Milford chronicle., 1888-02-24
CAPT. SMALLMAN.

bacco.
'Let me make you acquainted with
Capt Smallman.
"Glad to see you, sir. OF Chicago'"
''No, am now living in Grand Haven.
The captain is a man of about 90, Of
medium height, compact figure, indicat-
ing fine connection Of strength and
activity. His eyes are a blue gray, his
face calm, pleasant aud intelligent, his
hair brown, with small island Of white
being thrown up by time on - crown.
There was nothing at 81 striking in the
appearance oi the captain. | supposed
iii ne was the commander in chief Of q
schooner on the lake, and that he Occu-
pied himself in the commonplace and
useful occupation Of transporting iron
ore, shingles lumber and other articles
from point to point on the lakes.
Anxious to make myself agreeable for a
moment, ventured some comment on the
business OF sailing the lakes, and natur-
ally adverted TO the late tremendous
storms which had swept the inland seas,
and which carried death and destruction
in their progress.
Endeavoring to ingratiate myself with
the man with the nautical prefix to his
name, spoke Of my experience on the
ocean; how had crossed the briny Allan
tic a half dozen times, and considered
myself a tar seasoned to a perfect finish.
/ And then, to compliment the yalor and
endurance of the navigators Of the lakes,
! added that stormy, bOttOmless, cruel
and unsympathetic as is the ocean, 1
would rather risk a voyage to Liverpool
than one from Chicago to Mackinaw.
''You meet tremendous storms on the
lakes, do you notf'
"Oh, yes, sometimes"
"And find it very dangerous some sea-
sons of the yearr'
YES"
''And were you ever shipwrecked?"
''Well, no, not exactly. l have seen a
good many, though, at one place or an
other"
The rather Indifferent expression which
habitually prevailed on the face Of the
captain changed slowly into one glowing
with something like excitement. / saw
that memory was stirring his soul, and
inquired:
"Is there any Of your experiences of an
unusual character.
''Yes," he answered slowly, as if dream
ing.
''What was ity'
ON tell you one incident" he said,
] with a serious air.
There were two or three listeners be-
sides myself. We were all standing up,
as if the coming recital were not Of sufli-
cient Importance or length to warrant the
occupation Of seats.
During the civil war;" commenced
/ the captain Il was in the Federal navy
/ in the fleet engaged in blockading the At
/ lantic coast / then performed a service
] ot ba ffrto caarf,ad N mo m 1,a II
| Importance. The war ended and the
event was gradually almost forgotten.
''NOt long ago l began to think the
matter over. and concluded that would
call the attention of the government to it.
| / wrote n letter to Secretary Whitney, in
which recited in detail all the facts in
the occurrence. The letter was soon an
swered by the secretary by one in which
/ he admitted the truth Of all my state
ments, including one to the effect that my
assertion coincided with the accounts on
| file in the record Of the operations Of the
navy department.
'He also stated in his letter that a
medal had been ordered, and which would
be presented to me as recognition Of
my services
''Well, captain, what was the event;
what did you do to earn the medal and the
commentator Of the secretary Of the
navyg''
"All right, I'll give you the facts. d"
The captain then proceeded in a modest
way to relate the incident.
During that period of the civil war when
the efforts Of the blockade runners were
most frequent and energetic, Capt Small
man was acting as master Of a Federal
] he Ha-
veloped during this period Of service,
among which frightful storms, the chasing
Of blockade runners and the carrying Of
information from point to point were
among the most conspicuous.
During the summer months Of 1854 the
CAPTAIN found himself in front Of the
Wilmington coast and engaged in the
labor of watching for smugglers. One
day there came up sudden and tre-
mendous storm accompanied by wind
that blew directly in shore. II extended
through the night, aud lasted all the next
day and night without the smallest inter-
mission in its fury.
The third day Of the storm, Just after
daylight, lookout from the deck Of the
Federal boat saw through the crests Of
the tempestuous waves what seemed
signal, or an indication of human exist
ence. Closer observation confirmed the
fact that somebody in the distance was
showing what looked like a seaman's
jacket. By the aid of the glass it was
soon discovered that a vessel had broken
up on a reef to which a number Of men
were seen to be clinging.
The situation was terrible one to both
the people on the wreck and the Federal
vessel. There was imminent danger
Al. Hhn Inff 70
approach the former, as it was liable to
share the same fate. Safety demanded
that the vessel should keep on us course;
humanity, that some effort should be
made to rescue the wretches who were
imprisoned on the reef. There was hot
discussion pro and con, until at length it
was determined to remain in the vicinity
with the hope that opportunity might be
afforded to reach the wreck.
1t could be seen that the men on the
broken vessel were in a desperate condi-
tiOn. They could be observed through the
riffs Of the storm clinging to portions Of
the vessel which yet remained above the
water, and were evidently lashed in their
various positions. At short intervals the
inrushing waves would submerge them
and bury them from sight.
In the meantime the vessel slowed down
its speed to a point where it could just
retain steerage so as TO hold bow on to the
gale. It was terrifying, a dangerous
position. The huge waves, with irresisti-
bic energy, tossed it as if it were a cork;
the waters poured over its decks, their
crests overlapping the smokestacks, and
menaced 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 70 reach the wreck.