The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1883-02-08


moment or two. One might as we'll go
upon such river in an egg shell as in
the stoutest row-boat ever built.
The poor woman with her babe could
be seen from the shore, standing there
alone on the rapidly narrowing strip of
island. Her voice could not reach the
people on the bank. but when she held
| her poor little baby toward them in
mute appeal for help, the mothers there
understood her agony.
There was nothing to be done, how
ever Human sympathy was given
freely, but human help was out Of the
! question. Everybody on the river-shore
was agreed in that opinion. Every
body, that is to say, except Joe Lam
bert. He had been so long in the habit
of finding ways to help himself under
difficulties that he did not easily make
up his mind to think any case hopeless.
No sooner did Joe clearly understand
how matters stood than he ran away
from the crowd, nobody paying any at
tention TO what he did. Half an hour
later, somebody cried out Look
there! Who that, and what's he go
ing to do?' pointing up the stream.
Looking in that direction, the people
away standing on boating field of
basket strapped upon his shoulders,
while in his hands he held plank.
AS the ice-feld upon which he stood
neared another, the youth ran forward,
threw his plank down, making bridge
of it, and crossed to the farther field.
Then picking up his plank. he waited
q n n 10
AS he thus drifted down the river,
every eye was strained in his direction.
Presently some one cried out: ats
Joe Lambert; and he's trying to cross
to the island"
There was shout as the people I'M
derstood the nature of Joe's heroic at
tempt, and then hush as its extreme
danger became apparent.
Joe had laid his plaEs wisely and well, !
but it seemed impossible that he should !
succeed. His purpose was, with the aid |
OF the plank to cross from one ice-tield |
to another until he should reach the |
island; but as that would require a good |
deal of time, and the ice was moving |
down stream pretty rapidly, it was nee
essary to start at point above the |
town. Joe had gone about mile up |
the river before going on the ice, and |
when first seen from the town he had |
already reached the channel.
After that first shout whisper might |
have been heard in the crowd on the |
bank. The heroism of the poor boys |
attempt awed the spectators, and the |
momentary expectation that he would |
disappear forever amid the crushing |
ice-iields made them hold their breath
in anxiety and terror.
His greatest danger was from the [
smaller cakes of ice When it became
necessary for him to step upon one of
these, his weight was sufficient to make
it tilt, and his footing was very inse-
cure After awhile as he was nearing |
the island, he came into large collec-
ton of these smaller ics-cakes For
awhile he waited, hoping that larger
field would drift near him. but after
minutes delay he saw that he was rap
idly floating past the island, and that
he must either trust himself to the
treacherous broken ice, or fail in his at
tempt to save the woman and child.
Choosing the best OF the foes, he laid
his plank and passed across successful
ly. In the next passage, however, the
cake tilted up, and Joe Lambert went
down into the water! A shudder passed
through the crowd on shore.
Poor fellow" exclaimed some ten
der-hearted spectator 'it is all over
with him now"
mo; look, look!' shouted another.
"He's trying to climb upon the ice.
Hurrah he's on his feet again. With
that the whole company of spectators
shouted for Joy.
Joe had managed to regain his plank
as well as to climb upon a cake of ice
before the fields around could crush
him, and now moving cautiously, he
made his way little by little toward the
island.
''Hurrah! Hurrahl he's there at
lastn' shouted the people on the shore
But will he get back agan?' was
the question each one asked himself a
moment later
Having reached the island, Joe very
well knew that the more difficult part
of h S task was still before him, for it
was one thing for an active boy to work
his way over floating ice. and quite an
other to carry a child and lead a woman
upon similar journey.
But Joe Lambert was quick witted
and '.long- headed" as well as brave,
|
save these poor creatures for whom he
had risked his life so heroically. TAX
ing out his knife he made the woman
cut her skirts off at the knees, so that
she might walk and leap more freely.
Then placing the baby in the basket
which was strapped upon his back. he
cautioned the woman against civ ing way
to fright, and instructed her carefully
ahout the met hOd of CROSSING
On the return journey Joe was able
to avoid one great risk. As it was not
necessary to land at any particular
point, time was OF little consequence,
and hence when no large field of ice
was at hand he could wal. for one TO
approach without attempting TO make
use of the smaller ones Leading the
woman wherever that was necessary, he
slowly made his way toward shore,
drifting down the river, OF course, while
all the people of the town marched along
the bank.
When at last Joe leaped ashore in
company with the woman. and bearing
her babe in the basket on his back, the
people seemed ready TO trample upon
each other in their eagerness to shake
hands with their hero.
Their hero was barely able to stand,
however. Drenched as he had been in
the icy water, the sharp March wind
had chilled him to to the marrow, and
one of the village doctors speedily lifted
him into his carriage, which he had
brought for that purpose, and drove
rapidly away, while the other physician
took charge of Mrs. Martin and the
baby.
Joe was a strong. healthy fellow. and
under the doctors treatment of hot
brandy and vigorous rubbing with {
coarse towels, he soon warmed. Then ,
he wanted to saw enough wood for the :
doctor to pay for his treatment, and
thereupon the doctor threatened to
poison m if he should ever venture to
mention pay to him again.
Naturally enough the village people
talked of nothing but Joe Lamberts
heroic deed, and the feeling was gen.
eral that they had never done their