The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-05-22
A MODEST HERO AT BLAINE.
Fisherman Nielsen Has Saved Seven
Lives Within Ten Years.


OF all the water tolIers and modest
fisher folk. OF which there are many about
the International city, none are more UNI
assuming or retiring in disposition than
Hans Nelson. the humble Dane, who piles
his calling among the fisheries on the
Gulf OF Georgia Hans owns a piece OF
land near Blaine, but says he knows how
10 plow the ocean Better than the land,
and so he sticks to the water; and Hans
Is a hero. and no less than seven people,
IL they still survive. owe their lives TO his
individual efforts, although he is but "A
years old now.
His father a prosperous shipowner OF
old Copenhagen, brought Hans up for the
sea, intending TO make a navigator OF
him. and 70 this fact the young man says
he owes his opportunities for lfe-saving.
However that may be, the first chance
which came in his way was or "A winters
day In his fourteenth year, on the skating
ponds OF Denmark.
Hans was passing along the road near
pond on which was a party of young
men ranging from IL to % years in age.
One OF the party had fallen through and
the others, panic-stricken, had lost their
wits and were making but sorry efforts
TO rescue him. Hans heard the commo-
ton, and running TO the shore took In
the situation at a glance. Selling some
timbers which lay near he placed them
upon the rotten ice in such a way as TO
stand upon one while he pushed the other
forward. and so reached the unlucky
skater. who by this time was nearly per-
ishing with the cold while hanging TO the
broken ice. After considerable difficulty
he finally succeeded in pulling the dis
couraged and benumbed fellow out, and
went on his way without further cere-
mony or thanks.
About a year after the first episode. he
having been in the meantime apprenticed
on ship board. the vessel on which he
worked was lying in the river Neya The
captain. with his wife and little girl. had
gone ashore in small boat While the
father and mother were attending to some
business they left the little one az plav
in the boat She in some manner felI
overheard and Hans caught sight OF her
from the deck OF the ship where he stood.
Without moments hesitation he
plunged in, and, being a strong swim
iner. soon reached her. but from the mo-
ment he seized the child there was a Wig
oruos struggle 10 save hts life as well as
hers, for she seized upon him with frenzy
and nearly dragged him down BATTLING
10 keep her from drowning both they
foated down the stream nearly half a
mile. and were finally rescued by people
from war vessel lying In the stream.
Both were nearly perishing when taken
from the water, but TO show his aDnre-
citation OF the boys bravery the captain
set him 10 work three hours afterwards.
although he was very sick and hardly
able 10 stand
When the boy was entering his young
manhood. and after having received large
nautical training IN his native country
his father determined 10 send him 10 an
English port TO study navigation in that
language. and so he crossed the sea 20
Newcastle. or one OF the other shipping
cities on the east coast OF England Hans
ff.s @,
and then fine new ship was launched
one day. and soon wanted a crew 10 SIGN
for trip 20 Brazil. Our hero saw tho
owner, and the result was that he shin
ped as quartermaster bound for Rio.
This was away up, and everything looked
bright tor the future. but on an unluckv
day the snip took fire and burned at sea.
The crew took 20 open boats. IL is not
necessary 70 relate all their sensations
and experiences while they aoated ahou+
the bosom OF the deep for four DAYS buf
suffice II TO say that a the end of that
time they were picked up by ship which
bore them 20 the Madeira islands ubara
our friend took ship and sailed to RIO ia
Metro. his original destination. Soon after
arriving there he was taken down with
the yellow fever. After passing through
that dread sCourge with his life he shin
ped for New York. and thence via Cane
OF Good Hope 70 Japan. BY a slight acct
dent 20 the shin they were obliged 20 run
into Cane Town for repairs hut they fin
ally reached Yokohama. and then crossed
the Pacific 10 Vancouver. where Hans
bid aiieu 20 his saip one evening I'm 1SgA
and his next haven was Blaine. where he
has since resided. excepting for an oCra-
sional trip 20 other places about the
sound.
His next ltfe-savlng adventure occurred
IN King county IN November. 1871. and
believe was mentioned in the Post-TnteI-
ligencer NJ the time. and in the uerforrr,-
arce Of this rescue true hcroiS1, which
should not 40 unroticsd. was displavef.
There had been heavy SHOWS in the
mountains. and a 5 is often thc case tho
storms were followed immediately ~ the
melting chinook WIND which sen. Tho
snow down In a torrent OF water. Green
river was raging and its boiling surface
covered with masses 81 dangerous drlft.
Archie White, Il LAD Of N or u wears fen
from log into ne swift flow ne strear,
and was drowning Hans Nielsen han
pa0oi 20 be near and without an ins,ant'z
hesitation plunged into the Sec water
stream 20 ths rescue. Then rhe ha-rla
began. a fight with the elements 20 avoid
tae masses OF floating driftwoof and a
strccEiN w!th the strong. healthy bov :,
keep h!n from drowning them hoeh
Down The kissing stream they fought.
each s~ort appearing as though Il r7i~ht
avoid a mass oT treacherouS drift or bat
ttr1ng. whirl!ng log. now struggling w{th
the terrified hos. Who seemed determined
30 drag aim down; hope almost gone. t4a
hattie Seemi almost lost. when. after
floating a mile. = friendly sand bar
reached SIS rescu.nE arm fa- ont into the
boiling stream. and Hans felt his fee,
touching r-m bottom. and soon struggled
- shore Wi'A ais now hfeless burden. al
though nearly exhausted himself 4 was
only The work - 3 few hours. however.
% make thefu both as good as new. ara
Hans returned 20 Blaine. where he short
Is afte~ward made RS fourth rescue
Arch!c White moved. We heAeEe. soon az
ter with MS parents 20 Suohoraisa county
Number four was = peculiar ami rather
amusing case. TIE VaEaT3es o. iuterna-
tionsl WHISKY had Father strange man
Hesitation 50 che man. IL vas a. Point
Roberts We Wii tot save his name. hut
&c vas very drunk. ana MIR the ssin-er
rhsf n - - ~u ia -