River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1886-05-06

Help the passengers in first!"
He sprang into the cabin.
The room occupied by Mrs. Barton
and her daughter was half-fooded with
water.
Mabel. who sat with her arms about
her mother, up to her knees in water
uttered cry as Morton burst into the
apartment.
Can do anything for you, Miss
Mabel?' faltered Mr.. Tomtit, peer.
ing down from the cabin stairs.
At that moment the crash of the bull
warks to starboard, as they were
broken in by a sea, was heard.
Tomtit, not waiting for an answer
to his question, uttered cry OF terror
and, running on deck, threw himself
into boat. now alongside.
Come! comet" he cried to the sail
Ors on deck. Jump in! jump in! anC
and pull me ashore! The ship II
breaking up! Quick! quick! for God
saken'
At that moment Morton appeared
on deck with Mabel in his arms.
With much difficulty he got her ints
the boat, which was now tossing wild
ly.
Tomtit was too busy holding on with
both hands to the thwarts to afford any
assistance.
Ordering a couple of sailors into the
boat to watch over the young girl and
save her from being washed from hen
place. Morton saying he would now &C
and try to bring Mrs. Barton up, hur
ried back to the cabin.
He had scarcely entered it when, as
the ship made a violent plunge, a few
of the beams above the old lady :
berth, fell in, barring his further pro-
gress.
He ran back to procure an AK.
AT the same moment loud, crack
ing sound warned him that the ship
would soon part amidship and go to
pieces.
The tossing boat was also in danger
of being stove in.
In fact, the quarter boat had al.
ready been smashed by lowering, SC
that the long boat, now alongside,
was the only one remaining.
MortOn's decision was quickly tax
en-.
To wait until Mrs. Barton could be
got out from the debris of timbers
about her berth, and brought up,
would be to insure the destruction OF
every person aboard; for by that time,
the ship would have gone to pieces.
The young captain therefore resolv-
ed not to wait-at least not to keep
the others waiting.
He ordered all the sailors into the
boat. When they were there, he said:
Now, lads, pull for shore. There
is a sand beach yOnder, where you
may be able to land in safety"
Come on, Captain!' cried the mate.
mo, my duty is here. | will not
being aboard"
My mother! My poor mother?'
walled Mabel, wringing her hands.
Il will not forsake her.
And she tried to get to the deck.
The mate gently restrained her.
ut is for the best. Miss Barton,
cried Morton. II am going to stay in
order that can try to save your moth
er. Goodbye.
MIR. Tomtt will stay and help you. "
cried Mabel.
Really" gasped Tomtit, IL don't
think / would be of any use. For
Gods sake, let us start before we are
all drownedn
With blow of his ak Morton sew
cred the warp, and the boat in a mo-
n1ent was whirled away from the ship.
The captain rushed into the CABIN.
He worked with the strength of a
young lion, with the WE CT up 10 his
hips,
Timber after timber gave way be-
meath his vigorous blows, until at last
he forced a passage to the invalid S
berth.
just then an ominous sound reached
him.
1t was the grinding swapping noise
of the vessel as her timbers gave away
amidships.
Morton realized that he would not
have time to drag Mrs. Barton on
deck.
lie carried her into the cabin, how
ever, attached life-preserver TO her,
and then secured her aud himself to a
large beam.
He had scarcely done so when, with
a laundering crash, the ship parted,
breaking up.
Amid the debris of whirling timbers,
ropes and spars Morton struggled with
his charge to keep her head
above water.
At last the waves washed both, half
senseless, upon the beach. where they
were picked up by those VINO had safe
IL reached the shore in the boat.
Mrs. Barton and her daughter were
very grateful to Morton for his noble
conduct.
TO think of his risking his life, and
taking so much trouble for an old, use
less. paralytic woman like myself
said Mabel's mother to her child, with
tears in her eyes.
How different his conduct from Tom
tit's!' satd Mabel. "Tomtit thought
only of himself--was,i in fact, too fright
ened 20 think of any one else. He wanted
the men to pull ashore and leave you
and the rest of us in the lurch. After
that. mother. | hope"
but. my child, he is rich. Surely
YOU will not refuse to marry him?"
Il cannot marry SO selfish person,
answered Mabel. Think of it, mother
think of his conduct to-day"
1T was bad. but Well, well, child,
do as you like.
Having obtained this permission,
Mabel fastened 10 inform Tomtit that
she had changed her mind, and would
never be his wife.
A few days later the eastaways were
picked up by vessel bound to Boston.
Before it arrived there Mabel was the
promised wife of Captain Morton.
They were married few months
later.
The captain, who had some money
saved. built a house, and insisted on
Mrs. Barton's always making her home
with her daughter.
The three are very happy together.
Morton is now a wealthy ship owner,
and Mrs. Barton has many reasons for
feeling thankful that herd'ughtsr mar
ried him instead of Tomtit, The latter
proved to be a worthless adyenturer
and gambler, whose story of riches and
the fortune be was heir to was a mere
fabrication.
AWoman's scheme.
The Washington Capital heard a