Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1890-11-07

liable to founder any moment and
leave him at the mercy of the waves.
In anticipation OF such an event he
removed his coat, vest and boots, so as
to be incumbered as little as possible.
There were several pieces of rope in
the boat and he fastened them to his
body so that he could use them to bind
pieces of the boat together in case it
should founder, and thus make rude
raft, which would assist him greatly to
keep afoat. He was kept quite busy
bailing out the frail craft with an old
tin pail, which happened to be in the
boat.
1t was about three o'clock in the aft
ernoon when he commenced his peril
GUS voyage, and it was with no little
anxiety he saw the sun go down, and
wondered if he should ever see it rise
again.
1t seemed to him that the long weary
hours of darkness would never pass,
but at last it began to grow light in the
east.
He had eagerly hoped that daylight
would show a vessel near him, but he
vainly scanned the horizon in search of
one.
The wind veered suddenly after day
light and blew him and his little boat
westward up the lake.
He was wet to the skin with the fly
ing spray, and the heat of the sun as 1T
rose proved very welcome to him.
All day he drove before the wind with
out seeing any ship, and night found
his little ship apparently as sound as
when he embarked in it.
The second night was one Of weary
watching and laboring to keep the boat
from swapping.
The wind shifted again in the night
and blew from the west driving him
back toward the east.
Daylight came at last, but found no
ship in sight
The wind began to blow hard and
soon had raised to perfect gale.
He was almost worn out with fatigue,
exposure and hunger and he felt that
he would be unable to hold out much
longer.
Suddenly the little boat, which had
weathered the storm so long, went to
pieces, and he found himself struggling
in the waves.
Ho was an expert swimmer, and by
hard work he managed to keep afloat
and lash together two of the largest
pieces of the wrecked craft with the
ropes he had saved. Clambering up on
this rude craft, he found to his relief
that it would sustain his weight, and
that 1t was much easier to cling to it
than he had supposed it would be.
Life seemed doubly dear to him, now
that its continuance appeared so un-
certain, and he determined to struggle
to the last with the elements for an ex-
istence.
The afternoon was half gone when his
eyes were gladdened by the sight Of a
sail bearing directly toward him from
the west.
How slowly it seemed to him the ves-
sci approached, and his mind was filed
with the fear that she might tack off in
some other direction before he was seen.
But she came steadily on till within
about half mile, when they saw him.
The ship came as close to him as il
could, and then lay to while boat was
lowered
Joy and hope had taken the place oil
despair in Harry's heart when he saw
| that his rescua was certain
The men soon had him in the boat
with them, and then the reaction came
and he tainted.
Kind hands lifted him to the deck Of
the vessel and carried him below, where
he received every attention which the
men could give him.
The vessel was bound for Oswego
only fifteen miles from where they
picked Harry up.
The next morning the ship dropped
anchor close to the shore, and Harry
after bidding his kind rescuers good,
bye, went ashore.
They had fitted him out with clothes
on the vessel, not so good or so nice
fit as those he was accustomed to wear
ing, but still very acceptable.
He lost no time in fastening to tn,
depot and taking the first train to tn,
village near where they were camped
nearly sixty miles away He reached
there that evening, after an absence o
three days.
His father who had been telegraphe,
to and had come down, had given hi
son up for lost, and was about to return
to the city to break the news as gentl,
as possible to his wife.
When Harry came back alive an,
from the dead.
He had thought he would treat Bes
sic little cool for her language of
few days before, but when he Learned
that she was sick in bed and hal
crazed with grief over his supposed
loss, love overcame his ange
and he fastened at once to her side
His return did more than all the doctor
in christendom could have done for her
and in few days she was as we'll a
ever
A month from the day of Harry
return grand wedding took place a
the home Of Bessie's parents, in Roch
ester, and she became Mrs. Harry L
Mar
The lesson Bessie learned in thos
few days of agony was bitter one, bu
, her whole future life was better for il
W. L. French, in American Tribune
An interesting spectacle has re
Gently been seen in the Orkneys. 1t
probably the first of its kind ever au
thenticated in living memory. A col
} respondent writes to a contemporary