Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1896-05-21
she was his promised wire.

his suit, and he did, but Kate was true
to the fisherman's son and would have
nothing to DO with the man Of her par
ents' choice.
William Kings voyage took him to
China. and he was to be gone something
like is months. When Kate's parents
found that she would not marry the
man, they had chosen for her, they be-
came very angry and turned her out Of
doors, expecting no doubt that she would
repent and do as they wanted her TO.
But the girl was not made of that sort
of stuff. She went to live with the cap
tain's family and remained there for
nearly two years, waiting for her sailor
lover to return, but he didn't come.
! One day report reached Cape May
that the brigantine Sea Foam had foun-
dered somewhere in the vicinity Of the
Falkland islands, and that all On board
were lost. Tho story had the effect Of
prostrating Kate, who lay for several
months at the point of death, bGt she
finally recovered.
! 1t was noticed that the girls mind
had been seriously affected. She appear
ed to be rational enough on all subjects
but that Of her lovers return. She in
sisted that he would return and insisted
upon setting a light on stand ON the
beach every night SO that it would be
guide to him.
With their daughters misfortune the
hearts of Kate's parents softened, and
they insisted on her coming home with
them to live, but she refused to do so,
Protesting that she must stay on the
beach, where she could "watch for
Willie" all the time. She refused an
cHer made by her father to build her
nice cottage On the sands. She said she
didn't want any comforts that Willie
couldn't enjoy, and so one day the fish,
ermen ECilt rough structure, and Kate
took up her residence there.
The captains IS daughter spent good
deal Of time with her for two or three
years, but she finally got married and
Went at distance to live. The old cap
tain died. Kate's parents crossed the
6tirE river and the young woman was
left alone.
Kate's parents left an estate valued
ct several thousand dollars, and she was
the only heir, but she refused to touch
q penny Of it until Willie came back to
enjoy it with her.
1t was thought that the girls mental
condition might improve if she was
froa+ad OF N co,i+ori,,,,, opd ola xuoc
shut up in one for three months, but she
begged so hard to be allowed to con-
tinue her vigil that she was finally al
lowed to return to her humble home on
the beach.
Kats supported herself by fishing and
accepting favors from the sympathetic
fishermen, who locked after her with a
care that was almost affectionate in its
nature, and she became an expert oars
woman, and could manage a sailboat
equal to the best of them.
Seven Mile Beach is a wild place in
the time Of storm. 1t is open to the
ocean, and good many times the ocean
at that point gets exceedingly nasty. A
good many vessels have foundered there,
and the fishermen along the shore have
organized sort Of independent life saw
ing crew, and they have saved good
many lives in the last ten years.
Two weeks ago, during blizzard that
swept up the coast, three masted
schooner struck the bar off Seven Mile
Beach The wind was blowing strong
from the southeast. She struck about
| O'Clock in the afternoon, and Dafty
Kate was the first to discover her.
She gave the alarm, and the fishermen
made ready to go to the assistance Of
the crew, who were helpless III the rig
/ ging.
Kate took her place, as usual, in the
boat that was launched, and the start
was made for the vessel. 1t was hard
| fight, for the waves were running like
small mountains, and the boat in which
the plucky fishermen were was a large
yawl, which is good sea boat, but not
cs safe as iifeboat.
The vessel was rapidly sinking in the
sand and had careened so that her deck
was completely submerged. Tt was evil
dent that she would soon go to pieces,
beavers to reach her.
There were five men in tho rigging,
and their shouts for help could be heard
above the roar Of the water. 1t was a
desperate battle, but finally the yawl
got near enough the foundered craft to
enable the occupants to make themselves
| heard.
You'll have to jump and take
chances on our picking you up!" shout
ed one Of the boats crew.
"All right" came the reply.
One after another of the men jumped
| into the seething waves and was picked
up. The last man was not as easily
caught as the others. He was carried
shoreward by strong roller, but he
managed to keep his head above water
until the boat got near enough to him to
| permit of one of the men reaching him.
AS he was being hauled over the side a
wave threw the boat against his head
| and rendered him senseless.
The rescued sailors were landed safe
| ly, and the injured man was taken to
Dafty Kate's hut and physician sum
moned as soon as possible. 1t was
found that the mans skull had been
fractured by coming in contact with the
boat, and the doctor was doubtful to
what extent he was injured.
Three days the sailor lay unconscious,
and all the time Kate was giving him
| all the attention possible. On the morn
ing of the fourth day he opened his eyes,
and one of the sailors who was sitting
near him said:
"Do you know me, Jack?"
The wounded man looked at him in a
dazed way and finally answered: "My