Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1882-07-05

on, boat after boat departing with its
load of scorched, half-naked, and SILVER
ing troops, with a slight sprinkling of
women and children, until nearly all
were saved, when the task commenced
of low ering the insens1ble forms of those
who had been hurt by falling spars in
the rush which had taken place on the
discovery of the fire, or had tainted from
excessive fright.
Our boat being scarcely one-third full,
we hauled alongside to receive our quota
of the unfortunate creatures, whom we
handled as tenderly as possible, laying
them in a tier in the stern sheets to the
number of ten, when, having as many as
we could accommodate, we dropped
astern, and shipping our oars, we made
a futile attempt to regain the Royal
Sovereign. Finding that we could not
gain an inch, seized upon the first lull
in the gale to put the tiller hard up,
when the launch swung off, and, catch
ing the next sea board on her bow,
careened SO heavily that she half filled,
when the.second caught her fairly EASTERN
and fortunately righted her, bearing off
some eight or ten fathoms on its boiling,
bubbling crest, and leaving us in a
proper position to scud with safety.
The briny bath exercised reanimat-
ing effect upon several of our insensible
cargo, one of whom-a female-betrayed
the fact of her restoration by loudly de-
handing 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 p
"Merciful heaven what do I hear?-
the voice of my benefactress ?" exclaimed
young man who sat on the front part,
supporting the form of young woman,
who had evidently received fearful in
juries prior to her rescue from the burn
ing deck. SIS this Mrs. Clifford?" he
asked, gently relinquishing his insensi-
BILE burden.
"It is, " responded the lady, instantly
adding, Whoeveryou are, you evident
~ know me, and must know something
of my darling. Oh, have you seen him ?
Is he safe? Tell me, coniure you"
"Would to heaven Icould - exclaimed
the man, pass1onately. "Bili Hunter
would be only too happy to prove his
gratitude to the benefactress of his
wife,
"Oh, Hunter, my child, my Edward,
and my husband"
"Nay, madame, Captain Clifford must
be safe" reioined the man, hastily. 81
saw him myself actively employed in re-
moving the insensible form below, and
he may have saved the child"
"May have" she repeated: "but you
are not certain, Hunter? Oh, you are
/ or ~, &c
than death p And the poor bereaved
mother groaned IN her anguish, and
clasping her hands over her eyes, sat
rocking her body to and fro, and utter
ing that deep, convulsive sob, which be-
trays so fully a broken heart.
"And she interceded so eloquently in
our behalf that my Susan might accom-
pany mel" murmured the soldier, in an
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, concealing 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
the 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 ahoyl Can you accommodate
twenty more ?" I demanded, as my
bowman made fast the line.
"Ay, my lad, hundred! was the
trumpet-toned reply. Haul up, haul up
at once, and clear the track for others! y
We obeyed, gaining with difficulty a
position beneath the gangway, when the
debarkation of our freight commenced,
the insensible wife of the young soldier
being the first attached to the whip by
which the helpless were taken on board.
Mrs. Clifford was the second, the soldier
having devoted himself to her as soon as
he beheld his wife in safety; while [,
Selling upon the first opportunity,
bounded into the Delmar's main chains,
and gained her deck at the moment that
the bereaved mother was relieved from
the whip, whe n, recognizing me, she
rushed to my side, and, grasping my
arm, exclaimed: "What shall l do?
How shall discover the fate of my hus-
band and child?"
"You must be quiet, madam" re-
sponded [, gently. cit is impossible to
learn anything regarding them just now,
or indeed before this gale subsidies, when
) I have no doubt you will find them safe
and sound. They may have reached
some other vessel ere this, indeed, tbs
more than probable they have done so,
since to my certain knowledge but few
of the Wellesleys company are lost"
Bless you p said she. May
| Heaven bless you for your consoling
words Yet I apprehend the worst.
/ Do you think that they have reached
this vessel?"
Probably, madam, but I will ascer-
) tain;" [ replied, and, advancing few
PAGES with the trembling woman still
: clinging to my arm, was about to ask