Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury [Connecticut]) 1903-1917, 1904-07-05


The order was given to shove off. The
usual dit1culties and the usual fortune
attended the passage OF the boat with
Its precious freight until it neared the
east bank, when one of the largest
cakes that had passed swiftly fsoated
down upon it.
"Pull, men; pull hard" cried Colonel
Glover as he saw it's huge bulk along
side. "Head the boat up the stream,
MIR. Seymour. Forward, there, be
ready to push off with your poles" AS
the result of these prompt maneuvers
the oncoming mass of ice, which was
too large to be avoided, instead of
crashing into them amidships and
sinking the boat, struck them quar-
tering blow on the bow and commenced
Ito grind along the sides of the boat,
which heeled SO far over that the wa
ter began to trickle a through the
oarlocks on the other side.
STEADY, men, said Glover calmly.
"Sit still for your lives"
4 Bentley had thrown his pole over on
the ice cake promptly and was now
bearing down upon it with all the
strength of his powerful arms. But
the task was beyond him. The ice and
the boat chung together, and the ice
was REINFORCED by several other cakes
which it's checked motion permitted to
close with it. The vast mass crashed
against the side of the boat. The oar
of the first rover was broken short off
at the oarlock If the others went the
situation Of the helpless boat would be
indeed hopeless. The general himself
came to the rescue. Promptly divining
the situation, he stepped forward to
Bentley's side and threw his own i'm
mense strength upon the pole. Great
beads of sweat stood out on BentIey's
bronzed forehead as he renewed his
efforts The stout hickory sapling bent
and cracked beneath the pressure Of
the two men, but held on, and the boat
slowly but steadily began to swing
clear Of the ice. These two Homeric
men held it off by sheer strength until
the boat was in free water, and the
men, who had sat like statues in their
places, could once more use their oars.
The general stepped back into his
place, cool and calm as usual and en-
tirely unruf1ed by his great exertions.
Bentley wiped the sweat from his face
and turned and looked back at him in
admiration.
Friend Bentley, he said quietly,
'tyou are man Of mighty thews and
Isinews. Had it not been for your pow
Ierful arms fear we would have had a
ducking-or worse"
Lord love you, your honor said
the astonished sailor, 1--WE met my
match! It was your arm that saved
us. / was almost done for. I never
saw such strength as that, though
when was younger would have done
better What a man you would be for
/. Ireef1ng topsails in a gale of wind, your
honor, sirv' he continued, thrusting his
pole vigorously into small and i'm
pertinent cake Office IN the way. The
general was proud Of his great strength
and not i'll pleased at the genuine and
hearty admiration of this genuine and
hearty man
A few minutes later they stepped
ashore, and mighty cheer went up
from the men who had crowded upon
the banks at the safety of their belov-
ed general Greene met him at the
landing, and the two clasped hands.
The general Immediately mounted his
powerful white horse and stationed
himself on little hi4lock to watch the
landing of the rest of the men, engag-
ing General Greene in a low converse
ton the while.
do you know, Greene, that Gates
has refused my entreaty to stop one
day at Bristol and take command of