Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1883-09-10
Dick WentWOrth'S Swim.

Dick Wentworth was the poorest
youth in the university, and the
proudest. Without dollar to begin
with, and without any kind of help,
he had made the first two years of
his college course, and meant to
make his way to the end. He did it
by working like a slave and living
like a pauper," as he himself said );
but he did it proudly, with his head
erect. When anything like help was
offered him, he refused it almost re-
sentfully; but he was not too proud
to saw wood for those who could
pay, or to do any honest work for
wages; and he was not too proud to
cook his own food and wash his own
dishes.
At first there were students who.
turned up their noses at Dick Went
worth, and called him pauper, but
after while they began to see that
while Wentworth was as poor as a
pauper he had not trace of the pau
per's spirit. He was hard-work-
ing, Independent gentleman, who re-
spected himself and was respected
by his fellow students.
Still, nobody thought much about
him. He had no intimate friends
and was nobody's hero. He was the
best swimmer in the university, and
was captain of the Students life-sav-
ing crew-to which the government
had furnished life-boat for use on
the lake-but that did not count
much in college life.
There was hurried running through
the college at daybreak one morning,
and loud knock at Wentworth's
door.
'sWhat's up?" he asked, leaping
out of bed.
''Steamer ashore. We're going to
man the life-boat?''
'Pll be with you in half a minute
answered Wentworth and hastily
drawing on his trousers and under
shirt, he ran toward the shore, where
all the students and half the towns
people were gathered.
The scene on which the people
looked was appalling. A large pas
senger steamer lay stranded about
four hundred yards out, and the sea
was bursting her to pieces. Her up
per decks were already mass of
splinters, and shattered doors and
bits of painted bulk-heads were ev-
cry minute thrown up by the pillows
at the very feet of the people on the
shore, telling the sad story of what
was happening out there beyond the
furious serf. The pelting rain and
the driving spray nearly hid the YES
sci from view, but in such glimpses
as were to be had of it the people on
shore could see the passengers and
crew clinging to the wreck. Frag-
ments washed ashore showed plainly
enough that the ships company were
now helplessly awaiting death.
The students of the life saving
crew, with Wentworth at their head
brought their life-boat. to the beach
and prepared to launch it. They
placed themselves in two lines, every
fellow stripped to the waist, and al
the word pushed the boat into the
water. The bow was instantly swung
round by an incoming wave, and tht
boat was driven beamways on the
shore.
A second effort was made will
greater care and a nice calculation
of time between the waves. Th,
boat rose upon the crest of the bill
lows, and the young athletes bent t.
their oars; but the water was tot
strong for them. The surf tossed
the boat back upon the beach, cap
sizing it, and seriously injuring on
of the crew.
eve want a volunteer to TAX
Stokes place." cried Wentworth
whereupon three stalwart young fel
lows offered themselves. ''I'll tax
you, Mason," said Wentworth
you're the best oar. Take you
place."
The boat was righted, and thir'
attempt to launch her was made
For moment it seemed that thi
time success had been attained. Th
boat rose on the wave, and two Wig
| orous strokes of the oars carried he
beyond the curling crest. Then al
oar broke; a rover fell backward
There was moments pause in th
stroke, and the life-boat was dashe,
on the beach by the angry sea. Thi
r time, alas? the good life-boat's rib
were crushed to shapeless mass
and several of the crew were stunne
; by the fall.
A murmur of terrified despair ra
through the crowd, which now includ
, ed every man and woman of the col
lege town. 1t was evident to all tina
f nothing more could be done. Moth
7 ing frazier than life-boat could liv
for an instant in such a sea, an
there was no life-boat to be hao
: The people were dumb with horro
as they realized that there was notf
ing to do but stand there in the pit
less storm and wait for the bodies c