The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1882-04-27

MI. Diakes uGIts SGNu TINS quick
Richard Swing and his mother are going
to drown, and it's to save themr'
The operator took the old envelope,
and read:
captain True, steam-tug Good Heart.
Cromwell Harbor: Steam out at once in search
of small bOat-woman and boy i'm it-CM Dell
Haven three miles; going against the winds
can't last long. JOHN ROs
All right" said the operator, click
ing away at his machine for a minute
or two. and then exclaiming: ITS done
Wait minute, Sis, and i'll tell YOU
whether or not he gets it; wire runs right
down to the wharf.
The minutes went by. Ten had passed
when the answer came back:
'Steam's up; start at once; go myself
:" TIMOTHY TRUE"
The operator did not stay to write it.
i" Run quick and tell your father Cap
tain True is gone already" he said.
Dolly ran, saying to every one she
met: They'll be saved THEY'LL be
savedr' The child got up the belfry
stair, and couldn't cster word. She
could only smile and bow her head and
try to get out the message, which she
did at last.
Captain Rose's eye was on the speck
He dare not take it off lest never to find
D
abroad that Captain Rose had tele-
graphed to Cornwall for tug, and the
burden of fear grew lighter.
In the little boat again and again had
Richard tried to turn its head toward
the land, but with each trial it took in
so much water that he was forced to
/ give up the attempt. Nothing could be
done but keep off and face the boiling
/ sea. Very few words were spoken
Mrs. Swing kept bailing as fast as posi-
/ bic, with only the shell of a horseshoe
crab to work with.
At length came wave like small
/ hill, up which the boat rode gallantly,
and then suddenly Richard shouted:
They're coming for us, mother. l
see a boat just outside the harbor"
Then the tears sprang to Mrs. Swings
/ eyes. She stopped bailing for a moment
to look toward the shore. All she could
see was a wall Of water shutting out the
land.
Courage, mother" Dick said.
Every rise and fall of the oar was a
prayer; every dip of the poor old crab
shell was petition for life.
Out from Cromwell Harbor, seven
miles to the eastward. and hidden from
sight by Bright Head. steamed the
tug Good Heart Never had its Cap
tain stood Watching the sea with more
earnest gaze. Never was steam applied
with more generous hand. Twas the
woman and the boy in the boat out at
sea that lived in the gaze, in the steam
and in the fuel, and Good Heart bore
away with cordial speed till Bright
Head was won and weathered.
81 see 6n' shouted the Captain,
Though how in thunder it's lived to
get there's more'n l Know" and he
gave directions to steam outside.
Richards attention was so divided
between the pillows and the land and
the friendly boat. and Mrs. Swing was
so intent on bailing, that neither of
them saw the tug until it was upon
them, and hailing voice shouted:
"Hold on till we pick you up"
1t seemed as voice from Heaven had
spoken. Even bluff old Captain Rose,
up in the belfry of the church, ejacu-
lated: ''Thank God!" as he Saw the tug
come to.
The shock of the call, the sight of the
black, throbbing tug, friendly as they
seemed, vet came near swapping the
boat, for Richard let it turn, and the
last strength he had was put forth in
holding it Up to the wind until line
was cast off, and even then he had no
power to make it fast. 1t was Mrs.
Swing who endeavored to obey the
commands chat came, but could not.
Finally the tugs boat was lowered.
1t was no easy task to get to leeward
and board the Good Heart, which held
its breath, bracing itself against the
waves almost as a thing of life, to do its
kindly office. Richard and his mother
had been saved.
''Give EN- signal! Give EN- threer'
and the steam-whistle blew three shrieks
that went over the bay and up the har-
Dor and over against the Westinghouse
steeple, until old Captain Rose fell
down on his knees to utter the first
prayer of thankfulness his little Dolly
had ever heard her father offer. Sarah
p. Pricb0rd, IN Our Continent.