The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-05-09
OUT AMONG THE BREAKERS.
Narrow Escape of Captain George =.
Allen, Yesterday.


| Added to the List of Lives Saved by
Captain Trundy and His Ien-General
! Water Front News.
Thursday afternoon Captain George j.
Allen, of South Portland, well known
fisherman went out in ''20 footyboat'' as
craft of the sort is commonly called,
thinking he might strike school of fish,
but instead he struck into o heavy sea
and when the wind increased he went
ashore near the Two Lights, and later in
the evening went to the United States
| Life saving station, where Captain
| Trundy invited him to remain until he
got ready to go out for the early morning
fishing. Before they went to bed Cap
tain Allen said to his host Captain you
| haven't had much to do this year, to
which he replied "We never can tell Cap
tain Allen when we shall be called out.
Hours after Captain Allen said ~ didn't
think then that in little while he'd save
| my life.''
bout 3 O'Clock yesterday morning Cap-
tain Alien left the station, and in a little
while was outside making rapidly for the
fishing grounds. He soon found that the
yea was even worse than it had been dur
Ing the early evening, and that the wind
was rising. He concluded that he made
a mistake in venturing out, and b alf
wondered if it wouldn't be well to put
back.
But Maine fisherman will do almost
| anything rather than come back to port
without fish, and he headed outside. b ut
ID an instant his craft WAS caught on
the crest of big wave and capsized.
When 1t went over Captain Allen was
thrown into the water, but managed to
keep up until he caught this boat with
one hand. and in that way sustained him
self for moment and then got more
secure position at last for the time. He
could just manage to keep his head above
water, but had very little hope of ever
seeing the land again.
The overturned boat was soon struggling
among the outer line of breakers, and it
was the greatest difficulty that Captain
Allen managed to retain his position.
He was chilled to the bone, and knew
| that he could hold on but very short
time.
just before the boat struck the breakers
he managed to shout "help," once and
then the spray was going over him, and
he was fighting for his life.
AT that instant Captain Trundy was
standing at the door of the station, it
being nearly the time for changing the
watch. He heard that single cry, and at
once comprehended what had happened.
''Allen is out there in trouble man
both boats" he said, and the order was
instantly obeyed, and the two boats were
dashing through the breakers.
Captain Allen could catch their out
lines now and then through the spray.
but he was too far gone for shouting. 1t
was dark and the men in the life boats
were uncertain i'll what direction to row.
At last Captain Trundy saw black OBJ
jeot among the white breakers, and headed
his boat for it. He seized the exhausted
man. drew him in, and as he passed his
other boat shouted. 'keep out and bring
in Aliens boat"
SIS he alive Captain" shouted back
one of the men, but the Captain made no
reply. Just then he had enough to think
of without answering questions.
Once on shore the rescued man was car
ried to tho station where his clothes were
stripped off. and dry ones put OH. Then
hot coffee was given him, and he was
wrapped up in blankets. 1t was some
iy,o hofo ba fell h
and had he not been seen just as he was,
he could not have lived but very short
time longer. AS it was few hours at
the station made him feel as he said, "as
good as new" His boat was righted,
and was found to have been but little in
jured, and later hs returned to Portland.
1t was close call for him.
WATER FRONT NOTES.
]. W. Trefethen reported yests rday the
arrival of small boats with about 10000
pounds of fresh fish. The schoone RS are
on the banks, but should be coming in at
any time now. The small boat fishermen
are having the market all to themselves.
The British schooner Alfred arrived
from Porto Rico yesterday, after being
twentysix days out, and the British
schooner Matte May, twenty five days for
Barbados. Both encountered very bad |
weather, with head winds and high SEAS
1t was also very cold much of the time |
and altogether very unpleasant expert |
ence.
There was very lively runaway on
Commercial street yesterday afternoon.
A horse attached to a carriage started |
from opposite the Custom house, and it
first took record breaking pace. Some
body suggestedto young man with BIZ
cyle that it would be good plan for him
to oyertake the horse and stop further
proceedings, but he only replied that the
horse wasn't in his class. Just as matters
were getting interesting some longshore-
men managed to halt the horse.