The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1901-1903, 1902-12-28


down the sound the whistles blew con.
tinualIy. some faint and distant, others
louder and nearer. Ny fingers were
pumb from clutching the coarse
strands.
At last knew that was drawing
near the barge The cable no longer
sank beneath my reach. could hear
the rush Of water before the prov.
And now the rope was above the sur
face altogether High in the air above
me blunt stem doomed through the
mist 1t was the barge at last, with.
the cable rising az sharp angle and
disappearing over Its bow.
Wearied by my efforts felt that
could never climb that steep slope
without help. / shouted, but my voice
could not be heard above the rushing
foam. Despairing at last Of attracting
the attention of anyone on board, /
saw that my only chance was TO as
cend the hawser. l was fairly strong
in the arms. and had 1t not been for my
previous struggles the feat would have
been an easy one. In my present state.
It seemed a tremendous task; but
had no choice in the matter. Ny life
hung on my power to lift myself hand
over hand. If I let 60. the barge would
ride over me Ike marine car Of
Juggernaut. drowning me at once.
began the ascent.
The rope frightened, lifting me so that
my toes barely touched the water.
Again 1t grew loose, and / was sub
merged to the waist. was now fairly
in the spume In front of the boat.
Inch by inch drew nearer Once
more the hawser frightened, and hung
suspended over the surge boiling be-
fore the PROV. 1t slackened, and
was thrown against the stem.
This continual motion was my worst
trouble. Had the rope been perfectly
still / could have climbed much more
easily; but 1t was dead lift, anc
every inch cost me untold agony, Over
ana over again gave up all hope OF
being saved Then / would resolutely
put out OF my mind the thought Of the
entire distance, and focus my whole
attention on the handhold Immediately
before inc. When by heart-breaking
effort | had gained that, | fixed my
aim on the next, and SO on. Thus little
by little progressed. crawling upward
with snail-like slowDess,
At last | was almost up to the
"ehocks" through which the hawser
ran; but my strength was utterly eK-
hausted. and / knew that could never
Chamber ON board. With one supreme
effort raised myself SO that my head
came for an instant above the bull
warks. and looked into the eyes Of a
deck-hand who was not more than
three feet away.
The CONSERVATION and terror on the
mans face would have been lndicrous
under my other circumstances For
a moment we remained staring at each
other. was too weak to speak. and
he was too frightened Then | began
to slip back, still clinging desperately
70 the hawser.
The end OF boatho0lx reached eau
tiously out over the bow and moved
down toward me- It caught the back
Of my shirt and did not mind that It
pierced through and drew blood In
deed, did not know It. for at that in
slant my fingers relaxed their hold, and
/ I lost consciousness | afterward
learned that my preserver would have
been unable 10 get me on board but for
the opportune assistance Of another
bargeman.
spent the greater part OF the next
day in a bunk on board the barge at a
coal dock in Hoboken. But the follow
Ing morning found me little the worse
FLOR my adventure and l went back
to Connecticut that forenoon for the
remainder of my vacation. Youths
Companion.