Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1888-06-16

wave, leading the host OF pillows, would
rush toward the little vessel, and, top
ping as II to fall upon and crush her,
would lower its crest, and, gliding beneath
her trembling timbers, lift her almost
clear in air and toss her. toy like, to an
other huge billow, while the multitude
nous ocean roared with rage.
The crew of the Timmons, brave and
hardy mariners as they We're, and accus-
toned to storms on the broad water from
childhood, stood appalled, at the surpass-
ing terrors of this awful scene. dashed
In the cockpit, with wise like grip upon
the wheel and drenched to the skin. sat
Julius Weeks, who had been there thir-
teen hours. At last, toward afternoon,
to the utter dismay of all ON board, the
jib halyard parted, and, flying down the
stay, the jib hung, bag like, below the
bowsprit, and instantly the sea, like a
ravenous beast, fell upon it and held it
down rs il devouring it, The brave boat
struggled hard to lift her bow, thus
weighted, from the waves, and with a
mighty effort succeeded Again the sea
seized and held the bellying Jill, and again
the gallant boat, struggled, raised it clear,
hut with weakening power. The pilots
now realized that, unless Immediately re-
leased from this new and frightful dan
ger, the Timmons could not hold her head
up, but must founder after few more
struggles; but, feeling assured that an
attempt to reach the jib stay would result
in certain death, as no man could ever
remain on the bowsprit even If he could
reach it, they were stricken with despair.
1--WE are lost" exclaimed one; unless
we can cut that jibstay we are certainly
gone. A man can't live there, but it is
our only hope"
Who should do the desperate deeds
They hurriedly agreed to decide the mat
ter by lot, and were about to proceed to
do so, when Joe Arnold, who was now at
the wheel, shouted.
Hold on, men. You are all married
and have families; am single man; let
me try it, and il l go overload it will be
all right" and, surrendering the wheel
the brave boy drew his sheath knife, and
putting it between his teeth started for
ward
1t was impossible to keep his footing,
and so he crawled cautiously along the
deck there is no railing TO pilot boat,
holding on as best he could. His COM
panions watched him with the eagerness
of men whose only hope of life hung on
his steadiness of nerve and physical
strength. II he reached the bowsprit in
safety, the sea would certainly beat him
off, for every time the little craft plunged
the waves seemed to leap up to meet her.
For the first time since childhood fervent
prayers rose to the lips of some OF those
men who had followed the sea" all their
days without thinking of him whose
presence they now realized as they had
never realized it before, and tears flowed
freely down their bronzed faces.
Joe reached the foremost, and just then
the Timmons rolled nearly on her beam
ends. He threw his arm around the mast
and held on. The storm was now in.
describably fierce and the sea terrific. AS
the vessel slowly recovered herself he
loosened his hold and crawled toward the
it, locked his arms around it, drew long
breath, and then, with n rush, the Tim
mons buried her head and Joe disappeared
in the seething waters
The crew held their breath in an agony
Of suspense, while their eyes strained to-
ward the boiling foam which engulfed
him. In moment the stanch craft, as
il conscious of the heroic effort for her
exertion, bounded forward and upward
through the dashing waters. And on the
bowsprit, which was pointing skyward
the crew saw Joe Strengthening himself
into sitting position, his kr.fc still held
between his clenched teeth, snd preparing
to crawl still further out Again and
again this scene was enacted, each plunge
and rise finding the hero nearer to the
oh M xrI,{ oh ha xrvkS1 81
fairly ached with the intensity Of theil
emotions.
He reached it at last, and, watching the
most favorable opportunity, released his
right arm, snatched the knife from his
teeth, and with a swift and powerful
stroke cut the jibstay through as the
trembling vessel started down another
sea, restored the knife to its place, again
clasped the bowsprit in his arms, and
again disappeared-but only for q mo
ment, for the Timmons, now relieved OF
the weight which held her down, spranp
out of the threatening gulf as IL with new
life inspired. II was n great relief, but
the tempest was still at its height, and
now both Joe and the crew realized that
the most hazardous part of this heroic en-.
terprise was still before him, namely
not like coming down from aloft. He had
to repeat the desperate performance back
ward.
Slowly, and still astride Of the bowsprit,
and still alternately plunged into the sea
and lifted high In air, he began the fear
full task. Every instant was n crisis,
every moment threatened to. be his last
but slowly and steadily he approached the
dno1 ff.,a h. ~
the foremost, clasped it as before, and al
last, crawling, laid himself down ex.
hausted amid his awe struck companions.
The storm still howled, the sea was still
awful, and night was coming on--another
night OF horrors-but the Timmons car
ried her head free and feeling akin to
confidence was beginning to take the
place Of despair in the breasts of the crew.
They passed into the gloom Of the starless
night upon that wild waste Of waters.
clinging to the hope that with the coming
OF another day the storm would pass, And
their hope was not in vain. Gradually the
violence Of the wind abated-although
the sea still leaped frantically-and by
the next morning had ceased to he
alarming. They looked eagerly for the
land, gave more sail, and in few hours
recognized points which assured them
that they were of Georgetown, S. c.
With grateful hearts they steered for the
bar and entered the bay In safety, with
no other damage to the Timmons than the
loss of her boats, sails and rigging, fore
mast rubbed almost in two and some
strained timbers.
Joe Arnold still lives and pursues his
calling, and he will be greatly astonisked
If he ever sees this account of HIS heroism,
for he is modest and does not think he did
anything worth talking about. The Tim
mons, too, is still nfioat, and as smart II
pilot boat as ever crossed Cape Fear bar
or cruised of Frying Pan shoals.---C. NJ
Waddell in New York World.