Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1896-09-18

rough structure, aud Kate took
up her residence there.
Tde ca aptain's daughter spent a
good deal of time with her for two
or three years, but she finally got
married and went at a distance to
live. Tho old captain died. Kate's
parents crossed the dark river and
the young woman was left alone.
Kats's parents left an estate
valued at several thousand dollars,
and she was the only heir, but she
refused to touch a penny of it until
Willie came b ick to enjoy 1t with
her.
1t was thought that the girls
mental condition might Improve II
she was treated at sanltarlnm,
and she was shut up in one Tor
three mouths, but she begged 30
hard to be allowed to continue her
vigil that she was finally allowed
to return to her humble home on
the beach.
Kate supported herself by nsh-
ing and accepting tAVOrs tron the
sympathetic fishermen, who looked
after her with a care that was al
most aflectionate III its nature, and
she became all expert oars-womaD,
and could manage a sailbOst equal
to the best of them.
Seven Mile Beach is a wild place
In the time of a storm. 1t Is open
to the ocean and good many
times the ocean atthat point gets
exceedingly nasty. A good many
vessels have foundered there. and
the fishermen along the shore have
organized sort of independent
lite saving crew, and they have
saved a good many lives in the
last ten years.
Two weeks agn, during a biz
zard that swept mp the coast
three masted schooner struck
the bar of Seven Mile Beach. Tre
wind Was blowing strong from the
southeast. Size struck about 2
o'clock in the afternoon and Dafty
Kate was the first to discover he'.
She gave the alarm and .he fisher
men made ready to 60 to the assls-
lance Of the crew, who we're help
less in The rigging.
Kate took her place, as usual, III
the boat that was launched, aud
the start was made for the vessel.
1t was a 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 a good sea boat, but not
as safe as a liiebOat.
The vessel was rapidly sinking
IN the sand and bad careened 50
that her deck was completely sub
merged. 1t was evident that she
would soon 60 to pieces, and the
men In the boat worked like bea-
verS to reach her.
There were five men in tn e rig
ging,and their shouts for he p could
be heard above the roar OF the
water. 1t was desperate battle,
but finally the yawl got near enough
the folndered craft to enabl
the occupants to make themselves
heard.
"You'Il have to jump aud take
chances on our picking you np!'
, shouted 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 ealsIy caught as th'
others. He was carried shOrewar(
, by a strong roller, but he managed
to keep his head above water until
the boat got near enough to him tC
permit of one of the men reaching
him. AS he was being hauled oVeI
r the side a wave threw the boa
I against his head aud rendered
e him senseless.
. The rescued sailors we're landed
i, safely, aud the injured man wa
tax en- to Dnfty Kdte's hut and
physician summoned as soon a
} possible. 1t WAS found that th
n mans skull had been fractured b.
t coming IN contact with the boa'
J, and the doctor was doubtful t
l.. what extent he was injured.
s. Tbree days the sailor lay un
II consclOts, and all the time Kat
It was giving him all the sttentlo
possible. On the morning OF th
8 fourth day he opened his eye
|. and one of TIE sailors who wa
b sitting near MIN said;
,r "Do you know me, Jacki'
It The wounded man looked at biz
II 10 dazed way and nnsll
e answered; "lfy name isn't Jacl
a | W. oro rnpqU