Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1886-03-04

81 40 VAA ZIG UoJ oV" VIZ "A my a-ASett t~A-~>
him and the men would go aboard one
ofthe other barges.
It's the Mixer, sure enough, says i;
Just coming into the gap. But what on
earth is she whistling 50 long for9'
There must be something wrongl Z
says Frank
without another word we dropped
our poles, ran down under the bridge to
where the boats was, and jumped into q
skiff just about the size Of that there.
We pulled for.the gap, and pretty soon
we could see the Mixer coming in, SEEM
ingly all right, but still Whistling. We
couldn't see what there was behind her,
as she hid the scows some, and the front
scows hid them behind.
As we came racing along, old Cap
tain Dolby dropped bis pull on the whis-
tie, and run to the Mixers bow.
g ssQuickl' he called. Go down the
old channel and save 'emp
"Whog / cried back
''sThe Mary Starbuck's broke loose? I"
he roared.
+" is mother on board9' we asked.
eyes. Oh, boys, hurry upp
s'Maybe you can understand how that
boat began to travel We knowed
mother and Sally was drifting down out
side the .Hog's-back, straight for Mag
ara Fallsl
"There was bunch Of people standing
together on the Starbuck. When they
saw us, they separated little and threw
up their hands beckoning. Then I saw
they were four women. had clean for
got all but mother and Sallyl
Crank turned his head too, and gave
great gasp as he took in the situation.
We could not possibly take more than
three of them on the skiff There would
be big risk in taking more than two by
the time we could reach her. To get
ashore would need all our strength and
wind. We stopped rowing stroke,
thinking of going back fora bigger boat.
But what was the usea Before we could
work back to the bridge, the Starbuck
would be over the falls. Some one had
ought to be saved; SO we put in big
strokes again.
Before we reached the Mary Star
buck, she had got into very swift water;
it was smooth, though, for some distance
lower. The women were all quiet, ex-
cept Kitty RoIston; she was crying and
laughing and shrieking by turns-hys-
teriky.
:" 4 knew you'd come, boys said
mother, trembling, but looking brave
enough. She was a pretty heavy woman,
Frank helped her down into the stern Of
the skiff. Now the Starbuck had swung
round, and we were on her DOWNSTREAM
side.
Quick, Sallyl' said l.
'sBut Kitty Rolston pushed Sally back.
Jane made no move She was kneeling
down and praying. guess she saw a
the start that they couldn't all be saved
How well I mind her white face-some-
tong like an angels it was then-and her
voice SO sweet and steadyi
"'Oh, Lord, deliver themr she was
saying over and over again.
Il held Kitty back. Quick, Sally 7
l said again.
/" Why not let Kitty in frst?' said
Sally, hanging back.
we can't take more than two, told
her
sefYes, we can, says Frank; we can
take three, janet
ss'Take Kitty, said Jane. I will stay
till you come back
1--WE can't come back, said Frank.
Take Kitty, said Jane again.
sThere wasn't any time to argue All
this passed in half minute. Kitty got
into the skiff; then Sally. The gunwaIe
was down within three inches of the
water then. l didn't think any of us
would get ashore.
Leave gop Ishouted to Frank. Such
an agony as there was in that boys facel
He held out his arms to Jane She came
forward swiftly and kissed him.
g The good Lord have thee in His
holy keeping, she said. Then he gave
an awful groan and | showed off
II tell you, it was terrible thing to
leave that grill Seemed as if we had
ought all to stay. Seemed, somehow, as
if we were forsaking her cowardly. But
we had sense enough to know it was all
right. She dropped down on her knees
again and crossed her arms over her
breast and bowed her head.
i looked at mother. She was clutch
ing the gunwhale and looking dreadfully
white and scared now. Sally held her
arm around Kitty Rolston.
Down where we were then the rapids
seemed to crash and yell and hold up
white arms for US. There was long,
smooth fall and rise like a very easy bill
low getting into the water as we made
for shore 1t was terror how close the
big breakers seemed
frank pulled the mightiest stroke
then that ever man pulled. Every time
he came back his oars bent like bow.
but we had made them ourselves and
could trust them. guess his eyes were
never taken off Jane kneeIing there on
the Mary Starbuck.
II looked at her pretty often, too,
when ! wasn't looking at the white face