The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-01-31
HE WAS A HERO.

church bell Men and boys dressed in
haste, and a crowd soon congregated on
the river shore
There was good cause for excitement.
The ice, which seemed com paratively firm
on the previous evening" had broken dur
ing the night. The yellow tide, already
swollen to many feet above its normal
level, was almost hidden by the heaving,
grinding cakes
And, worst of all, this unexpected event
had placed an unknown human being in
peril. From Scrub island came hoarse
shouts for help and at intervals the dis
charge of a gun. The red flashes could be
plainly seen.
Scrub island lay in nidchannei direct
~ opposite the village. 1t was hardly
more than bar, for nothing grew on it
but bushes. Near the lower end was a
small cabin, which some of the village
boys built for amusement out of drift
wood. Here the castaway had probably
taken refuge, and his situation was ex-
tremely critical
In short time the cabin would surely
be carried off by the rising flood and ice.
Squire Tyson, the most wealthy and in
fuential man of the village, came running
down to the shore
Jasper is on the island" he cried,
wringing his hands in agony. tHe went
over this afternoon to shoot ducks and
has not returned home. He must have
fallen asleep in his cabin, and the ice has
carried away his boat
The unhappy man grasped boat that
lay bottom up on the shore and tried to
drag it into the water. Half dozen men
caught and held him.
You will only throw your life away"
they cried. mo boat could move dozen
yards in that ice. We could save your boy
If there was any chance at all. p"
A groan of pity burst from the crowd
as another gunshot was heard followed
by hoarse appeals for help. The tide rose
higher and higher, but now clear spots
were visible here and there and all at
once the river seemed to become free of
ice.
Suddenly stoutly built lad of 16 sepa-
rated from the throng, and running up the
shore few yards he hauled a light skif
into the water. He seized the oars that
lay in the bottom and pulled sturdily into
the swirling current, heading in diagonal
course up stream.
t'God bless himI" cried the squire,
bursting into tears.
Indeed Curt Webb was the last one any
person would have believed capable of
such brave deed. He was an orphan and
worked hard for a livelihood in grocery
store. The village boys, headed by Jasper
Tyson, despised and hated him because he
had persistently refused to join any of
their mischievous depredations.
He could never be induced to fight his
tormentors, though Jasper and others
dared him to combat many time. So
the boys gratified their malice by calling
him the coward" and by this epithet he
was known in the village.
Steadily the boat crept toward the is
land. Curt bent to the oars with all his
might and managed to hold his own
against the fierce current. Occasionally he
glanced over his shoulder and was relieved
to see no trace of approaching ice.
The water had already reached the cab
in, and just as Curt swung the boat into
the little eddy behind it he heard a grind
ing noise up the river and saw a white
mass looming into view. The gorge had
broken, and the ice was coming down
with sweeping force.
Jasper stood in the cabin door, and
when the flaming wisp of grass showed
him the face of his rescuer he blushed
with shame
"YouP' he exclaimed, and that single
word spoke volumes.
Don't stop to talkl'' cried Curt hur-
riedly. lump in. Here comes the ice,
and we have a slim chance of lodging it. "
Too latel Even as Jasper sprang to the
boat the water heaved and tossed, and the
rumble of the dread avalanche deepened
swirled by, rising and falling with the
waves.
Curt pulled straight down stream, while
his companion crouched in the stern Of the
boat helpless with terror.
But the race could end in only one way.
The line of broken ice came grinding on
| like race horse, growing with fury. 1t
smashed the cabin to fragments and sped
after the frail little craft that was striving
SO hard to escape
Jasper cried out with terror and held
his hands before his face to shut out the
awful sight Curt stuck to the oars, but
he knew nevertheless that escape was out
of the question.
Suddenly he saw something that reused
glimmer of hope. Twenty yards toward
the left shore and slightly in advance of
the avalanche f1oated huge tree, evident
ly torn bodily from the soil Its broad
end, bristling with snakelike roots, was
turned down the stream, and here and
there it thrust out thick limbs that served
to steady it, like outriggers on boat
If the castaWays could reach it, they
stood fair chance of escaping death.
Curtis resolve was instantly formed. He
reused Jasper from his stupor of fear and
briefly explained what he intended to do.
Now" cried Curt.
Jasper caught the dangling roots and
pu4lSu nAIuSoA " q p4dCo u satisfy. AL
/ agile spring landed Curt beside him, and
/ the next instant the boat was whirled off
! into the gloom.
/ They lost no time in choosing positions
! among the heavy limbs, and then had
| barely settled themselves down when the
! shock came. The towering masses of ice
surged around the tree, burying the trunk
! from sight at times and rocking it to and
!, fro like cradle.
The boys were beyond the reach of the
| ice, however, and happily the outriggers
/ prevented the tree from rolling over.
The night wore on, and when it broke
the tree stranded on one of the piers of the
| Catawissa bridge. Willing hands rescued
the castaways with ropes, and when they
/ h.d .rc.d thair fho1