South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1893-01-20

superior to the fear OF deash. /
had often preached on the subject
and urged Christians to ;eali=a this
victory OF faith During our civil
war had been under ire without
fear. l was In Chicago during tho
great cholera epidemic and went
around with the doctors, visiting
the sick aud dying. Whore they
could go to look after ths bodies OF
men, said / could go to look after
their souls. l remember q case OF
smallpox, where the flesh had liz
orally dropped away from the back
bone, yet went to the bedside OF
that poor sufferer again and again
with Bible and prayer for Jesas's
sake. In all this l had no fear Of
death.
"But on the sinking ship it vas
different. There was no cloud be-
tween my soul and my Saviour. l
knew my sins had been put away,
and that If / died there it would be
only to wake up in heaven. That
was all settled long ago. But as
my thoughts went out to my loved
ones at home-my wife aud chill
dren, anxiously waiting for nv
coming-my friends on both sides
OF the sea-the schools and all the
interests SO dear to me-and real
lied that perhaps the next hour
would separate me forever from all
these, 20 far as this world was con-
cerped, confess it almost broke
me down. 1t was the darkest hour
OF my lifel l could not endure il.
l must have relief. aud relief came
In prayer. God heard my CRY and
enabled me to say from the depth
q nay soul: "Thy will be dere."
1t was all settled. Sweet peace
came to my heart. Let it b, North
field or heaven! 1t made no differ.
euce now! / went to bod and al
most Immediately fell asleep, and
never slept moro soundlJ in all my
life. Dat of the depths cried un-
to the Lord, and he heard me and
delivered me from all my fears. 1
can no more doabt that God gave
answer to my pray r for relief, than
l can doubt my own existence.
"About three o'clock at night |
was aroused from my sound sleep
by the voice OF my son. Come on
deck, father he said. followed
him, and he pointed toward far
OF light, rising and sinking on the
sea. 1t was messenger of deliver
ance to us. 1t proved to be the
light of .hs steamer Lake Huron,
whose lookout had seen our flaming
signals OF distress, and supposed it
was a vessel in flames. o, the joy
OF that moment when those seven
hundred despairing passengers be-
held the approaching shipi Who
can ever forget it!
"But now the question is, can
this small steamer tow the HELPLESS
Spree thousand miles to Queens
town. Every movement was watch
ed with intensest anxiety and pray
er. 1t was brave and perilous
undertaking. The two vessels were
at last connected by two great On +.
bles. II a storm arose these would
snap like thread, and we must be
left to our fate. But had no fear.
God would finish the work he had
begun. The waves we're calmed-
the cables held-the steamer moved
in the wake of the Huron. There
were storms all around Us, but
they came not nigh our broken
ship. Seven days after the acct
dent, by the good hand of our God
upon us, We were able to hold
joyous Thanksgiving service in the
harbor of Queenstown-iust one
week ago to day, as / stand here
among the friends and neighbors I
love so well. The rescuing ship
that God sent to us In our distress.
had just sufficient power to tow
our vessel, and just enough coal to.
take her into portf There was
nothing to spare! Less would have
been insufficient. Her captain a.
so is a man of prayer, and besought
Gods help to enable them to ac-
complish their dangerous and diff
ficult task. God answered the uni.
ted prayers Of the distressed voy-
ayers and brought them to their
desired haven,
"Fhe nervous strain Of those
eight days and nights OF suspense
was something fearful. IL was
more shan any one could long en-
cure without help. The minds OF
several passengers gave way under
the strain, and they had to be put
nnder restraint. A young Austrian
who had left his betTothed ia Wen
NE, leaped overheard ia despair,
and was drowned before our eyes,
IN spite Of all we could do. Il waa
most pathetic sight to SEQ q young
mother, with two beautiful chill.
dren, sitting in dumb anguish dur
ing the FIRST fOrty-eight hours. new
or taking her eyes 0ff her little
ones, and IL the ship had zone
down, I have no doubt she would
have gathered them to her bosom
and gone down with them In her
arms. There was q Russian Jew
who had taken passage without the
knowledge Of his relatives at homo.