Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1884-05-02

linen sne Is encompassed by the racing
breakers.
''Starboards'
Over went the wheel to starboard, her
head swings to port. Then comes o
peremptory-
steady
''Steady it is" sings back the helms.
msn. rs back went the wheel to meet
her; but not TO stay. Slowly it went
over again TO starboard as the expert
steersman holds her under control
She Is now over the bar, encircled in
turmoil and uproar, save in the narrow
channel she moves in. On each side,
almost alongside. the winrows race
with the speed of wild horses. She is
quivering in every timber under the
rapid play of the engines; then there
came fearful crash, and the deck is
Immediately deluged with water. The
mate thunders:
''Starboard littlen'
The wheel revolycs slowly over, stops
turning moment, and then is whirled
swiftly back TO port. She steers wildly
and feels the bottom. \ monster wave
came sweeping in from seaward. Just
astern. it is solid, heaped-up hill of
black water, wrinkled and ridged UP to
its crest; but on either flank it is steep
winrow OF churning foam. With a for
ward bound it Overtakes the steamer,
reaches under her and clutches her in
its Irresistible embrace. High over the
horrid tumult is heard the mate thunder
ing peremptorily:
"Hard-a-pOrt! Hard down! Go ahead
fastr'
Almost buried in the brine a glance
reveals the wheel swiftly going over to
port. Over and over as only a wheel
IS made to turn in moments of deadly
peril. Tinkle, tinkle, sounds a bell
down below where the engineer stands
with hand on the throttle. On and on
races the wave, still clutching the
steamer. which trembles like fright
ened bird. Still holding the wheel hard
down, the steamers head is spinning
around to starboard, and the helms
mans eyes are riveted on the mate.
The wave sinks from under her, she
shoots around a low sandy point of
land, and the mate, smiling all over his
face, calls:
STEADY"
The next moment she dropped anchor
c'ose TO the Swallow in smooth water
Outside, the wild wall of the tempest
and the thunder of the breakers Kept
their revels, and all night long the vivid
lightning and pealing thunder combined
TO make the rescued mariners and pas
Sengers mindful of their security. In
the morning the storm went down. and
by the next day with thankful hearts
they recrossed the bar, now no longer
looking Sd terrible. Outside the bar
the two vessels parted with prolonged
cheers.
When the Swallow reached New
York the mate received letter inviting
him TO take command of the Ella. He
laid it before the skipper, who warmly
congratulated him and advised him to
accept the responsibility. Before leav-
ing for his new duties the owners of the
Swallow gave all hands grand blow.
out In an uptown hotel; made speeches
about heroism, GOODNESS and courage.
The popping of the corks sounded like
the barking of muskets between the
pickets of opposing armies, and the
stories and songs were the best of their
kind. In those days we did not have
such an ALFRED hurrah about the lower
classes and the best people. But in
good time the distinctions came.
Three or four years rolled BY and
then came the war of the rebellion.
From the Highland light to Key West
you could not see the shadow of a sail.
The fleets Of schooners were idle. Briggs
and barks and ships were tied up TO the
docks or had hoisted English or Dutch
colors and sailed in other waters. The
Cfn INT tn
navy and did excellent service wherever
they went. In 1866 in the battles
yaround Richmond, n Confederate light
battery was posted at a point on the
South Shore Railroad. Around it were
surgng thousands of armed mn in
desperate efforts to carry the position.
Prom twenty directions came the
screaming shells, which continually ex-
plodel in and around the position.
Suddenly the continuous thunder
ceased, and over the brow Of the hill in
front appeared squadron after squadron
of cavalry. On the dead gallop they
came straight for the battery. Over
their heads flashed the sheen of the
sabers which advanced like waves of
the ocean. What could the gunners do?
Before each piece was fired half score
OF times the troopers were sweeping
| through the battery. Posted in
thicket in the rear the Confederate in
fantry moved out to meet the charge.
But at breakneck speed Sheridan's
dragons rode after the gunners. cleav-
ing them with the saber. On the dead
run came tall artillery man and close
behind him n trooper with saber aloft
ready to cut him down. CHANGING over
his shoulder the gunner sees the hope
lessness OF his case and turning short
around he lifts his hands over his head.
In an instant the trooper is upon him
Pulling up shortly the two men shake
hands in plain sight of the contending
forces the Confederates are utterly
routed. and of the men composing the
light battery only one survived the
slaughter. That was the tall gunner
who was Overtaken by the trooper.
His name was Anthony James, and the
trooper was the engineer OF the Ella
j. ID. Goldrick. ia Boston Times.