The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1882-06-15

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taken place on the discovery of th,
fire, or had tainted from excessive
fright.
Our boat being scarce one third full
We hauled alongside to receive oul
quota of the unfortunate creatures
whom we handled as tenderly as posi-
BILE. laying them in tier in the stern
sheets, to the number of ten, when hav
ing as many as we could accommodate
we dropped astern, and skipping oul
oars we made futile attempt to re-
gain the Royal Sovereign. Finding
that we could not gain an inch, seized
upon the first lull in the gale to put the
tilier hard up. when the launch swune
oil, and catching the next sea broad on
her bow, careened 30 heavily that she
half-flled, when the second caught he,
fairly astern, and fortunately fighted
her, bearing of some eight or ten
fathoms on its boiling, bubbling crest,
and leaving ps i'll proper position to
scud with safety.
The briny, bath exercised reanimat.
ing effect upon several OF our insensible
cargo, one of whom-a female-be.
trayed the fact of her restoration by
loudly demanding her child.
"My child my child Where is
my little Edward?' she demanded, in
tones of thrilling anguish. "Tell me, ,
for the love of heaven, If any of you
have seen my child"
"Merciful Heaven what do hear ?
the voice Of my benefactress ?" e1-
claimed young man, who sat on the
front part, supporting the form of a
young woman, who had evidently re-
ceived fearful ipiuries prior to her
rescue from the burning wreck. els
this Mrs. Clifford p he asked, gently
linquishing his insensible burden.
:" 1t is," responded the lady, instantly
adding, "Whoever you are you evi-
IDENTIFY know me, and must know some
thing of my darling. Oh, have you
seen him =? Is he safe? Tell me,
coniure you"
"Would to Heaven I couldl" ex-
claimed the man, passionately. "Bill
Hunter would be only too happy to
prove his gratitude to the benefactress
of his wife"
ooh, Hunter, my child, my Edward,
and my husband"
"Nay, madame, Captain Clifford
must be safe, rel joined the man, hastily.
" | saw him myself actively employed
in removing the insensible from below,
and he may have saved the child"
MAY have" she repeated; but you
not certain, Hunter2 Oh, you are net
certain, and this suspense is worse than
deathl" And the poor bereaved mother
groaned in her anguish, and clasping
her hands over her eyes sat rocking
her body to and fro, and uttering that
deep, convulsive sob, which betrays 80
fully breaking heart.
"And she interceded 30 eloquently
in our behalf that my Susan might ac-
company mel murmured the soldier,
in en- audible tone, as he resumed his
seat and his former burden, on the
pallid brow OF which he pressed fond
kiss, adding, "My poor wife! Would
to Heaven you had remained with my
parents; you would have escaped this
suffering, and perhaps death!" And
the gallant fellow bowed his head, con-
cealing his face in his hands, probably
to hide the tears which were an honor
to his manhood, since called forth by
the suffering and probable fate of one
who had forsaken friends and home to
follow his uncertain fortunes.
A minute later We rounded to under
thu counter of and received line from
the Delmar transport, alongside of and
into which one boat was already dis.
charging her freight of rescued.
"Ship ahoy Can you accommodate
twenty more p demanded, us my bow
line made fast to him.
"Av, my lad, a hundred |" was the
trumpeted reply. "Haul up, haul up
at once, AMI clear the track for others |"
We obeyed, gaining, with difficulty, a
position beneath tho gangway, when
the debarkation of our freight COM
the insensible wife of the
young soldier being the first attached to
the whip 10y which the helpless were
taken on board. Mrs. Clifford was the
second, the soldier having devoted him.
self to her as soon as he beheld his wife
in safety, while I, seizing upon the first
opportunity, bounded into the Del
mars main chains, and gained her deck
at the moment that the bereaved
mother was relieved from the whip,
'ide, and grasping my arm, exclaimed:
'' What shall do? How shall dis
cover the fate of my husband and
child?"
"You must bo quiet, madame" re-
'ponded I, urgently. at is impossible
% learn anything regarding them just |
low, or indeed before thus gale sub
jides, when l have no doubt you will |
ind them safe and sound. They may
lave reached some other vessel ere this. |
indeed, 'tis more than probable they
lave done 80, since to my certain |
but few of the Wellesley's |
company are lost"
Bless you y said she. 'May heaven |
,less you for your consoling words
Yet apprehend the worst. Do you
hink that they have reached this yes
el ?"
Probably, madame, but I will ascer-
ain," | replied and, advancing a few |
,aces with the trembling mother still |
'linging to my arm, was about TO ask |
I any one of the rescued answered to |
he name of Captain Clifford, when the |
'oung soldier elbowed his way through |
he crowd, exclaiming: "Mrs. Clifford |
drs. Clifford I! l have found him I"
"Found whom ?" she demanded, Wild |
y. "Whom have you found 2"
"Captain Clifford, your husband,
na'am-"
Sand my child my Edward Speak |
What OF himP But lead me to my |
he will tell me ALL"
The young soldier guided her through |
he crowd in silence; while deeply in
crested in the meeting about to take |
lace. | followed to where a gentleman |