Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1903-01-17
}. The Coward.

At about 2 o'clock on raw, blus-
terry March morning the inhabitants
| of the little village Of Shickshinny,
on the upper Susquehanna, were
reused from sleep by hoarse shouts
and by the violent ringing of the
church bell. Men and boys dressed
in haste, and crowd soon congre-
gated on the river shore.
There was good cause for excite
ment. The ice, which seemed COM
paratively firm on the previous
evening, had broken during the
night. The yellow tide, already swol-
len 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 hui
man being in peril. From Scrub is
land came hoarse shouts for help
and at intervals the discharge of
gun. The red flashes could be plain
ly seen.
Scrub island lay in midchannel
directly opposite the village. 1t was
hardly more than bar, for nothing
grew upon it but bushes. Near the
lower end was a small cabin, which
some of the village boys built for
amusement out Of driftwood. Here
the castaway had probably taken
refuge, and his situation was e1-
tremely critical. In short time the
cabin would surely be carried off by
the rising flood and ice.
AS the crowd were specializing on
the unknown ones identity and dis
cussing the hopelessness of rescue
Squire Tyson, the most wealthy and
influential man of the village, came
running down the shore.
casper is on the island" he
cried, wringing his hands in agony.
Gle went over this afternoon to
shoot ducks and has not returned
home. He must have fallen asleep
in the cabin, and the ice has carried
away his boat. Will no one save my
poor boy? Are you all towards ?"
The unhappy man grasped a boat
that lay bottom up OIL 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. 'SNo boat could
move dozen yards in that ice. We
could save your boy if there was any
chance at all. :"
The squire suddenly realized that
this was true. He stood gazing mute
ly toward the island, his face rigid
with despair. A groan Of pity burst
FROM the crowd as another gunshot
was heard, followed by hoarse APP
peals for help. The tide rose higher
and higher, but now clear spots we're
visible here and there, aad all at
once the river seemed to become free
of ice.
The meaning Of this was plain.
The ice had formed a gorge some
where up stream. Here seemed
chance Of rescue, but no one was
willing to take advantage of it. The
crowd knew by past experience that
the gorge would likely break in
moment or two, and then the freed
ice would sweep everything before it
like an avalanche. In vain the squire
appealed to them. In vain the poor
boy on the island cried for help.
Not man would risk what seemed
certain death.
Suddenly stoutly built lad of
sixteen separated from the throng,
and, running up the shore few
yards, he hauled "a light skiff into
the water. He seized the oars, that
lay in the bottom and pulled #f,:ifs!!ii-
ly into the swirling current, headi -
in diagonal course up stream.
A simultaneous cry Of amazemcnt
burst from the crowd. Some cheere,!
the daring lad; others warned h.Di
back.
Good bless hin!'' cried the squire,