Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1896-11-17

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Spouse.
AT that she took out knife and
hacked "a bit out of the tail
Yes; it bleeds all right, she an
nounced. This is test that never
fails.
Near me on an old mackerel box
was an old salt who had retired
from active service, but who always
liked to see the boys come in. He
sat around and sat around. That
was his occupation-sitting, He
could sit all morning and all after
noon on a box or keg and never
tire. He was a marvel at sitting
and spinning yarns. The old fellow
never forgot, though, and told you
the same story twice. Here's one
he told about figure well known in
Gloucest er-with most Of the dialect
eliminated
Never heard what he done when
he was driving toward the shore in
big Worcester? Why, it was the
nobIest thing a sailor ever done.
They seen him from the shore and
they made up their minds the
schooner would leave her ribs on
the rocks. But the lifeboat boys
we're going to put out, just the same.
| was standing there an heerd them
talk. It's mighty rough, boys.
The chances are agin it, but it must
be done. Them seas were just
rollin' in, you see. We've got our
duty to be done; there's flag of
distress. Come on, boys!
They seen the boys gettin ready
to come out on the schooner and
what do you 'spose they done? They
wouldn't let those boys run any such
risks. Down comes the flag of dis
tress, to the bewilderment OF the
men on shore. Up it goes, reversed,
telling: We don't need help; we can
help ourselves. 1t dazed the boys
On shore. Not need help with death
staring then in the face? Not HeeG
help wlrn the seas threatening
every moment to overwhelm them?
Had they gone crazy; were they
daft; did they want to die? Yet
there was the flag they had reversed.
Out OF the fury of the sea they had
spoken. Out of the wilderness OF
the tempest came back aresponse
like one from Heaven to the trem-
bling women on the shore who had
implored their husbands not to go
out in the lifeboat in that sea. They
didn't want help!
The moments seemed like hours.
Then we seen a boat lowered from
the schooner, . mere cOckle-shell
and we understood. The men on
shore were not to be sacrificed. 1t
was the noblest thing to see those
men tumble in their little boat and
pull CALAMITY toward the land.
Upon the land was the wife Of the
captain. When the flag was re-
versed she uttered a wall Of anguish
He will not take help; he will not,
will not, she moaned. Had not the
boat been lowered from the schooner
the men would have gone out at any
hazard. How they watched the
cockla-shell! Heaven seemed to
watch over it, because Of
the gallant deed of the cap
tain. 1t seemed preserved by some
special act of providence in rocoy-
milton of the bravery of the crew in
acquioscing in such course, On il
came; up and down; nearer and
nearer The crowd raised their
voices, now inspired by hope, en-
couraging them to new efforts. They
held their breath as tremendous
wave bore them along on itsvhor-
ribly kissing crest with the speed of
an express train and then left them
in hollow to be borne down by the
breaking of the wave. But they
arose and the next moment men
rushed into the surf and drew them
safely to land, sound to a man, while
- -2lconer. like a pooT. as.c.c-T