The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1882-06-30


t turned inboard, shouting, ''a lighter boat =
r Lower away the gig % shouted some one
on deck, when, pausing no longer, Ieaped
from the rail into the launch, followed By
the intrepid soldier.
Scarce minute elapsed ere the Delmar's
gig was down, and five of my men, the sol
dier and myself, safely seated on her
thwarts, when an unrestrained use of our
knives severed the davit-tackles, and we
were free.
"Bear her of with your oars, and ship all,
my lads 70 1 exclaimed, vainly endeavoring
to find the rudder, when, abandoning the
search, grasped the loom Of the after oar,
which the soldier had secured, and lent nv
strength toward the impulsion of the buoy
ant craft through or over the maddene d
billows, while from the Delmar's deck came
a cheering shout:
"Give way, my lads, my noble hearts, and
may Heaven speed your
We did give way, each stroke OF the oars
making the little boat fairly leap from the
brine, while the life-b boat model on which she
| was constructed rendered us secure from ali
danger of being swamped. And it was fol-
tunate for us that her thwarts, stern-sheets
and dias were air-tight lockers. Had thev
been otherwise nothing could have prevent
| ed US from going down, inasmuch as we
were half-full of water ere we had accom-
| plished half the distance to the wreck.
| We had made the passage to the Delmar in
the short space of four minutes, but our
passage from her to the wreck consumed
four times that period and tenfoId the exer-
| tion, while In few words the young soldier
informed me of the cause of his daring
He had married without the consent Of his
colonel, and the regiment being soon after
ordered on foreign service, he in vain sought
permission for his wife to accompany him.
Colonel Ross was inexorabIe, until his dauph-
ter, the young wife OF Captain Clifford, es-
poused the cause of the anguish-stricken Su-
san, and ventured to intercede in her behalf
He could deny his daughter nothing, so he
consented, promising that she should take
Susan into her service. by which means he
would be spared the charge Of suspending an
established rule in her case. In this manner
had the youthful soldier and his young wife
been spared the pain of separation, and in
return for that kind intercession he was now
proving his gratitude.
At length we reached the burnin wreck,
when new difficulty presented itself. How
were we to board il? To attempt such a
feat to leeward was worse than folly, for the
wreck, relieved of its top hamper, rode part
ly to the e5b, which was new setting strong,
heaving the dismantled hull into the trough
of the sea, which made frequent breaches
Overiher, retarding the progress of the flames,
and preserving almost entire her starboard
side.
n at 70 For \
have been equal madness and we were de-
batting upon the feasibility of an attempt to
board by the wreck of the mizzen topmast,
which hung dropping to the surface from the
ster n, when Hunter demanded
"How near can you go with safety, sir ?'
within two boats LENGTH 1 replied.
'Then sheer in" said he, "and I will
swim the rest"
Nonsense! You couldn't - replied ],
startled by the proposition.
90 have accomplished feats as dangerous
for less momentous object, said he. 'T'H
try it. I can but fail %
"Give way gently, men P' said 1, avoiding
a reply for moment, in order to consider
the proposal in all its bearings, when the
boat, losing head way and being to windward,
began to close with the wreck.
We were three boats length, when he
dropped his oar and was about to spring, but
l restrained him, saving "Hold on you
will have better chance by that spar over
the stern, but how can you reach the boat If
you are fo rtunate enough to find the child?"
"Let me but find it, he exclaimed, "and
can afford to trust for safetyrin Him who
rules The wind and waves
We were stern to, and within boats
length of the wreck at the moment, when,
singing to the crew to give way, 1 exclaimed
"Go. then, in His name, and here's 10 90
with youl''
And the next instant we were both strug-
Cling in the kissing brine.
A minute later and we were clambering up
the top mast, from which we passed on deck,
where we were obliged to pause, our passage
being cut off by the destruction of the main
deck from the main hatch aft, portion of the
weather-sid forward remaining unscathed.
''If the child lives uDrescued, it is there.
SIR" said Hunter indicating portion of the
foremost. with heap of smoking canvas
which lay along the weather-side, Just for
ward of the ehesstree.''
Follow me, then,' said l. briefly and
clambering over the quarter-rail l crawled
along outside the buiwark. ciineing to the
chained hammock rail, until reached the
forward channels, when 1 bounded inboard,
followed by my gallant companion.
at was here found my wife and, thank
heaven!" the ehildis here alive, he exclaimed,
as the faint wall of aninfant saIuted our ears.
It was but the work of a minute to clear
away the mass which concealed the infant,
whom we found lying beside the wreck of the
spar, while the chaTred weather rigging had
fallen in such manner as afforded it protec-
tion from the feet of those who must have
bassed and repassed the spot in the hurry
and excitement of abandonment.
Hunter clasped the child in his arms, and
spurning all my proffers of aid, preceded me
to the taffrail by the same dangerous path we
had previously trodden, when, the boat be-
ing near at hand, he fearlessly committed
himself and charge to the mercy of the
waves. My gallant crew, being prepared for
the event., were ready, and fortunately able
to render him prompt and efficient aid, scarce
a minute elapsing ere they had him safe on
board. My rescue followed, of course, and
was effected with greater dificuIty, a noun
tain billow breaking while l was immersed
and heading me and the boat asunder, when
nearly two minutes passed ere she came with
in nv reach At length l WAS in her stern
sheets again, and few minutes later we
dropped alongside of the Delmar, where our
SUCCESS WAS alra adv bYnopur apd xrylara 0nr