Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1892-08-25

Quickly dropping the iron down the
tube until it reached the keelson, he
soon drew it up again.
"Six feet of water in the hold" he ex-
claimed. "She1l go down under Us.
Launch the boat"-and as he again has
tened to the cabin, this time to procure
what provisions might be handy, one Of
the men announced!
"The main hatch is stove in, and the
cargo is all a-wash."
This report had the effect of acceler-
ating the officers movements, and seiz-
ing what few eatables were at hand in
the pantry he FASTENED to join his ship
mates, who had succeeded in getting the
boat afoat without damage.
Fearing to be in too close proximity
to the bark when she should founder,
they pulled rapidly away in the darkness,
and as day broke they found themselves
alone upon the ocean, but ere the sun
was an hour high the black smoke of
steamer was deserted upon the horizon,
and before the great luminary had
reached the zenith they were safe on
board a large vessel which was bound
to Baltimore.
The captain heard their story with
feelings of sadness and extended to the
shipwrecked mariners all the hospitali-
ty that lay in his power. When the
steamer reached port the news Of the
loss of the Beatrice was flashed from
city to city throughout the continent,
and many were the hearts made SORROW
full by the terrible tale.
But did the bark founder?
About an hour after the second mate
had SO hurriedly abandoned the sup
posed sinking craft, the boy, Harry, be-
gan to return to consciousness. Slowly
he raised his head and looked around.
The night was clear now, but strange
sounds fell upon his ear. 1t was the
thrashing and chatting of the tattered
sails and broken yards that still hung
from aloft.
Tottering to his feet, the lad became
aware that he was suffering most in
tense pain about the body and limbs,
but as he took few steps he was over
joyed to find that no bones had been
fractured and the pain was only from
external bruises.
AS the youth was endeavoring to re:
call the terrible scene through which he
had passed, he heard feeble moan is
suing from the port side of the after
house, and staggering to that portion of
the vessel he was delighted to see the
beloved form of his benefactor, the cap
tain, who was vainly striving to drag
himself along the deck toward the
| wheel.
As the master looked up he murmured
feebly:
"Ah, Harry, my boy! Has the good
Lord spared us?'
"Yes, sir. But / do not know how
many more are left"
"Go and see, boy, 60 and see. Some
may be suffering and need assistance"
'But you yourself, sir; can I not dc
something for you, sir?'
"Never mind me. Look to your ship
mates," was the brave reply, though the
master with difficulty suppressed his
groans.
Obeying the order Harry searched
the vessel. but returned with the mourn.
full reply that they two were alone.
"Well, my lad, we must do the best
we can," was the response of the cap
tain.
When morning broke the practiced
eye of the captain discovered the alb
seuce of the long boat,
"Go forward, Harry, and see if the
craft has been stove in or launched
clear"
The boy fastened to obey, and re
turned with the report that the lashings
had been cut.
THANK heavenl" murmured Captain
Bruce. "Some of our companions have
escaped and have taken to the boat fear
ing that the bark would founder"
All through the day the captain ant
the lad strained their eyes in search o.
sail, but none appeared to .gladder
their sight, and again night enshroudet
them in gloom.
Upon the fourth morning Harry, wht
was early astir, startled the captain by
calling:
"Come on deck, sir. There is large
towboat not more than five mile.
away"
''Set the ensign union down. 1t viii
not do to let him pass u.s."
The boy had no need to display thu
signal of distress, for the sharp eyes O.
the captain of the tug had espied thu
bark long before the youth had seen th'
steamer.
AS the rescuing craft rounded up un
der the stern of the Beatrice, the win
dows in the pilot house went down, 1
J head protruded and voice called:
"How many of you are aboard?'
"Only two, sir" replied Harry.
"Are you able to lend us hand il
getting line out?"
"No, sir. We are too badly bruised,
returned the boy.
Cali right. I'll come alongside an(
send some men to you, and the towboa
} steamed up close beside the bark, Will,
a portion of her crew sprang over th'
| rail.
, In few moments the heavy hawse,
was made fast to the forward 'bitts,
the steamer started ahead and the dis
mantled vessel was again on her way TO,
the mouth Of the Chesapeake.
, Great was the rejoicing when thu
, Beatrice was brought up to the City
of Monuments, where the vessel wa
, obliged to remain several months to re
, pair the damage done by collision will
: the waterspout, and when she did agai1
: put to sea the boy Harry sailed in hel
cabin, Captain Bruce asserting that ht
/ could not allow a lad to live forward
! who had so nobly stood by him wher
wounded and helpless, drifting at tht