Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1896-06-25
Life Saving at Sea.

Much imperilling OF life is demanded
in the mid-ocean rescue Of drown
ing man, and such an incident always
furnishes intense dramatic interest for
the spectator The Baron de Major
tie, in a recent interesting work, re-
calls an exciting scene he witnessed
years ago while crossing the Atlantic.
The ship was several days out, when
one afternoon he was idly lounglng
about on the upper deck.
Suddenly he says, Il saw man
approach the bulwark. He threw over
board some objects-we learned after
ward that they were his Bible and
rosary-and followed them with a
header into the foaming sea. Man
overheard = | cried, but the storm
covered my voice, and | rushed up to
the bridge to call the attention of the
officer on duty to the accident Stop,
Half speed astern, and orders for the
lowering of the boat were the affairs
of a minute or two Volunteers to
man the boat shouted young mid
shipman, cutting life boat from the
davits. Ten men came forward for
every one wanted, and, selecting four
of the most powerful tars, the MILDLY
was lowering the boat, when a young
doctor, quickly pocketing a flask of
brandy for a restorative, let himself
down one of the ropes and reached
the boat as a monumental wave was
dashing over it. The men pulled with
will, and the gallant little nutshell
fought bravely up and down the noun
tains of angry waters. As to the SUI
eide, he was far astern, and only from
time to time could we see something
like human form emerge on the top
of white crested wave.
ooh the anxiety with which we
watched both the boat and Its goal
Disappearing altogether at moments
when we feared we had seen the last
of these noble fellows, another gigan-
tie wave would toss them up again
like a cork 1t was exciting. But
the boat WAS gaining nearer and
nearer it came, while we We're slowly
following in its wake.
There The doctor throws a life
belt They are only some yards off
now. But no, cruel wave mas tossed
them past the object of their tremen-
dous efforts There, they are throw
ing round her nose the mildly has
passed the rudder to an old quarter
master, and, armed with boat hooks
he and the doctor stand ready for ac-
ton. Another second and the life
belt is hooked the man is grasplng 1t
desperately but he has no strength
left there, he slips-all Is lost, Just
at the critical moment.
But who is that jumping over
board ? Three cheers for the brave
man-it's the doctor. But he, too,
disappears. Are there to be two VIC
tins instead of one2 No, no. And
there-hurrah there is the doctor,
his precious burden before him The
men pull like mad to reach the two
ere they sink again The gallant
young mildly is watching for the
right moment. More life belts are
thrown. They help the doctor keep
above water; another pull and the
boat hook has done its duty, and
while two Of the men stick to their
oars the others are busy dragging
rescuer and rescued on board
"The long cold bath, the fright
and the proximity of death had won
derfully sobered the would-be suicide
whom remorse for a drunken spree
had driven to this mad freak. 1t did
not require meny restoratives to bring
him to, and two hours later he had an
opportunity of recapitulating his adj
venture, having been condemned to b
kept in irons for the rest Of the voy'
age, a well-deserved punishment fol
exposing six valuable lives in TIM
perilous venture. - Warrington Star