WRECKS. 347 



half-way over a terrible abyss for an hour and a half, 

 in his stocking feet, bareheaded, the foam beating in 

 his face, drenched to the skin, and half frozen, in sight 

 of fifteen hundred people who stood on the beach. 

 From out this crowd stepped a young man, Frederick 

 W. Ramsdell by name, and said, "I will go out and 

 clear him." He threw off his coat, put a knife between 

 his teeth, fastened a light rope around his waist, and 

 went out hand over hand and cleared the block, and 

 the captain was brought on shore amid the deafening 

 cheers of those who had witnessed the gallant deed. 

 For this act Ramsdell was presented a medal. 



On the 4th of February, 1871, the schooner " Mary 

 Anna," Capt. Lennan, was lost on the bar. Her situa- 

 tion was discovered at daylight, and the " Island 

 Home" was sent to her assistance, but was unable to 

 reach her on account of the ice, which completely 

 obstructed her way and forced her to remain just out- 

 side of Brant Point for three days. Eut here was this 

 vessel full of water, mercury below zero, and seven 

 men in the rigging who must be saved. A crew of 

 ei^ht men, after almost superhuman efforts, succeeded 

 at last, with the aid of a board and dory, in getting to 

 the vessel. The captain afterwards said when he saw 

 these men coming to his rescue, there seemed to be a 

 halo about their heads, such as is represented in the 

 pictures of our Saviour; that he had read of the angel 

 of mercy, but never until now had he realized the full 

 force of the expression. They w r ere all rescued, some 

 frozen and frost-bitten. After they were all ashore and 

 comfortably cared for at the Sherburne House, the 

 captain made them all kneel down while he rendered 



