Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-02-16
julie Fishers Rescue,

"loggers" had finished their work ; and a;
| they came plodding home on snow-shoes
they all agreed that the snow lay from ten
to twelve feet deep on a level In the woods
No wonder, then, when the warm March
sun came to shine upon it day after day,
and the copious spring showers fell, there
should have been very unusual Hood,
or freshet. Every one predicted that wher
the ice should break in the river there
would be grand spectacle, and danger
too, as well and all waited with sons
anxiety for the "break to come.
One morning we at the village were
i awakened by deep roaring, booming,
crashing noise, and sprang from our beds,
crying
1.-The ice has broken up The ice il
running out "
In hardly more time than it takes to tell
it, we were dressed and at the back win
dows, which looked down upon the river
1t was indeed grand sight
Huge cakes of ice of every shape anC
size were driving, tumbling crashing past,
as if in mad race with each other. The
river, filed to OVERLOOKING, seemed III angry
haste to hurl its icy burden down the fall:
| below.
But after few days the river ran clear,
save for the occasional breaking OF some
clam above. Along the margin of the
broad stream, however, there We're here
and there slight indentures, or notches, IL
| the banks, where the ice had escaped the
mad rush of waters, and still chung in con
siderable patches.
1t was on one of these still undisturbed
patches that Julie" Fisher, rough boy
of IA, with several OF his equally rough
comrades, was playing on the lovely morn
ing upon which my story opens.
The lads were not the sons of the steady,
intelligent, church. going inhabitants of this
quiet northern hamlet, but were the sons
of lumbermer," "river-drivers and
"shingle. shavers For some time they
had been having boisterous sport, ventur
ing out upon the extreme edges Of the ice,
and with long poles pushing about the stray
cakes watch occasionally came within their
reach.
At length they grew tired of this, and
began to jump upon ticklish points of ice
and as these began to crack and show signs
of breaking away, the boys would run,
with wild whoops, back to shore, the very
danger seeming to add to their enjoyment.
Then, with poles and "prys," they would
work upon the cracking mass until it float
ed clear and went whirling down the rapid
current.
"Ahoy, boys! p called julie, who was
seemingly their leader Cup yender's big
cake that only wants shove Come on
Let's set 'er a.going!"
No sooner said tnan done. Away went
the noisy fellows to the protecting point OF
ice. A few smart jumps sent it creaking
and groaning, as though still unwilling to
quit It's snug winter bed. One more jump,
and the boys all ran with shout beyond
the place where the ice was cracking off
all save julie.
1t had no. broken clear, and he was de-
termined to set it going, when he would
spring on the firm ice beyond, as he had
done once or twice before.
By this time he was over-bold and moi
sufficiently watchful. A large cake of ict
had come floating down the river unnoticed
either by him or his friends, and striking
the end Of the nearly loosened mass, showed
it out into the swift black water.
Poor julie He ran quickly to the freshly
broken edge-but, alas too late for the
intended spring. The swiftly rushing cur
rent had borne him many yards from the
shore and from his companions.
! There he stood-for an instant in duml
amaze-balancing himself upon his rocking
raft with the pole he had been using. TC
attempt to swim ashore would have beer
useless. He was a clumsy swimmer al
best and the cold, rushing waters ant
! floating ice cakes made swimming almost
| impossible.
lie could not get Off To stay seemed
sure death. Dumb with fright, Tor mo
ment he stood in speeches. terror. Tner
there rang across the wild, black river and
through the quiet streets eff the village
such yell of abject fear as only lusty
lad of that age can give. 1t was cry tina
chilled the heart of everyone who heard it,
A four-days' meeting" was in session
The village church. goers were just issuing
| from their homes in answer to the church
bell, when that pitiful cry and the shouts
OF &c Help Help A boy in the stream :
reached them, and drew them all quickly
to the river bank.
In few minutes the shore was EneC
with excited men and women. Yet al
stood helplessly staring, while poor jul,
on his ice.raft was floating steadily dowr
towards the falls
Never shall 1 forget how he looked as h
stood there in the middle of his floating
white throne There was something al
most heroic in his calm helplessness. Fol
af.er the first wild cry he had not ono
opened his lips.
Downward he fioated, drawn swiftly anC
surely on by the deep, mighty rush o
waters settling into the throat of the cat
aract. The heavy roar from far below
sounded like the luckless lads knell. H
stood but single chance-and that wa
hardly a chance-of his ice-craft lodging
against a tilted.up liam of cakes anC
logs which had piled against jagged ledg
that rose in Upstream, just above tn
brink of the precipice.
This Clam had hung there, wavertnl
In the food, for thirty. six hours. Ever!
moment it seemed about to go off-yet still
it chung, in tremor, as it seemed, at thu
fatal plunge which would dash it to piece
in the laundering maelstrom below.
Good Observation-Disclosures perhaps-st
guided Jules ice.craft that it struck ant
lodged against the liam, just as the hor
rified watchers on shore expected to los
sight of the lad forever in the falls. Il
it will only hang there !" muttered scores
scarcely daring as yet to speak loud word
They could see the cake, with julie oil
it, heaving up and down with the mighty
rhythmic motion Of the surging torrent
and all ran along down the banks, to com
nearer. The boy stood in the very jaws o
death Beneath, the cataract roared AM
hurled up white gusts of spray.
Just at this moment short, thick. Sc
man, with a round, good natured face
Joined the crowd. For moment he stoo'
looking out at the lad, then slapping an
other young man on the shoulder, sal
hurriedly, Isn't there an old batea1
slowed away in your shed, L,nse ?"
"Yes," was the reply.
"Qnick, then p exclaimed the frs
speaker. There isn't moment to lose.
bat, Mac" answered Lanse, as b
hurried after him, "I'm afraid she's n
good; she's old, and she's been stoves
away all winter. Ten to one the old thin
leaks like riddlin' sieve"
"But we mustn't lose chance !" eS
claimed Mac THAT jam will go GU
within half an hour, if it doesn't With
ten minutes.
By this time the two had reached tn
shed. They quickly drew the bateau fror
it's wintering place, and taking the long
light boat upon their shoulders, they ra
rapidly through the village and down t
the river.
Meantime, two or three other men ha
run to fetch "dog warps and 8 town