to the mat
~ the morning after this adventure.
.ar "A little stiff in the arms, captain" Il
J. noble fellow replied, while the big tears
= grateful happiness gushed from his eyes
"a little stiff in the arms, captain, but vel
easy here" and he laid his hand on b
70 manly heart. My quaint, brave down-eastel
lie who lashes the sea into fury, and le
loose the tempest, will care for thee III
H. storm may rage without, but in thy bose
an. peace and sunshine abide always.
pei