The Republican journal., 1884-05-08

uCSS. IL was tNlucub lJt ulcl
so too, though, as we came up, one
sturdy fellow shouted "Im ready, mates,
you're going," remark that elected no
response, for every one stood stolidly
gazing toward the doomed vessel.
just then, in the dull haze seaward, 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 y and before 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 this. Stand aside,
let some OF the old ones come"
The spell was broken. Women We're
hastily thrust aside, and a boats crew
was soon made up, amid the shrieking
and wailing of sweethearts and wives,
who ran about the beach wringing their
hands.
"Hurray for old Marks :" shouted a
voice at my elbow. and the crowd loudly
cheered the old man. The oars were
shipped and all made ready, the old sail
or SelZing a steering oar as he stood up
in his place with a life belt on and his
hat blown off, looking nohler than ever,
Nov, are you all ready y he shouted.
NO, no. " was the reply; and in the
bush OF expectation two men rose in the
boat, dashed off their life belts, and,
amid half-muttered groans, leaped from
their places and ran up the sands to the
bank, where they disappeared.
"Two more shouted old Marks, and
ia toy II,
il, not a soul moved then two stout lads
came rushing toward the boat. pulsued
by all elderly mana perfect giant
stop them = he roaled. "l er sha'n't
go, lads"
He came up to them by the boats side
as they were climbing in, and endeaVor-
ed to stop their progress; but in his
turn he was seized from behind by a
couple of men, and the two new -comers
were in half a minute equipped for the
dire struggle before them, and in their
places.
Let me CO. shrieked the man; but
the others clung to him as the signal was
given, and the carriage backed down IN
to position. the time accurately chosen,
and with a wild "hurrah :" heard above
the storm, the life boat was launched.
My attention mad been SO taken up
that had ceased 10 look upon the man
VINO was struggling to regain his liber y;
but, just as the boat was leaving its car
mage a hystander was driven yinle; tly
against me, and the moment after saw
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 for a few minutes
the life boat was invisible. Then a short
distance Oft she was seen rising upon a
wave, and then disappearing again in
the dull haze, which, mingled with the
coming night, soon shut everything from
our gaze but the toaming water.
over seventy, sir" shouted a voice
in reply to a query. "Old maui wars
man. Been in many Il storm, but this
here is aWtul.'
Awful it was for 50 wild night had
not fallen upon that part of the coast for
many years and as the folks upon the
shore gazed in the direction the boat had
taken, they shook their heads and sho ut
ed in each others ears.
There was a long and awful pause, on
y broken by the shreking of the wind,
and then came in loud shout: Here
she comes - And in another minute,
0Dedlent to their SteerSman, the rOWers
timed their strokes to a second, 50 that
the boat, heavily laden, rode in upon the
summit of giant wave so far that twen-
ty willing hands We're at her side, and
she was run up the sands, and fifteen
half f-droWned fellow creatures lifted out
and hurried up the shore.
"Now, my lads, cried old Marks, Gun
to the trucks with her, and We're off
again
The boat was soon mounted and every
man at his post, the father of the two
lads taking his place by the side of the
old coXsWaln, for no amount OF perSua-
sion on either side could effect a change
There was another cheer rising above
the storm, and again the gallant crew
were launched into the surf that seemed
to curl around the boat as though to fill
it in an instant. 1t rose and fell, a dark
mass amid the white foam, for an in
slant, and then seemed to plunge into a
bank of foggy blackness, for night had
fallen
could not drag myself away from the
stirring scene around me, for | seemed
held to the spot by strange fascination.
All at olce lurid light shot up, for d
quantity of straw had been set on fire,
and the flames roared and crackle as
dry seaweed and pieces of wood were
heaped up to increase the glare, which
appeared to gid the crests of the waves,
and threw into bold relief the figures
on
some watching eagerly the fringe of
breakers, ready to rush down and secure
anything that might be washed ashore
from the wreck
More straw was heaped upon the fire,
and the flames and sparks rushed inland
as they rose with the mighty current of
| air and darted across the sand-ban
Out seaward all seemed blank darkness,
and the eyes strained after the life boat
were for a while strained in vain.
All at once there was cry Of "IIere
she comes.' but it was prolonged into a
wild wall of despair, for by the light from
the fire the boat could be seen broad
side on and close ashore and then, after
| tossing about for a moment, she was
| dashed, bottom upwards, upon the sands.
There was rush to aid the men strug-
Cling in the surf Some were dragged
ashore; some scrambled unaided from
the water, while more than one was
sucked back by the undertow but by
the lfe-belts they were kept atloat 4; and
at last, more or less hurt, the whole crew
was ashore three being carried up tC
the village insensibe.
| now learned that about half way tC
the vessel the steersman's oar had snap
| ped in two, and the boat fell into the
trough of the sea, when, in their efforts
to right her, couple more blades were
broken; wave swept over them, and
two men were washed from their seats
but they regained their places, and then
with the dread of death upon them. the
boat became unmanageable in theil
hands; for in spite of the efforts Of the
coXswain, the men appeared panic c-strick-
en-, and roWed at random.
The light that glared upon the shore
now showed that it was completely
strewn with the wreck; and | looked
with horror upon the various signs which
so plainly disclosed the fate of the good
ship. Spar, plank, beam and cask en-
tangled with rope, were being churned
over and over in the sand and twice
saw something dragged ashore and car
| rjed aWav which sant a chuddar throunb