"Soon after the Mississippi arrived out, and before the city and castle
were taken, a terrible 'norther' sprung up, and destroyed much shipping in
the harbor. One vessel, on which were a number of passengers, was thrown
high upon a reef, and when morning broke, the heavy sea was making a clear
breach through her. She lay about a mile from the Mississippi, and it soon
became known on board the steamer, that a mother and her infant were in the
wreck, and that unless succor came speedily, they would perish. The
lieutenant of whom I speak, immediately ordered out a boat's crew, and
although the sea was rolling tremendously, and the 'norther' still blowing
a hurricane, started to the rescue. Right in the teeth of the wind were the
men compelled to pull their boat, and so slowly did they progress, that it
took over two hours to gain the wreck.

"At one time, they actually gave out, and the oars lay inactive in their
hands. At this crisis, the brave but humane officer, pointing with one hand
to the fortress of San Juan de Ulloa, upon which a fire had already
commenced, and with the other to the wreck, exclaimed, with noble
enthusiasm,

"'Pull away, men! I would rather save the life of that woman and her child,
than have the honor of taking the castle!'

"Struck by the noble, unselfish, and truly humane feelings of their
officer, the crew bent with new vigor to their oars. In a little while the
wreck was gained, and the brave lieutenant had the pleasure of receiving
into his arms the almost inanimate form of the woman, who had been lashed
to the deck, and over whom the waves had been beating, at intervals, all
night.