The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1880-09-03
A HERO OF THE DEEP

l u
These wofis.wcre spoken BY a dark cca,
turcd and full boarded man to his companion
a swnrthy fellow whose every look botok-
cucd the fierce nature within--as the two
assembled from the cabin of the Ma,y Ana,
of Bitter Creek, and stepped quietly on the
q iartcr deck. The older of the two took
Il few turns of the somewhat confined space
between the binuace aud partly uSel chew
Of tobacco which the second mate had left
Oh the port rail, and then went below to
consult his charts.
The situation was indeed critical one
for the beautiful vessel which rested like L
swan Oh the hcaving surface Of the Miami
Canal. For three hours she had been be-
camcd by balky mule Freghted with
a cargo of golden hucd pumpkins, it was
important that there should be no delay in
reaching the port to which they were con
signed; hence the shippers anxiety was
but natural The black clouds that were
scurrying across the southern sky .old too
plainly that storm was approaching, and
woe to the vessel it found unprcparcd The
captain knew that in the present situation
OF his stately ship Il wreck was inevitable
should the storm strike her. 1t was an
anxious moment, but his check never
blanchcd 1t couldn't unless washed, and
of this none who knew our hero had any
fear Glancing hastily at the compass, he
saw that the vessels proper course was cast
by South and that the lead mule was at ast
TWO points away and on his beam ends. The
storm was rapidly approaching, and the
on'inous muttcring Of Heavens artillery
was evidence enough that ere long the now
placid surface Of the canal would be lashcd
iuto white. capped pillows, any one of which
would engulf the Mary INN. To think
was to act with the captain. Hastily seiz-
ing glttcriuy fog horn from its place in
the ratlines, he placed it quickly to his
mouth and shouted:
Tie up the cook"
1t was a wise move The cook was ia-
bic to have Mysteries when anything went
wrong. and frequently tipped over the sup.
per
"Thc Cap'n's all right" said Coshccton
Joe to the ships carpenter, a tall, athletic
fellow from Bcrca, whose brawny arm had
often directed the fatal ish,liuc in pickcrel
season.
AYE, aye, mcssmate," was the response
"and though I'm sore afeard wei uc'cr sec
wife and children again or steal grapes in
the Sandusky Valley, it's not that will
shrink back or step ashore at time like
this"
"Well said. my hearty" came in gruf1'
voice from the ships waist. "Our pinnacle
lights may go out this night forever, but
let us die like Ohioans"
BY this time the first puffs of the ap.
preaching tempest were plainly to be felt
and the shrill notes of the boss hens on the
ncighboring farms showed that even they
had scented the danger and were seeking
shelter.
1t was a terrible moment
The mule was apparently the only AMI.
mate thing that did rot comprehend the
danger lie lay obliquely across the tow.
path, occasionally whisking fly from his
car with ore Of his hind feet, but gave no
other evidence Of life
Unless he could be gotten on his feet the
ship would be lost. What could be done ?
While all we're standing in speechlcss
amaze at the phenomenal cusscdncss of the
beast, a slouch hat was seen 10 emerge from
the io:ccastle, quickly followed by Il small
boy. One glance at the angry sky and an
other at the mule WAS nough. Quickly
leaping upon the slop bucket, he sprang
lightly from the larboard rail to the tow.
path. and advanced toward the apparently
sleeping mule.
The crew looked on with alnazcmcnt
With stcalthy tread he crept alongside of
the animal, and with one bound alightcd on
his back. Like flash he grabbed its tail
and gave that member viJ!eut twist. In
an instant the mule was on his feet and kick
ing in seventeen directions at once. But he
was left. The boy was on his back holding
ths lines With grasp ofiron. With ter
rble yaw>haw Of rage the now thoroughly
iniuratcd animal dashed mady forward
The strain on tho cablo was in,mcusc, and
the good ships timbers groaned as if in ag-
oDy. In 4 moment, however, she felt the
breeze created by the mule going ahead
and her cut-watcr cut the blue waters like a
knife as she kecled to starboatd and stood
away Oh her course.
The boy on the mule had saved her, and
when the captain saw him twist the animal
tail he said loud enough for all to hear:
That was the act Of statesman and
diplomat"
Who was the boy? James A. Garfield
RESTORING WORKOUT FIELDS
Several Eastern Agricultural papers have
recently attempted to solve the problem of