Daily Yellowstone journal., 1891-04-05

Tradition ! dealt somewhat roughly
with the rep ctation of the Barnegat folk
Of half a century ago; but that is hardly
TO be wondered at. 1t Is quite as
as a live man can do nowadays, even by
giving a good deal Of attention to it, 70
protect his good name, 80 what 'show'
can the necessarily silent dead be ex-
pected TO have? The fact is that the
sswreckers of Barnegat" were not by any
means so black as they have been paint
ed. That modest claim in their behalf
scarcely seems sufficient, for the same
thing is proverbially said of the devil, so
we may in strict justice go farther and
affirm that among them were not a few
very excellent men and women who
never lighted false beacon fires or swung
a ships lantern from a cows horns.
Unhappily there were then many
wrecks on that dangerous coast, for
warning lights were not so numerous as
they now are, and the loss Of life IN
those disasters was great, since there was
no such well organized and admirably
equipped life saving corps rs we at pres
ent have. When the wrecks occurred
the jewellers on Barnegat beach assumed
that all rights of hotsam and jetsam
were theirs, and perhaps piously viewed
the casting ashore of a rich cargo as a
special providence in their behalf. But
the cruel treachery of Turing a vessel 10
destruction by means Of false lights was
an i~nfrequent crime-whatever sensa-
tional legend makers may say to the con
trary-and there were numbers Of brave
strong men there VINO many a time
ksruically risked their lives to save ship
wrecked persons from the terrible waves
that in stormy weather Numbered upon
those sands.
David King and his stalwart sons,
Donald and Andrew, were among the
foremost of those who habitually so dis
tinguished themselves. No one was
more daring and indefatigable in captur-
ing valuables from a wreck thar were
the Kings, but they would at any mo
ment abandon the most tempting piece
of salvage TO save a drowning sailor.
and that could not be truthfully said OF
all their neighbors. There was thos'
vino averred that this eccentricity
brought the family good luck, and this
imagining had not a little good effect II
encouraging others 10 emulate their hu
name example, so that in time 1t CAM
to be noted that wrecks were much les
fatal in their neighborhood than upor
other parts Of the beach.
Janet King, the only daughter Of Da
vid, had almost as much strength an'
dexterty with the oars as had either o
her brothers, and was quite their equa
in courage, which is equivalent Il
saving that in all the qualification
demanded for existence on Barnega
in those days she had no superiors Il
the community. And a consensus Of tn
opinions of the young men in the Vcin
ity would have unqualihedly sustaine
the affirmation that in point OF goo
looks she had no equals. of course othe
young wome saw defects In her style c
beauty. They affirmed that her eye
were too big and black, her wavy rave
black hair altogether too long and heav,
the voluptuOus roundings of her incl
developed form quite too pronounced
But that was TO be expected. The gar
of Barnegat were not radically d1fereI
from other girls. Janet was not simpi
pretty OF good looking" but actual
beautiful to a degree that awed u
young fellows about her, caused them
feel awkward in her presence and MAJ
them shy Of attempting advances TO he
however wistfuIly they looked upon h
from a respectful distance.
But one day there came a big, BIT
eyed, haxen haired young hunter fro
the distant city Of New York who W
not $ easily abashed, but rather inspir
By beauty, and who very promptly ma
his admiration for her quite apparent
Selden Rsngely was, be said, }
name. he had been dnck shooting I
about the mouth Of Porked river I'M
mocass became monOtonOB, and avn
his boat in the bay he had wander
along the coast aimlessly until he reae
Cd the hamlet where the Kings W
laading citizens and found shelter
their house. There was in his MINI
half formed purpose Of snodling ON
far a. NAYS landing, q perhaps q
farther. but L rs utEdX ahAnon1