The Penn's Grove record., 1884-03-22

1 at times LHe WOuloh VIM VA"
down were completely held back
against the steep sand-bank.
"Therel look therel" cried the old
man, suddenly Selling my arm.
Catching at straws. There; don't
you see-now atop o. that breaker?"
caught sight of a small boat crowd
ed with figures, and then there seemed
to be a tall wave curl over it and |
saw it no more.
"Goneln said the old mar. 81
knowed It'll Nothing could live in such
a Storm"
Lets go to the life-boat and see if
they are going off" said L: but the old
man was intensely gazing out to sea.
"There, Just as 1 SAID, !" he shouted
coarsely, '.iust in time. She's struck"
And then, above the yelling Of the
storm, we could hear a crash and a
wild shrek, that seems to ring through
me now upon a stormy night, when far
inland 1 listen to the bowling wind.
''It's now or neverI" said the old
man, as he ran down toward where the
life boat stood upon its carriage, the
women hanging on to their husbands,
and apparently begging that they would
not dare the perils before them.
The sea had looked fearful enough
from where we stood before; but here,
as close as we dared 60 to the breakers,
it looked perfectly awful, while the
attempt to launch a boat seemed
| absolute madness. 1t was evident that
the men thought so, too, though, as we
came up, one sturdy fellow shouted,
"I'm ready, mates if you're going" a
| remark that elected no response, for
every one stood stolidly gazing out
toward the doomed vessel.
Just then, in the dull haze seward, a
blue light shone out over the water like
a dull star; but still no one moved.
All at once the old man by my side
laid hold of my arm and whispered:
"Give me a lift, sir" and before l knew
hardly what his object was, he had
climbed by my help into the boat.
Now, then, you boys" he shouted
wildly; II can't stand thisI Stand
aside, and let some of the old ones
Gomez"
The spell was broken. Women were
hastily thrust aside, and a boats crew
was soon made up, amid the Shrek
ing and waillng of sweet-heart;s and
wives, who ran about the beach wiring
ing their hands.
Murray for old Marksl'' shouted a
voice at my elbow, and the crowd loud
ly cheered the old man. Then oars
| were shipped and all made ready, the
old sailor Selling the steering a as he
stood up in his place with a life-belt on
and his hat blown off, looking nobler
than ever.
Now, are you all ready?" he shout
ed.
"No, no." was the cry; and in the
hush of expectation, two men rose in
the boat, dashed off their life-belts, and
amid half-muttered groans, leaped out
from their places, and ran up the sands
to the bank, where they disappeared.
1.-TWO more!'' shouted old Marks,
and for a few moments, so dread was
the peril, not a soul moved; then two
stout lads came rushing toward the
boat, pursued by an elderly mana
perfect giant.
"stop them!"h he reared. eyer shant
60, lads"
He came up to them by the boats
side as they were climbing in, and en-
deavored to stop their progress; but in
his turn he Was seized from behino by
a couple Of men, and the two new
corners were in half a minute equipped
for the dire struggle before them and
in their places.
"Let me go!" shrieked the man; but
the others chung to him, as the signal
was given, the carriage backed down
into position, the time accurately
chosen, and with a wild "hurrahl"
heard above the storm, the life boat was
launched.
Ny attention had been SO taken up
that l had ceased to look upon the man
who was struggling to regain his
liberty; but, just as the boat was leav-
ing its carriage, a bystander was
driven violently against me, and the
moment after 1 saw a figure dash
across the intervening space and seize
the side Of the boat; then came the
roar of the storm and the rush of
spray, while f. a few minutes the life
boat was invisible. Then a short
distance off she was seen rising upon a
wave, and then disappearing again into
the dull haze, which, migled with the
coming night, soon shut everything
rom II gaze but the foaming water.
"Over seventy, sir" shouted a voice
In reply to a query. "Old man-o'. wars
man. Been in many a storm, but this
here's awful"
Awful it was; for 50 wild a night
had not fallen upon that part of the
coast for many years; and as the folk
upon the shore gazed in the direction
the boat had taken they shook their
heads and shouted in each others ears.
There was a long and awful pause,
only broken by the shrleking of the
wind, and then came a loud shout,
"Here she comesl" and in another
minute, obedlent to their steersman,
the rowers timed their strokes to a
second, so that the boat, heavily laden,
rode in upon the summit of a giant
wave so far that tweI,y willing hands
were at her side, and she was run right
up the sands, and fifteen ,shivering,
half-drowned fellow-creatures lifted
out and hurried up the shore.
Now, my lads" cried old Marks,
con to the truck with her, and we're