Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-08-17
GARFIELD's
Thrilling Description of a Brave
Act---HOw He Saved the
Vessel.
]. Fsnimoro Cooper in Chicago Tribuno.l

Caat
]. Fenimore Cooper in Chicago Tribune.l
Jim can manage him"
These words were spoken by a dark
featured and full bearded man to his
companion-a swarthy fellow, whose
every look betokened the fierce ma
ture within-as the two assembled the
cabin of the Mary Ann, Of Bitter
Creek, and stepped quietly on the
quarterback. The older of the two
took a few turns of the somewhat con-
fined space between the pinnacle and
a partly-used chew Of tobacco which
the second mate had left on the port
rail, and then went below to consult
his charts.
The situation was, indeed, a critical
one for the beautiful vessel, which
rested like a swan on the heaving sur
face of the Miami canal. For three
hours she had been becalmed by a
balky mule. Freighted with a cargo
of gOlden-hued pumpkins, it was i'm
portant that there should be no delay
in reaching the port to which they
were consigned; hence the skippers
anxiety was but natural. The black
clouds that were scurrying across the
southern sky told too plainly that a
storm was approaching, and woe to
the vessel it found unprepared. The
captain knew that in the present stu
ton of his stately ship a wreck was
inevitable should the storm strike
her. 1t was an anxious moment, but
his cheek never blanched. 1t could
not unless washed, and of this none
who knew our hero had any fear.
CHANGING hastily at the compass, he
saw that the vessels proper course
was east by south, and that the lead
mule was at least two points away and
on his beam ends. The storm was
rapidly approaching, and the ominous
mutterings of Heavens artillery was
evidence enough that ere long the
now placid surface of the canal would
be dashed into uninterrupted pillows,
and one which would engult the Mary
Ann. To think was to act with the
captain. Hastily seizing a glittering
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
liable to have Mysteries when anything
went wrong, and frequently tipped
over the supper,
1.-THE cap MS all right said COshoc-
ton Joe to the ships carpenter, a tall,
athletic fellow from Berea, whose
brawny arm had often directed the
fatal ish-line in pickerel season.
AYE, aye, messmate,' wa the re-
spouse ''and though I'm so afeard
we'll ne'er see wife and children again,
or steal grapes in the Sandusky valley,
it's not ] that will shrink back or step
ashore at a time like this"
wei said, my hearty, cane in a
gruf voice from the ships waist. Our
pinnacle lights may go out this night
forever, but let us die like 0hioans."
By this tine the first puffs Of the
approaching tempest were plainly to
be felt, and the shrill notes Of the boss
hens on the neighboring farms showed
that even they had scented the dan
ger AID were seeking shelter.
1t was a terrible moment.
The mule was apparently the only
animate thing that did not compre-
bend the danger. He lay obliquely
across the tow-path, occasionally
Whisking a fly from his ear with one
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 done2
While all were standing in speech
less amaze at the phenomenal cussed-
ness of the beast, a SLOUGH hat was
seen to emerge from the ~forecastle,
quickly followed by small boy. One
glance at the angry sky and another at
the mule was enough. Quickly leap
ing from the slop bucket, he sprung
lightly from the larboard rail to the
tow-path, and advanced toward the
apparently sleeping mule.
The crew looked on with astonish-
ment.
With stealthy tread he crept along
side Of the animal, and with one
bound alighted on his back. Like a
flash he grabbed its tail and gave that
member a violent twist. In an in
slant the mule was on his feet and
kicking in seventeen directions at
once. The boy was on his back hold
ing the lines with an iron grasp. With
a terrible yaw haw of rage the now
thoroughly infuriated animal dashed
madly forward. The strain on the
cable was immense,a and the good ships
timbers groaned in agony. In a mo-
ment, however, she felt the breeze
created by the mule going ahead, and
her cutwater cleft the blue waters like
a knife as she keeled to starboard and
stood away on her course.
The boy on the mule had saved her,
and when the captain saw him twist
the animals tail he said, loud enough
for all to hear:
THAT was the act of a statesman
and a diplomat"
Who was the boy2 James A. Gar
field.
The Buddhist He'll.
FChinese Buddhism" ~
In the I'll tsang-Sutra" Is a story