Rensselaer Union, Volume 3, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 July 1871 — Touching Incident. [ARTICLE]

Touching Incident.

When Captain Hall’s vessel, the Polaris, left the Brooklyn Navy Yard, a large number of people collected on the dock to see the expedition off and bi* Capt. Hall and his brave crew farewell. Among these were the families and friends of a number,, of the men, and there were several very sad and affecting parting scenes. One incident, especially, attracted the . attention* of our reporter. One of the sailors, Henry B. Allen by name, a hardy, bronzed-looking tar, stepped across the gang plank and approached his wife and two children who were standing on the dock. The poor sailor dr<\w the sleeve of his jacket across his eyes, and tried to hide his tears from his loved ones. He kissed his wife and children, and tha,grOup knelt upon the ground and prayed together. Their prayers were inauitible, but the assembled spectators knew that their petitions were that God would preserve the husband and father and bring him back in , satety to his family. One of‘the officers of the Polaris called M» the sailor to come aboard. There were hurried embraces and the sailor tore himself .from those he held dear and complied with the order.— N. T. Commercial. w