The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1886-10-12

ItI SNSIlpctl iDesIl she WOULD appear
more, and keep on toward her goal The
schooner made a lee of smooth water, and
after half hour of work that seemed more
than human, the boat ran into this, and we
sent her a cheer of hope; but it was too soon,
for the next instant "a huge wave swept around
the vessels bow, and, coming over her side,
caught the lifeboat and flung it III on the deck.
We saw some struggling forms, but could
distinguish nothing, for the sprays were driv
ing between the masts, enveloping the men as
in a mist. We also saw that they We're get
ting the small line clear, and soon a signal
told US to haul it ashore. We did so, bringing
n stout tow-line, which we could see the men
make fast to the schooners mainmast soon
as we had the end secured to n heavy Spite
sunk in the sand Then we saw them work
ing at the lifeboat, and in little time she
was launched, and limp form passed care
fully into her.
The men then pulled slowly toward the
shore by the line, dangerous undertaking,
Us the wind made the now heavily loaded
boat surge fearfully, and the waves bore
down on her as though they would sweep
her from sight. But she battled on, and in
n short time, though it seemed ages to US,
reached the smoother water under the lee of
the smaller point and was soon drawn well
up ON the beach.
We gathered round the boat and l was
shocked to see, lying in the stern sheets, the
pale, still face of Currituck Joe. a CHASTITY
cut ON his head was oozing blood and there
was the unmistakable sign of deaths near
ness about him, which sent a chill to my
heart. The presence of life even now was
only discernible by a slight twitching of the
lips, the evidence, as 1 knew, of intense suf-
fering.
"Flung against her mast" said one of the
boats crew, in answer to an inquiry. Il
knew he would give his life away for some
one, but didn't think it would be for Mark
Ward"
y stout man was standing near by look
ing at Joe's white face with tear-wet eyes.
His breast was heaving, showing that his
heart throbbing fiCrcely, and when he
heard the words, he said:
Il am sorry, boys; L wish it was lying
there instead of joe"
Though curious to know the meaning of
these, to me, strange words l felt that Joe
should be attended to, and had him carried
to his home.
"Can you get a doctorl" 1 questioned.
There's none on the bar, and no one on
the mainland would cross the sound to-day"
was the answer
But Joe was already passing beyond the
need of any mans care. As L bent over him,
where he lay in his rude bunk, his eyes I'M
closed, and look of intelligence came into
them.
- fc oilS. hc hlaltItt
"Nes," / answered.
Then it's all right. Tell him say it's all
right"
His hand frightened its clasp mine as l
said | would attend To his wish Then a
bright smile lit up the brown face, and
CLEANED in the eyes, driving from them tho
sorrow l had seen there, and the next mo-
mcut this sorrow had faded in the glory of a
grander life
The storm was raging fearfully, the wind
shaking the rude hut with n force that seemed
equal to its destruction; but it stood firm and
l watched by the dead, Borrowing for the loss
of n true friend.
The men had returned to the beach, to
gather the wreckage that might drift ashore
and it was late when the man who seemed to
take the lead, now that Joe was gone, looked
in
told him that his comrade was at rest,
and asked him to send for n coffin
THAT can't be done till the morning." he
said, "and might as well help you watch. I'll
tell the boys, for they're mighty anxious It's
n sad day for US, sir, for Joe was the best man
on the beach. I'll be back soon, and he went
away.
He returned i'm n short time, and after get
ting the fire in order, he prepared some sup
per- of which partook, and then sat down
by the glowing blaze, for the wind was raw
and chill, and sent its currents through every
crack and crevice.
"What is it that links Joe's past to the life
of the schooner's skipperl" l asked.
"Thcy were neighbors and schoolmatcs over
beyond the sound" answered the man, 'and
both likely young fellows when the war came.
Joe had begun studying law, and Ward went
to sea with his father, the captain of n coaster.
Well, they both enlisted, and Joe was taken
prisoner. Ward knew of this, and came homo
wounded. II is said that Joe and no were
both after the same girl, but the story is that
she favored Joe. Well, when Ward reached
home, he gave out that Joe was dead and
then made up TO the girl. She mourned for
Joe six months or more, but, you know,
young nature will throw off grief, and Ward
was very attentive, and sympathetic, and
consoling, and the result was that she prom
ised to have him
ale hurried up tho wedding, saying that he
wanted 10 get back 10 his regiment, for his
wound was about well, and so they were mar
ried. The next week Joe got back, having
been exchanged, and when he found that he
had lost the girl he give right up and come
over here, and he has lived ON the bar ever
since
"Ward said that he truly thought Joe was
dead, but the folks all think that he trumped
up the yarn just To get the girl; in fact, they
know it, but they keep still for the woman's
sake, as she is nice and good neighbor.
"As for Joe, he had set his heart ON her so
that the loss just broke him all up, and he
never went back 10 his old home again. He
has lived ON the bar ever since, carrying his
fish and game across to a landin' to sell and
now and then running up to Norfolk. He
never me- E-lt., Who went coaSting again as
soon as the war was over, until he saw him
to-day.
we didn't think he would go Off to help,
but Joe was true grit. He has saved lots of
people, and it does seem too bad that he
should meet his death while rescuing the
man who blasted his life"
But so it was; and two days after that we
buried him in grave made among the sand
dunes, i'll whose company he had passed 80
many lonely years. It was his wish that no
stone nor sign should mark the place. and we
held his wish SaCruSl