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A Reminiscence Of Captain Jack Wilson

A Reminiscence Of Captain Jack Wilson image
Parent Issue
Day
5
Month
October
Year
1860
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

Messs h'Morz: - lt was in the year 1841, tbat the writer of this notice first became acquainted with him who was then under the employinent of Vfessr3 Mendenhall & Converse, as captain of the Algonquin. one of the only two vesaals in tho trade that year on Lako Superior. Early in November, which is late for that part of the country, we left La Point to come down to the Sault St. Marie, for the purpose of wintering the vessel. - When we had sailed abreast of Copper Harbor (afterwards) and Iele Rojal, a gale from the East arose, acoompanied with rain and sleet, liere we tacked about - and no harbor nearer than thirty niilos, eighty, and two hundred miles' - and then in the worst place off Point Kewcnaw, where tho waves rau the highest. Here we were, the wind aheud, sleet rain and hail mingled in the dismal air. The winds moaned and whistled in the i'igging of our vessel. At Í2 o'clock in tho night, everything was in ioe; the deck, spars, ropes, and in the cabin. We heaved our deck load overboard. Our vessel headed aw.y from land - as we supposed - and ut 2 o'clock the wiud changed to the northward, and with it a snow storm by which we poor landsmen - five in number - could not even see tho end of our vessel. We had the day before lost sight of land, and we kuew not how soon we might bo driven on shore and on rocka, for all aloug on tíuch side it is bold and rugged. No starlight, no lieht-house, and at dawn no sight of land inet our auxious gaza. " We must make up auother tack," said Captain Wilson. " Watts, to the jib." " Aye, aye sir." " Ready ?" " Yes, captain." "Hard lee ! Lat go and haul !" shouted our Captain, 0 God ! nota mg moved! not a ropo stirred ! In vain did the rudder's handle turn ; but the vessül plunged forward. " Boys, our vessel isan iceberg ! everything is frozen fast." said the Captain, and üdded Courtney, "Tuen we are sure of land and death." " Courtuey, you go up and cut away the ropcs, and let down the mainpail.'1 Tho brave boy went up and gained the cross pieoe of the mainmast, and with one hand he bogun to cut away tha throatropes, but blown almost out of breath, ho canie down without asuoniplish ing bis hard taak and feil about ten fett, but was caught in the sail, his hands and body cold and stiff. ' Watts, you try." The williug Watt soon gniucd the top but, Oh, what a fèarfal sight ! - lus body dangliug in the air, and holding on with one hand, and every seeond Iexpoclcd to see hiui fifty steps away from the vosscl into the water. But Lis fcnife could not aceomplish its object, and he too, carne slowly down ; his hands were stifT and bloodleïs, '' See boys, there is our graveyard." The Captain pointed to tlie bold rocks that were covered with snow and ico about half a müe away from us, uireotly in our course. Oh God ! save us ! Jack ran down to the cabin in a moment, up ho came having tiod a sash that I had, arouuc his waist, and a tomahawk was slipped between the sash and his body. '■ I will go and let looss that doath-an chor," said he. 1 could see ia Jack's eye that indomi table energy that never forsook him in the hour of peril and which always characterized the man. Ile rau up to the croes; place in a moment - I held my breath - and commenced with ono hand to cut away the frozeu rigging. Tho tliroat ! ropes were severed, and hlotvly beat tho Imainwil; th Ouptsjn was litll ou tho oross-piece. Tbe schooner as readu'j obeyed tho hand and whoeled oflTrom tho shore. 01), wlnit a sobbiug shout we tried to uttor. Iq five minutos moro we sbould have boon dashed against tlierooks outside of Grand Islaud. Jack oama dowa tho jib ropos ; be passed us not a word ; bo went down rato th cabin, and threw liimsolf down on the floor, parfeotly ovcrüomo. L1 is face was dcathly cald; his oyes giistcuod as if he ware dcad, and not a breath could we observe. '' Uh God ! Jack is dying," said my oompaniona. We rubbed him and started our fire, covered him up in our blankets and coats and a long distressing groan carne at last - that groan, how it sjnt a thrill of joy through my whole frame like au oloctriu shock, - ndnosoonor had he cometo consciousness, than with eager eyes ha looked around us and faintly wbispered : Boys, are you all safe. "Yes,Jaek Wilson, we are all safe I" was our only tearfal reply. I threw myself down by lus side and wept like a child ; and never have I met Jack Wilson without looking ia his eye3 with a tcarful gratitude. Now he ia no more. His great, brave heart has strandod in the waves he has so long battled agaiust. No more his genial soul will lead ours captivo, ïhere are'fovr such men in this selüish world. He was a swimmer; he could have savcd himself, but no doubt, hj died in trj'ing to save others. I will be one of five hundred who will give öve doliera towards raising a mouunieut in one of the cemeteriesof Chicago, the money to be sent to Gurden 8, Hubbard Esq , of Chicago, Illinois, whom tho writor will appriso to-day by lettor, as he knows the gentleman referred to. Come, let tho brotherhood of the Masonio fratornity gatlier the evergreens - einblems of immortality over the grave of a brother. Cumd let us mark sorae mirbla pi?ee, Yov ha tliö noblest deeds Uaa done ; Where liia grent heari inay rest In peace, Aud the pura laui'ols lid hath won. O GE MAII. GoüGva, Ontario Co., N. Y. Sopt, 12. 1860.

Article

Subjects
Old News
Michigan Argus