Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1884-11-20


murmuring at the delay, and then Look
ed at this commonplace boy. Could he
help us when these experienced men
were po%erIess? Should l put these
fifty ives into his hands? While these
thoughts were rapidly passing through
my mid, Joe bad gone off. and was lost
to sight in the storm. He soon came
back, and confidently said he could find
the way home if would give him per-
mission. There was nothing else to do,
and l told him to make the effort.
He did not attempt to move the sleighs,
but calling together six of the larger
boys. he briefly told them our situation,
and that he wanted them to do exactly
what be told them. A sense of our dam
ger and their own weakness made them
entirely willing to obey him.
After carefully noting which way the
wind was blowing and the direction of
the horses heads, be started straight off
TO the right with his little company.
Walking away into the storm until they
were nearly out of sight, he halted his
little command and left one of the boys,
with instructions not to move from his
post, but be ready to answer any sigual
or call made to him. Then going on un-
til the first was nearly lost to sight, be
posted second. and so proceeded until
the six boys were all strerched out in a
line, each one barely able to distinguish
his nearest neighbOr.
All this was done 10 a few minutes,
but it seemed long time to us, for the
storm was increasing in fury every mo-
ment; the horses were becoming unman-
ageable, and some of the younger pupils
were crying from the increasing cold.
Presently Joe appeared alone and ask
ed me to go with him. We passed quick
ly along the line of his telegraph" as
he called it, and not far from the last
boy i'll the line we halted. where a sight
presented itself which nearly paralyZed
me with terror.
An immense black field lay before Us,
which We saw was the terrible outlet
of the lake.
The mighty current of the Mississippi,
released from its long imprisonment.
was rushing and roaring like a mountain
nearly a mile wide and one
hundred feet deep. The water was of
lnky blackness compared with the sur
rounding snow, only where it boiled up
pillows.
Had our sleighs continued in their
course a few minutes longer, we should
all have been plunged into the river,and
not one of US could have escaped de-
5tructiOn.
After looking at the water a moment,
Toe said: Il know where we are now,
and can soon get all safe home again"
We retraced our way back TO the
,leighs, taking up our telegraph" of
boys as we went. When we got back to
.he sleighs Joe carefully made a circuit
around them and noticed the direction
n which the storm was coming, then
four more boys, making ten in
all, he started out as before, but in near
y an opposite direction. When the bows
we're all retched out in line, reaching
away into the unknown darkness, the
,leighs started along the line. 1t re-
Iuired all the efforts of the drivers to
make the poor horses face the storm
which was beating hercely in their
faces.
AS we passed each sentinel, or tele-
graph boy, he ran along the line to the
asst one, where he found Joe, who then
III.
Haystaking the lead himself.
This was repeated three times, when
word came to US from the head of the
Inc that gun had been heard. We
low drove rapidly along the line, tax
ing up the telegraph boys as we went,
and soon came to Joe, standing alone
md listening intently.
We all stopped, and presently heard
,he dull boom of gun, and then three
,tners in quick succession. We knew
his was a signal for US, and hope cheer
ID every heart.
Taking Joe into the sleigh, our driver
lrged his horses in the direction of the
.uus, which we now heard every min>
lte; but the darkness was so intense we
.oud see nothing.
But presently, when one of the guns
vas fired, We saw flash. and then an
,tberI Then came rolling volley and
long hurrah of mems voices! We re-
,Iied as well as we could, but the howl
ng wind was against us, and they could
lot hear US. The sound Of the guns
low came to us more distinctly, and the
lorses seemed to know their way home,
or without urging from the driver,they
prang boldly forward, facing the storm.
Soon we came in sight of row of Ian
erns, then huge bonfire on shore burst
nto flames. and a moment later the
lights in the windows were plainly seen,
md We were all safe.
Tears of joy were shed and prayers of
hanksgi ing went up in that village
hat night, when the story of our loss
nd rescue was told.
l.. l.
that he had done anything
Unusual; but his noble deed was in eye>
y ones mind. and all were resolved that
le should not be forgotten.
One of the wealthiest men in the viii
age. whose daughter was one of those
aved by Joe's skill aAd courage. resolv>
d o make him a present of hDe gold
watch and chain.
But The pupils demanded the privi-
sge of sharing in the gift; so the poor
st child in the school was allowed to
Ontribute toward The purchase of the
watch. 1t was all arranged before we
lept that night. and our village jeweler
with willing heart, for he, too, had
hid who had been saved sat up a late
our engraving a suitable inscription on
be watch-case.
In the morning there were many mys-
erious gatherings and whispered cons
ultations by the pupils, in which l was
Ot allowed to participate; but it was
vident that some unusual event was to
ccur, for at the ringing of the believes
v one was in his seat, and the spare
eats were all rilled by their parents and
riends.
For the first time Joe was late; he had
cen purposely detained by seme of the
len in the village, who were ip the Sc
ret. and not permitted to come until af-
er our usual opening exercises.
When he opened the door and step
ed into the school room, he was greeted
Y storm of applause from the pupils.
Ie stood beside the teachers desk = mo-
lent, astonished and bewildered by this
nusual reception. Again the elapping