The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1886-01-12
A GOOD MATCH"
How Q Poor Young Sailor For.
tunately Found One.

John Blake, young man of thirty,
had followed the life of a sailor since
he was lad of seventeen. Being 3
person Of steady habits he had saved o
kttle money, and he hoped in time tc
earn enough 60 own craft of bis
sWn.
Unfortunately, one day. when aloft
a the foretop-gallant yard of ship
ssming in from the Sea, past Sandy
Hook. the foot rope broke and he fell.
- he went head foremost his feet
caught in the tOpmast ratlines for
moment, enabling him to clutch back
s6ay. The impetus of his fall, however.
whirled him over sideways, one of the
bones Of his right arm was twisted and
broken, and although he was now able
tn hang on to the rigging with his left,
the excruciating pain he suffered was
sach that he must soon have tainted
away but for the assistance he received
from a couple of shipmates who. il
shanced, were also aloft and who
helped him to the deck. In due time
he was taken to the lodgings he usually
occupied when in the city, and his
hndlady summoned a good surgeon.
The latter tended him for weeks. dur.
ing which . large hole" was made in
Jacks money. His right arm wac
low nearly useless. 1t hindered him
Rom pursuing his calling as a sailor.
and he endeavored TO obtain other bust
NESS. No one. however, could be found
willing to employ man who could on
b use his left arm. Day after day his
savings dwindled, until finally they
were reduced to afew dollars. Having
paid his last dollar TO his landlady, he
wandered forth for another attempt 10
solemn VOW to himself that. were he
unsuccessful. he would never return to
his lodgings.
mo. no." he muttered, I've always
paid my debts like an honest man, and
I'm not going to live on people I've no
means of paying. I'll 90 to Davy
Jones first-ay, ay, l certainly will,
seeing as he charges nothing for board
sad lodging"
At dusk, weary and discouraged,
having been unable to obtain work,
Jack walked out to the end of long
pier, and there sat down. looking At
ne water
LAY, sy. rs soon as it's dark I'm
sf," he said to himself May as well
make the plunge first as last, and sheer
sut of this world. which can do moth
ing for chap that has sprung one of
his timbcrs."
The gloom of night soon closed
around him. He just gave one wistful
s9uint at the forest of masts looming
up through the darkness On his right.
hit OF fresh quid from plug of to-
Aacco, then dropped from the pier into
the river. and went down like mar
hnspike. But be was an excellent
swimmer. and somehow, when be
found he was under water, the instinct
of sef-preservatiOn was asserted, and
he worked himself up 10 the surface.
''Halloas" he muttered, as he
bobbed to and fro, about the base Of
the pier, what does this mean?
thought was going TO drown myself
Why. now, I'm ashamed of my cow
xrdice-l certainly am"
He closed his ewes, opened his
mouth, and was about to allow himself
ts sink again, when he heard squeak
nag voice above him.
Here's a rope! Catch il and save
YOURSELF"
Looking up. Jack could dimly dis
sern the face of little. lean man, with
some kind of box strapped to his
shoulder. This person bending too far
ever to lower TO Jack a short rope he
held, lost his balance, and fell head
hong from the pier into the river
Ugh! ugh" he gasped, in CUR
CLING voice. as he came up. Help!
kelp! Save me, Wooden leg! Only |
one eye! Hand paralyzed: OH
Jack had already seized him by the |
hair, and thus kept his face above the |
surface
Don't be afraid. shipmate.'' he
cried. iii save you if can, although |
can only use one arm!''
Marcy on mel" spluttered the !
ether. ''Oh, I'm afeared I'll drown.
Quick: quickl"
Jack, by vigorously kicking his legs.
sontrived TO keep himself and his com
yanion up until he reached small raft
Of thinkers, alongside of the pier. only
. few yards from where the man had |
fallen
Meanwhile ali thought of suicide had
been banished from his mind, in his
sagerness to save the life OF fellow
creature. The two were soon on the J
timbers. which lay IN the broad CLEAN
east by lantern on the dock.
Thanks 10 goodness cried the
stranger. after Jack had hauled him.
with his one arm. on the raft. Here
] be, safe and soundr'
As the young sailor looked at him by
the light of the lantern, he could not