The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1891-04-09

When he sang of loUe.
Tradition has dealt somewhat roughly
with the reputation Of the Barnegat folk
of half century ago; but that is hardly
to be wondered at. 1t is quite as much
as live man can do nowadays, even by
giving a good deal Of attention to it, to
protect his good name, so what show
can the necessarily silent dead be ex-
pected to have9 The fact is that the
"wreckers 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 few
very excellent men and women who
never lighted false beacon fires or swung
ships lantern from q cows horns.
Unhappily there were then many
wrecks on that dangerous coast, for
warning lights were not so numerous a.
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 as we at pres
ent have. When the wrecks occurred
the dwellers on Barnegat beach assumed
thai all rights Of Hotsam and jetsam
were theirs, and perhaps piously viewed
the casting ashore Of rich cargo as q
special providence in their behalf. But
the cruel treachery Of Turing vessel To
destruction by means Of false lights was
an infrequent crime-whatever sensa-
tional legend makers may say to the con-
trary-and there were numbers Of brave
strong men there who many . time
heroicaIly risked their lives to save ship
wrecked persons from the terrible waves
that in stormy weather thundered upon
those sands.
David King and his stalwart sons,
Donald and Andrew, were among the
foremost Of those who habitually 90 dis
tinguished themselves. No one waa
more daring and indefatigable in captur'
ing valuables from wreck than were
the Kings, but they would at any mo-
ment abandon the most tempting piece
Of salvage to save q drowning sailor,
and that could not be truthfully said Of
all their neighbors. There was those
who ayerred that this eccentricity
brought the family good luck, and this
imagining had not little good effect in
encouraging others to emulate their hu-
name example, 20 that in time 1t came
to be noted that wrecks were much lea
fatal in their neighborhood than upou
other parts Of the beach.
Janet King, the only daughter Of Da.
vid, had almost as much strength and
dexterity with the oars as had either oi
her brothers, and was quite their equal
in courage, which Is equivalent ia
saying that in all the qualifications
demanded for existence on Barnegat
in those days she had no superiors in
the community. And q consensus Of the
opinions Of the young men in the vicin.
ity would have unqualifedly sustained
the affirmation that in point Of good
looks she had no equals. OF course Other
young women saw defects in her style oi
beauty. They affirmed that her eyes
were too big and black, her wavy raven
black hair altogether too long and heavy,
the voluptuous roundings Of her finely
developed form quite too pronounced.
But that was to be expected. The girls
of Barnegat were not radically different
from other girls. Janet was not simply
pretty" or good looking" but actually
beautiful to q degree that awed the
young fellows about her, caused them d
feel awkward in her presence and made
them shy Of attempting advances to her,
however wistfully they looked upon heH
from q respectful distance.
But one day there came . big, blue
eyed, faxen haired young hunter from
the distant city Of New York who was
not 20 easily abashed, but rather inspired
by beauty, and who very promptly made
his admiration for her quite apparent.
Selden Rangely was, he said. his
name. He had been duck shooting up
about the mouth Of Forked river until
success became monotonous, and leaving
his boat in the bay he had wandered
along the coast AiInlessly until he reach.
ed the hamlet where the Kings were
leading citizens and found shelter IN
their house. There was in his mind q
half formed purpose Of stFolEing on "a
far as Mays landing, or perhaps even
farther, but it was quickly abandoned
when he got one good look at Janet
King. Where abe was his journey, he
felt, was ended. And why should he 60
farther and certainly fare worse3 Itwaa
bitter, bad November weather, 20 in
element that hardly one day out Of
three was ct to 60 ducling in, and the
roads-in the few places where any ex-
listed = were execTable. Only . fool
would think Of exploring the New Jer-
sey coast ct such season when he had
the alternative Of settling down BY q
warm freside and making love to Janet
King.
With some initial difficulty he per
shaded her father to accept him - q