Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-01-03
A Timely Rescue.

| A Timely Rescue.
If it is in the night that a. man fall
overheard from a ship the chances O.
his recovery are very remote, and il
the daytime, if the breeze be fresh an6
the sea rough, the odds are fearfully
| against him. Much, then, depends or
the GOODNESS of the officer of the deck
tor If he lose his head the man is gone
A passenger on packet ship bounC
from New York to Liverpool, tells the
following exciting story:
was sitting on deck reading when
the cry " a man overheard" was heard
The mate had charge of the deck, an
old officer, whose equanimity no emer.
gency could disturb. 1 can see him be.
fore me now distinctly, and hear his
rapid orders. "Down with the helm p
said he to the man at the wheel, and as
he himself sprang to the taffrail and
cut away the life buoys, his orders
came continuous, Jump up in the
rigging there, one of you, and keep
your eye on him; let go the royal hal
lizards, fore and aft; let 60 the topmast
and topgallant studding sail tacks; hard
lee; there; forward rise tacks and
sheets; main bowlings; get aft here
now to your braces quick; mainsail
haul and as the ships head came
round to the westward, the afterwards
swung around and the mates voice was
again heard: Let the head-yards
OF nd I.,ox III a..
clear away the lea-quarter boat, and,
Mr.. Jones, jump into her there with
four good men. Now, then, stand by
to lower. Steady, and mind what
you've got hold Of. Now, then, lower
away !" and as the boat touched the
water: 'Hold on to your forward
tackle, let 60 aft; unlock; let 60 for
ward. Now, then, give way right out
on the lee bow; that's where youth find
him " and the boat was off, not over
ten minutes having elapsed since the
first alarm was given.
Only those who have passed through
similar experience can properly APP
preciate the anxiety with which we
watched that boat. Now we would
lose sight of her entirely, as she sank
IN the trough Of the sea, and again, as
she rose on it's crest, the men were lay
ing their whole weights upon the oars
IN their efforts to reach their drowning
shipmate. Every minute or so the
mate would hail the lookout at the
masthead: "Can you still see him ?'
and the answer would come back:
Can see his cap, sir, once in a while
as it rises on the sea, but can't tell
whether the head is in it or not"
Soon the masthead hailed again:
"The boat has stopped, sir; they're
pickin' up something" and the next
minute we saw her heading toward the
ship.
"Now, then," said the mate, "get a
whip on that davit and stand by, to run
him up quick when they get along
side"
Nearer and nearer came the boat,
and soon rounded to under the quarter
of the ship. In the stern-sheets lay
limp mass, but whether alive or dead,
we on board the ship could not tell.
"Bend onto him CAREFUL" said the
aptain, land two or three of you
jump over the side aid steady him up"
ed a couple of turns Of the whip
around the mans body, and as The
word was given the men on deck walk
ed away and ran him up to the davit,
the men over the side steadying him
carefully, to prevent him swinging in
against the ship ON his passage up. AS
he came On deck he feeby opened his
eyes, and the steward, who was stand
ing near with glass of grog, put lit
tie of it between bis lips. Rousing up,
be took down all there was in the tum-
bier, a good "three-fnger nip"
"He'H d." said the captain; "I'U
risk him now; hook on the boat and
hoist her up" AS she came out of the
water he shouted, "Put up your helm;
fill away the head yards; stand by your
after braces!' and away the ship went
round on her heel, and fifteen minutes
later was going on her course again at
the rate of ten knots, with studding
sails allow and aloft.