Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-07
BRAVE BEN BROUGHTON.
True Story Written for The DispatcE
BY MARIA M'INTOsH COX.

which that awful head had risen, and there
there, just at his hand it rose again, but
this time it had not energy to lift itself
above the water. Lying in most unnatural
position, his throat strained backward and
his head resting between the shoulders so
that the face appeared to turn straight and
fiat toward the heaven above it, the legs
hanging limp and stiff, straight down, and
the motionless arms fallen backward, in
useless stiffness, Ben saw Tom Dunlap; and
with an agonized clutch he grasped the wes
web of his bathing suit and took an almost
hopeless inspiration of the soft air, not
knowing In this dread moment what must
next be done.
''Tomr' he yelled, 'Tom, keep up; don't
give up, Tom! Tom, Tom. try to keep upY'
He used all the power of his young voice
and faint shiver ran through the cold sub
merged body. A lightning like inspiration
darted through his mind; he gave the log
beside him hard, downward push, depress-
ing. 1t some inches below the water, and
with all haste-he knew net how-suc-
ceeded IN bringing il in contact with the
drowning boy. Then-stilI he knew not
how-he pulled one motionless arm across 10
and then the other, and saw with a wild
sense of e1ultation that he would float. Tom
did not attempt to grasp or hold, but the log
was well under his armpits and he did nos
slide back.
Then a strange dullness came over Ben's
senses; his shoes, now water-soaked, felt
like lead; the first dawn of hope seemed to
be followed by exhaustion.
But help was coming from the shore. A
brave young girl, putting to shame the
cowardly boys upon the wharf, had suc-
ceeded in pushing q boat into the water,
and she rowed toward Ben with all her
might When she came within an arms
length Of the tired boy he could not So
much as push poor Tom toward her, but
she conquered the resistance of his uneon-
scious weight and pulled him into the boat.
When once the heavier part of his body
was over the gunwale he fell suddenly for
ward and lay helpless mass at her feet.
She had not q thought, even, for Ben, but
pulled for the shore with all her strength.
Ben, keeping his clear, brave head, real
lied that the tide was fast coming in, and
cessing to struggle, he foated ON the soft,
upbolding waves until they laid him gently
on the beach, IS If theyhad brought him intel
hgently home. And then, though he could
no longer work, his tired body had to obey
his self-forgetting heart. The oystermen
were rapidly coming, and he knew just whero
to tell them to look for that pale object be
had seen sink out of sight.
Using every remaining energy, he made
them understand, and staggering to his weak
feet, he stood, with water running in streams
from his drenched clothes, and guided to
where they must search.
Breathless, the crowd now gathered on
the beach stood in silent expectation A
man, well fitted for his work, ard bound to
succeed, dove far into the glowing water;
one, two, three minutes psssed-he rosa
with empty arms. Undaunted, again he
disappeared, and vet again he rose, bring
frr 70fh h inc I'M mn h..
called out hopefully; this time four minutes
passed, and then he brought with him .
little figure too pitiful to speak about.
Already Tom was lying in a hospitable
house, with every tender. ministry helping
him to fight for life, and to the same open
door the strong arms of the oysterman car
ried the little brother. "He is gone" he
said as he laid him down.
But Ben reaped the full harvest of his
heroic endeavor. Before their half-crazed
mother could reach them, Tom had shown
that life was surely coming back to him.
And after long hours of friction and heat
and restoratives, faint pulsation moved
little Dicks still heart, and he lived on.
In the Broughton's cottage Ben Was the
center of a thankful and excited family, but
he was very unconscious hero He was
anxious to be rid of his Shoes out of which
the water gushed with every step, and eager
for dry clothes; but. like every man or boy
capable of such an act, thought very little
of himself in connection with the result.
He had done what God and his own heart
had shown him to be his duty, and his
thoughts fingered with the white faces Of
his drowning playmates; he had little con-
sideration to bestow on Ben Broughton and
his doings, but many long day hence be
will recall with thankfulness his share in
the rescue OF the Dunlap boys.