The National tribune., 1882-04-08

1.-THE gale began to abate and the sky tC
brighten. 4 vessel hove in sight, saw The
signal of distress, ran down to the steamer
was hailed, answered, and was asked for help
She could give none and kept on her course
At about two p. N. the brig Marine, Cap,
tain Burt of Boston, bound from the West
Indies to New York, heard minute guns and
saw the steamers singals of distress. She
ran down TO the sinking ship, and, though
very much crippled herself by the gale
promised 10 lay by She passed under the
steamers stern, spoke, rounded TO, and kept
her word. The steamers boats were ordered
to be lowered; the Marine had none that
could live IN such a sea.
Now came another trying time. The boat
scenes of the steamer Arctic had made a
deep impression upon Herndon's mind; they
now crowded into remembrance. Who of
this crew should be selected TO man his
boats? Would they desert him when they
got off from the ship? There were some
who he knew would not.
1t was not an occasion when the word
might be passed for volunteers; for it was
the post Of safety, not of danger, but never
theless of great trust, that was TO be filled.
The captain wanted trusty men, that he
knew well from long association, and the
crew Of such vessels is not very permanent
as to its personnel. Therefore he felt at
loss, for there was still n man wanted for
/ Blacks the boatswainis) boat. sailor, per-
| ceiving the captains dilemma, stepped up
/ al e lS- alSs IN 1,ol +
! may be supposed, been long in the ship, for
| Herndon evidently did not know him well,
and replied, in his mild and gentle way, Il
wonder if [ can trust you?" The sailor in
stinctiyely understood this call for shib-
boleth, and simply said, II have hands that
are hard to row, and heart that's soft to
! feel" This was enough; he went, and was
true Not boat deserted that ship All
the women and children were first sent to
the brig, and every Onearriyed there in safety.
Each boat made two loads to the brig carry
ing in all one hundred persons.
BY this time night was setting in. The
brig had drifted to leeward several miles
away from the steamer and was so crippled
that she could not beat up to her again.
Blacks (the boatswain's) boat alone returned
the second time. Her gallant crew had been
bu1eting with the storm for two days and
night without rest, and with little or no
food. The boat itself had been badly stove
while alongside with the last load of passen-
gers. She was so much knocked pieces rs to
to be really unseTviceable; nor could she
have held another person. Still those brave
seamen, true to the trust reposed in them by
their captain, did not hesitate to leave the
brig in her again and pulled back through
the dark for miles across an angry sea, that
they might join him in his sinking ship and
take their chances with the rest Let noone
call this rash, idle or vain; it was conduct
the most loyal, noble and true. The names
Of this brave crew have not been given, else
1 should suggest the propriety of making
some formal acknowledgement of the high !
appreciation in which such devotion TO duty
and such conduct are held by the Depart
ment.
l am aware that these men do not belong
to the navy, but they are American seamen, |
nobly doing their duty under the American
flag, and adding luster to it by their deeds |
Whether Of the naval or of the merchant |
service, such conduct should not 60 unre- |
Quilted by the Government. During the low |
ering of the boats and the embarkation of |
the women and children there was as much I
discipline preserved among the crew of that
ship, and as much order observed among her I
passengers, as was ever witnessed on board |
the best regulated man-of-wa
The law requires every commander in the !
navy to show in himself a good example Of
virtue and patriotism, and never was example |
more nobly set or more beautifully followed.
Captain Herndon by those noble traits which
have so endeared his memory to the hearts
Of his countrymen, had won the respect and
admiration of the crew and passengers Of
that ship in such a degree as to acquire an
over them that was marvellous in
It's effects. The women felt its force. Calm
and resolute themselves, they encouraged and
cheered the men at the pumps and in the
and, finally, to Herndons last
appeal for enc more effort, they rose superior
10 their sex, and proposed to 30 On deck
themselves, and with fair hands and feeble
arms there do mans work in battling with
the tempest
There were many touching Incidents of
the most heroic personal devotion to duty
aud to him during that dreadful storm.
Even after the ship had gone down, and her
passengers were left in the water, clinginr
by whatever they could lay hands on, Offices
Of knightly courtesy passed among them.
As one Of the last boats was about to leave
the ship her commander gave his watch to q
passenger, with request that it might be
to his wife. He wished to charge
him with a message for her also but his ut
terance was ch0ked. "Tell her" Unable
10 proceed, he bent down his head and buried
his face in his hands for moment, rs if in
prayer, for he was a dev6ut man and true
Christian. In that moment, brief as it was,
he endured the greatest agony. But it was
over now. His crOwding thoughts no doubt
had been Of friends and home; its desola-
ton; n beloved wife and lovely daughter
dependent alone for support upon him. God
and his country would care for them now.
Honor and duty required him to stick to his
ship, and he saw that she must 90 down. ,
Calm and collected, he rose up from that
short but mighty struggle with renewed