The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1908-05-15

The sun that winter afternoon was
quite warm, but the north wind,
blowing down the ice laden river, cut
like knife. Philip Ross, captain of
the barge Bessie, standing in the
bow of his clumsy craft directing
gang of men unloading the stones
which comprised the cargo, shivered
rs the strong blasts rushed by, and
drawing his heavy overcoat closer
about him, took refuge behind the
supporting mast of the derrick where
his body was not so much exposed.
Quitting time arrived before all the
stone had been raised and landed, and
Captain Ross blew his whistle as a
signal that work was over for the
day. The teamster unlocked the
horses from the derrick tackle; the
laborers gathered up coats and din
ner pals, and in an incredibly short
time they were lost to sight down one
Of the city's streets. The two mem
bers Of the crew and the cook had
been granted permission to spend
the evening on shore and left at the
same time.
When all had gone, Philip walked
TO the stern of the barge and stood
looking out over the water. The tide
was ebbing, and the blocks of ice in
the stream were being borne along
toward the bay in heaving masses.
The river, with its shipping, its mis-
cellaneous cargoes and the sugges-
lions of new and strange places the
Sight OF incoming and outgoing YES
sels were always bringing before his
mind, was dear to the young man,
and he longed for the day when the
firm by whom he was employed would
send him to sea on one of their ocean
going steamers.
One large cake of ice directly op-
posite him attracted his attention.
He followed it with his eyes as it
went tumbling along on its way to
The sea, and wondered how long a
time would elapse before the action
OF the salt water would melt it.
All at once the entire flow seemed
to pause in its onward progress. At
the same time the deck on which he
stood began to rock like a vessel in
motion. The sensation awoke him
from his reverie, and glancing hur-
riedly over his shoulder, Philip saw
that the bow of the barge was swing
ing about, for the bowline, a thick.
heavy hawser which held the for
ward part of the craft to the dock,
had parted, leaving only the lighter
line at the stern to keep the barge
from drifting away from her moor
angs entirely.
Instantly Ross saw that another
line would have to be run ashore to
take the place of the broken hawser,
and at once, or the barge would be
adrift. The distance between the
barge and the dock was too great to
leap, so throwing the loop in the end
of line over bitt head he dropped
the coil of rope into the bottom of
the dory fastened to the river side
of the larger craft. Cutting the boat
loose he picked up the oars and be-
gan to pull rapidly, following out
plan he had formulated almost as
soon as he perceived that the bow
line had parted. This was to pass
around the bow of the barge, reach
the dock, fasten the other end of the
rope to the snubbing post, and thus
hold the unwieldly hulk until he
could get tug to tow the barge
back to her position.
There were at his disposal only a
Jew seconds for the accomplishment
Of his object, and Philip bent to his
task and sent the dory out in the
river with strong, swift strokes. Then
turning the boats head up stream
and shoreward, he put forth all his
strength and skill in his efforts to
make the dock before the barge had
fioated the ropes length down the
stream.
But, riverman though he was.
Philip had failed to consider the diff
fculties of his task. No sooner was
the dory well out from under the lee
OF the barge than the floating ice
struck it, effectually stopping its pro-
gress. One huge cake caught the
small boat in its embrace, and while
Philip was working around the block
the tide was carrying the ice and
boat down the stream.
BY the time he had succeeded in
getting clear of the cake he was so
Tar below the barge that it was use
less to try and gain the dock in time
10 snub her, and Philip realized that
MS efforts We're to end in failure
The unwieldly craft had swung
around and fioated down stream as
Iar as the stern line would allow
Inis hawser held her, much to Phil
Fps surprise, but he felt certain the
rope would not stand the strain long.
The captain swept the river with
MS eyes in search of a tug to tow
the barge back, but while there was
many vessels in sight, they were all
TOO lar away for him to signal. Then.
100 late, he thought OF his plight and
tnat he was being borne down the riv-
or toward the bay with a tide against
"nicn II was not easy to pull. How
ever, ne had no reason to doubt his
apiiity to regain the bank, and bend
aug 70 the oars again, pulled his best.
SLOWLY the boat began forging
anead against the tide, and pointing
Tue DOW toward the spot where he
WIS Misned to land, Philip settled him
oeir on his seat for some hard work.
- me warm sun earlier in the day
uau ioosened great quantities of ice
~ tne upper branches of the river
anu II was being carried down the
o.. IN mighty foes. some of which