Wichita eagle., 1888-05-11

rIIus or Jne storm ciInglng 10 portions or
she vessel whHh yet remained above the
water, and We're evidently lashed in their
various positions. AT short intervals the
| inrushing waves would submerge them
| and bury them from eight.
In the meantime the vessel slowed down
| its speed to q point where it could just
retain steerage so as to hold bow on to the
gale. It was n terrifying, a dangerous
| position. The huge waves, with irresisti-
! BILE energy, tossed it rs if it were a cork;
the waters poured over its decks; their
| crests overtorping the snlokestacks, and
! ;nenaced The boat and its contents with
/ instant destruction.
The conviction of the crew of the Fed
! eral vessel was that the unfortunates on
/ the wreck were doomed and that any
| attempt at their rescue would certainly
result in the loss of additional life. Not
/ SO with Capt. Smallman. He appreciated
all the dangers of an effort at rescue, and
! yet felt it TO be his duty to incur the risks.
He was young, vigorous and sympathetic.
and he determined at all hazards to make
an effort TO reach the wreck
| He called for volunteers. There was
long delay, and then two of the crew
stepped forward. With these he resolved
TO try and board the stranded vessel.
With infinite difficulty a boat was
launched in the bowling waves, and with
incredible effort the gallant three suc-
ceeded in entering it, and were instantly
! capsized and the boat was turned bottom
side ap. Impossible as it may seem an
other boat was launched, and the three
men were picked up. Again they es>
Sayed to go out to the wreck, and this
this time succeeded in almost reaching it,
when they were again turned over. The
captain climbed on the upturncd bottom,
another man clung TO the boat and the
| third man, a powerful swimmer, made
his way to the wreck, hauling a line,
which was attached to the ship. This was
made taut on portion of the wreck, and
| Dy its aid the other two men were able to
be drawn ont Of the water.
Despite the uproar OF the storm, the
rescJing party was forced by the horror
of the condition of the shipwrecked to
notice the details of the situation. Fifteen
men were in sight, laShed to various por-
tions of the wreck, and all apparently In
dying condition
With vast difficulty they were taken to
the gunboat along the extended line, all
bnt one of them reaching the ship in
safety. One man died on the way from
exhaustion.
The wreck proved TO be the Federal
gunbOat Lavender. Some of the crew had
been swept off before the arrival of Capt.
Smallman, and the remaining fifteen
would have lasted but a few hours longer
without assistance. They had been ex-
posed to the fury of the waves for fifty
six hours, and were on the verge of eX-
haustion from hunger, thirst and the
blows of the waves.
Their limbs, about which the ropes had
passed in the lashings, were in horrible
condition, the flesh in many cases hav-
ing swelled and puffed out till the ropes
were out of sight.
The survivors reported that the day be-
fore Federal gunboat had passed within
sight of them, had witnessed their sig
mails, and had passed ON without Offering
them any aid.
''Did you ever learn what guhboat it
was that passed by like the Levite 'on the
other side?'" "
NO it was never known except to tho
men cn the vessel who thus played the
coward, and abandoned the wretched
crew 70 death"
''HaVc you ever had any communica-
ton from the men whom you rescued3''
Il have never heard a word from any
Of them. l regard this as the more curious
from the fact that several of the rescued
men were officers of the wrecked vessel
In fact, l should not have ever heard from
the occurrence again had I not, as told
you, written to the secretary Of the navy"
Such was the narration, in substance,
of the quiet, modest captain in the smok-
ing room of the Press club. No one from
his appearance would have suspected him
of being the hero Of one of the most gal.
liant featS of the war-'Poliuto'