Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-01-28
A LIVELY RESCUE AT SEA.
Smart Work by Lieut.. Cantyvcil In
Picking Up Orc of the Corwin's sailors

u ohAS VA thC WI VIA - S-'A.OA -
From the New York Sun.
I'm the way of rescue at sea-, said
Capt. c. a. Abbey, inspector of the United
States Hfe-saying service, at his Office in
the Chesebrcugh building, II never saw
anything smarter ana aoater than Lent
Cdntwelrs rescue of a seaman overheard in
the North Pacific in the summer of 1856
/ was commanding the U. s. X. NJ. steamer
Corwin, Sebt that year against the seal
pirates in ReriIg sea. Cantwell, the third
officer, an active aud very capable young
fellow. had already distinguished himself
by his venturesome explorations oil tire
Yukon river.
The course of the Corwin after clearing
the mouth of the Columbia lay little
rCrth of west, across the Pacific Ocean,
toward The nearest entrance to Boring sea.
She sailed in the teeth of a fresh westerly
gale, and was buff eted all the way by
high head sea The weather even at this
season was chilly, and the spray that broke
over the vessel was icy cold
THE night CT June IS was tempastuous
ard rainy. The dim light of returning day
revealed the surrounding mists and fog
and the angry sea. The Corwin topsail-
acknowledged steamer, was carrying
c!oSe-reefed. Steadying sails. At seven bells
in the middle watch Lieut.. Rhodes. who
mad the deck. thinking she could stand a
httie more canvas, save the order:
Turn the second reef out of the MAIN
SAIL
The sailors came quickly aft and We're
soon strung along the boom shaking out
the reef. Charles Johnson, an athletic
young seaman, stood on the lee quarter
rail- looSing points. The ship gave q sud-
den lurch n. and the boom yanked viciously,
knocking him from his footing. He caught
wildly st the swayinS spar, missed it, dis
appeared like a shadow from the sight of
no
struggling in the white seething wake of
the steamer. The cry, ever so appalling at
sea, went up:
Man overheard. Stop herr
Lieut. Rhodes sprang to the bell pull and
rang the rapid four-beii signal Stop and
back the ship shouting he did 50:
Clear away the starboard surfboat!
"A quartermaSter standing by the wheel
pulled the lanyard that detached from the
vessels stern a life preserver. which drop
ped into the sea; then seizing cork
jacket he ran and flung it toward the man,
whose white sea-washed face beneath his
closely tied souwester was turned piteous-
ly toward the ship he fast receded from
sight amid the plungin6 waves.
When the first call sounded Third Lieut..
Cantwell was enjoying the sound slunlber
of his watch below. Five seconds later he
struck the deck, clad as he had leaped
from his berth, and at once took charge Of
clearing away the boat. directing and
ssting at the same time. A few seconds
later First Lieut.. Howison appeared, and rs
first officer assumed command. The steam
er, readily hove to. was now rising and
falling nearly stationary upon the waves.
at intervals glimpSeS were caught of the
man still ahoat an eighth of a mile astern.
ut was here that the fine discipline of
the service showed to best advantage. In
the high sea Johnson was wholly out Of
sight OF the men in the boat. Lieut.. How
iSon stood on the Corwins bridge. giving
the proper commands for the handling of
the ship. but never removing his eyes from
the speciz that appeared at intervals among
the waves 2Stern. The boat, manned with
six oars. was now on its way to the man,
steered by Lieut. Cantwell. who, in light
night clothes, with bare head and feet,
and drenched with spray, stood in the toss
ing stern holding the steering oar, with his
back to the men. and directing his course
wholly by the motions of Lieut.. Howson.
From the quarter rail and rigging the re-
mainder of the officers and crew watched
in breathlesS suspense every movement of
the rescuers.
Two minutes from the time the boat
struck the water it was within hail of
Johnson. and in another minute was along
side him. He was found lying across tie
cork jacket, thoroughly chilled, but had
managed to strip Off his oil clothes, sea
boots and jacket, in readiness for swim
ming, should it be required He was in
stantly taken into the boat, which was
headed by Lieut. Cantwell for the ship ard
sent through the water as rapidly as it
had come. 1t was promptly alongside the
VeSSel ana successfully nOiSteu anu Secur-
ed. The man was taken out as the boat
came up the side, carried below and strip
ped and rubbed, and was none the worse
for his cold sea bath.
"Once again on deck, Lieut.. Cantwell sud-
denly realized that the wind. which Tapped
his single soaked and dripping garment,
was of the chilliest description. and that
his present appearance was unconventional,
to say the least. Not waiting for consrat-
ulatiors. he Owed down the wardroom
hatchway to seek the seclusion which a
cabin grants. The engines were started
and the ship was on her course again with
in fifteen minutes from the time the man
fell from the rail-