The sun., 1895-01-20
n LIVELY RESCUE AT SEA.
smart Work by Lieut.. Cnntwen In Picking
Up One OF the CoryvIn's Sailors.

in the way OF rescue at sea-" said Capt. G.
A. Abbey inspector of the United States life
saving service, at his office in the Cheseprough
building. II never saw anything smarter and
neater than Lieut.. Cantwell's rescue OF a seaman
overheard in the North Pacific in the summer
OF 1886. l was commanding the U. S. r. NJ.
steamer Corwin, sent that year against the seal
pirates In Behring Sea. Cantwell. the third
officer, an active and very capable young fellow,
had already distinguished himself by his ven-
turcsome explorations on the Yukon River.
The course of the Corwin after clearing the
mouth of the Columbia lay little north of
west, across the Pacific Ocean, toward the near
est entrance to Behring Sea. She sailed in the
teeth of a fresh westerly gale and was buffeted
all the way by a high head sea. The weather
even at this season was chilly. and the spray
that broke over the vessel WINS icy cold.
The night of Juno Is was tempestuous and
rainy. The dim light of returning day revealed
the surrounding mists and fog and the angry
sea. The Corwin, a tUpsail- il-schooner-rigged
steamer, was carrying close-reefed, steadying
sails. At seven bells in the middle watch Lieut..
Rhodes, who had the deck, thinking she could
stand q little moro canvas, gave the order;
"'Turn the second rec: out of the mainsail.'
THE sailors came quickly aft and were soon
strung along the boom shaking out the reef.
stood on the lee quarter rail, loosing points. The
ship gave a sudden lurch, and the boom yank ed
viciously, knocking him from his footing. He
caught wildly at the swaying spar, missed II,
disappeared like shadow from the sight OF his
shipmates, and the next moment was struggling
in the white. seething wake OF the steamer. The
Man over1Gard! Stop St p herr r! '
Lieut. @ hh1des sprsRs % 10 ,he nell @ pull h and
the ship shouting he did
Clear away the starboard surfboat
qua E standing Sy roth the wheel
the sea: then scising cork jacket he ran and
washed face beneath his CLOSELY tied uwestcr
was turned piteously toward the ship as he fast
reseSH fFoh the Eh anil tar RSGS1G
Cantwell was enjoying the sound slumber of his
deck, clad as he had leaped from his berth, and
Al once took charge of clearing away the boat
directing aud assisting ut the same time. A few
seconds later First Lieut., HowisOn appeared
and as first officer assumed command. The
steamer, readily hove TO, was now rising and
iSH iIallnH nearly stationary upon the waves AZ
ahOat an eighth OF mile nstern.
1T was here that the fine discipline OF the SER
vice showed 10 best advantage. In the high sen
johnson was wholly out OF sight of tho men In
the boat. Lieut. llowisOn stood on the Corwin's
bridge, giving the proper commands for the
handling OF the chip, but never removing his
eyes from the speck that appeared at intervals
among the waves nhtcrn. lne 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 Llrenched
with spray stood In the tossing stern holding
the steering oar, with his back To the men. and
directing hiS course wholly by the motions of
Lieut.. uOwibon. From the quarter rail and
rigging the remainder OF the officers and crew
watched In breathless suspense every move
ment OF the rescuers.
Two minutes from the time the boat struck
the water IL was within hall OF Johnson, and in
another minute was alongside him. He was
found lying across the cork jacket, thoroughly
chilled, but had managed 10 strip OFF his oil
clothes, sea boots, and jacket, In readiness for
swimming should IL be required, lie was in
stAntly taken into the boat, which was headed
by Lieut. CAntwell for tho ship aud sent through
the water as rapidly as II had come. IL was
promptly alongside the vessel and successfully
hoisted and secured. The man was taken out as
the boat came up the side, carried below and
stripped aud rubbed, aud wa. done the worse for
his cold sea bath.
"once again on deck. Lieut.. Cantwell sud
denly realized that the wind, which hRpped his
single soak cd and dripping garment, was OF the
chilliest description, and that his present ap-
pearAnce was unconventional, to say the least.
Not waiting for congratulations ne diyed down
the wardroOm hAtchway 10 seek the seclusiOn
which = cabin grants. The engines were started
and the ship was on her course again within
fifteen minutes from the time the man fell from
tbs rail"