The Lambertville record., 1897-11-24

piteous and broken like the sobs of "A
child. | arose and, looking toward the
island where the lighthouse of Poulains
stands, saw Mother Lee Pelletier, the
wife OF the lighthouse keeper, down on
her knees. waving her handkerchief
weeping and calling for help
Workmen, busy i'll the neighborhood
saw tho woman just as did In few
moments the little island was crowded
with people
What II painful what II terrifying
spectacle!
Opposite the point of the island, 800
meters from land lay the boat l. En-
FAINT du Desert eapsized Her sails were
under water. and on her keel, which
rose iii the air clung Eugene Gouenan.
tin the orphan His face was as pale rs
a winding sheet, his eyes We're closed,
and his head, Il plaything for the waves,
swayed from right to left With my
telescope could follow the entire de-
veiopment of the tragedy
The child had become helpless and
was just about to loosen his hold of the
boat Right near him lay Michel Sam
Zun, clasping the edge of the keel con-
vulsivelV, Crviug continually for help
Ills voice, hoarse with the death strug-
rle was partly drowned by the waves
teliiug furieusly over him, as il reluc-
tmt to surrender their prey.
\ hundred meters from them Pierre
Marie Gouenantin disappeared in tho
water, the boats oar under his shoul-
,lels; but, strong and vigorous as he was,
he arose with a cry of joy, for he had
lcen Father LIE Pelletier coming. The
lighthouse keeper, hearing the cries for
help, had jumped into his boat and
pushed from the shore without waiting
for any of his companions for fear of be-
ing too late,
He was obliged to round the point.
"Couragel Hold fastr' called Michel
Santzun to the little sailor hanging to
the keel Courage! Father lie Pelle-
tier is here, our gallant deliverer. "
Then on came wave, II sheer wall
of water, with foaming crest, and
buried the boat, When it had spent it
self, Michel raised his head and looked
about-the keel was empty Far away
the wave was now rolling, and i'll its
cruel bosom it held the orphan boy. FL
nally it disappeared in IA whirl of wa
ters, boiling and swirling in horrible
struggle for their victim.
The sun Just then pierced the fog and
shono dimly on the raging, tumultuous
sea. In the meantime Father lie Pelle-
tier had rescued Pierre Marie Gouenan-
tin, and then rowed to the place where
the accident occurred. Great tears roll
ed over the weather stained cheeks of
the brave lighthouse keeper, as with in.
eXpressible tenderness he loosened Mi
chel Samzun's cramped hands from the
boat $ keel
For three-quarters of an hour the
three fishermen had struggled with the
waves and with the winds that had
been blowing furiously for the last 20
minutes. When Michel's fingers were
released, Father lie Pelletier drew him
into the boat and placed him next to
Pierre-M Marie. 1t being now certain that
the orphan was lost, the lighthouse
keeper made for the island where
Mother lie Pelletier was waiting with
dry underclothing, stockings, shoes and
coats, while my maid had prepared
drink of hot wine.
Finally lie Pelletier stepped on shore
and the two poor shipwrecked mariners
followed. The pilot shook the former by
both hands, saying over and over:
. Brave fellow, brave fellowl Another
rescue added to your long list, y
"Oh " answered Les Pelletier, pale
with sorrow and in bitter tone, "a life
has been lostl" And, although worn
out and wet to the skin, he assisted the
two fishermen, whose teeth were chat
tering, into some dry clothing
Michel Samzun could not open his
hands, so swollen were they They hung
down limp rs the hands of the dead and
seemed to be clutching something invis
ible.
Pierre Marie, the elder-this was his
second shipwreck-recovered first With
half suppressed anger he looked at the
sea and cursed it. Then in taking off
his soaked wool jacket he felt his watch.
He held it to his ear. 1T did not stop, !"
he exclaimed, tapping the lid lightly.
1T is very good watch.
When the sailors were dressed again
and somewhat warmed by the wine,
they asked about their boat. A deep
flush spread over Pierre -Marie's face
when he heard that the pilot, Alexan-
Dire, had saved it. Although the sailors
limbs wero still trembling and their
hair stiff and wet from the salt water
they at once stepped into the vessel
hoisted sail and steered for the pretty
harbor of Bordery. Some one must tell
la petite Gonenantin.
l took the road and arrived at the
same time. The murmurs of the SYM
pathetic crowd was the first Fremont
tion the little girl had that something
was wrong. She came out of her door.
still dressed in black, her restless little
head covered with a white Golf. She
saw the farmers and fishermen form in
to group She knew they were pitying