Rock Island Argus., 1897-05-12

You," Said the Captain 70 . sweds Sailor.
Bravery and Pathos In the sea D1siness
Of the Old Day.
"Bah! he said. ''You have lot to
learn, young man. You have as much
sentiment in your construction as this
stick I carry.
"The idea Of a youth like you, trying
to tell me that there is as much bravery
and pathcs attached to seafaring now as
there was when was master Of q wind
jammer! You probably believe that you
are correct in your statement; but, man
alive, you are making fool of yourself.
Here in these days you have lifeboats
big and stout enough to carry an army
Of men. You have steam to manipulate
the falls, patent davits to swing clear
No lowering away by hands and no get
ting them back over the side with every
pound Of flesh a-pulling. New tangled
guns for throwing life line, RATS that
won't go to pieces in the first chop Of a
sea, cork jackets that need no instruction
cards, but which go on like q mans
vest; pumps that are rusty for want of
use, seamless plates and dozens of other
inventions in these days Where were
they in the old times?
Let me tell you something. don't
say but that there are many brave and
gallant mariners in the business now.
But the old shipwreck meant more in
the matter of life taking than the ship
wreck Of today does Did you ever hear
tell of a sailor CT the old school trying
to get into boat before the passengers
were out Of danger? You needn't say
You have, because you have not Why,
the only ones who ever attempt any
thing ct that kind are stokers and fire.
| men and rowdies who have the impu-
dence to call themselves sailors.
II remember the case of shore loafer
named Holmes, who tried shenanieau
like that. he was afterward tried in the
United States circuit court at Philadel-
phia and was convicted of marslaughter
he was one of 80 shipwrecked persons
who took to the long boat, which was
| greatly overloaded and constantly in
danger of sinking. Well, this beach rat
Holmes and some more of Abraham g
men threw overheard 16 passengers, two
OF whom were women, to Tighten the
boat. The court held that sailor is
bound by law, if necessary, to sacrifice
his life to save the life of passengers.
Furthermore the court held that while
two sailors might struggle with each
| other for the possession of the same
plank which could save but one, if a
passenger were on the plank even the
law of necessity would not justify the
sailors in taking it from him. You do
not think much of that law? Well, it is
the law Of God. 1t is also the law Of
duty.
"Did You ever hear of the case Of
Captain Nutman of the ship Aidar? He
was good sailor and gallant maste,
and no matter what many may think,
it is possible to be both. His ship foun-
dered, but he refused to be taken off.
Do ycu krcw why he refused to be taken
OF! There was an injured man on board,
and while the old timbers were going
to pieces under his very feet he knelt
down and said to the man:
81 won't leave you, lad. On my
homer as a sailor / WON'T
l
rot leave him. Have you ever heard of
anything more touchingly honest? Cap
tain Nutman went down with his ship,
but managed to hold on to his man and
to get to the bottom of an upturned
boat, from which they were afterward
rescued. 1twas month or SO after that
when townsman asked Captain Nut
man what the name of the rescued man
| was.
why, I never inquired he said.
He just signed articles in the regular
way. I may have heard it then, but l
do not know it now. He was a Swede,
that's all know of him.
The friend shook his head in aston
ishnent as he inquired:
What! A Swede? Take all that
chance for Swede?'
why, yes, even for a Swede. I didn't
care whether he was a Swede OF a
Laplander. He was a good sailor and
would have done the same for me had
things been reversed"
Nor is that all, young man. There
was shlpwreck about 1S45, but the
name OF the craft has escaped my men,
ory- The crew took to one boat. which
was overcrowded. A noble Newfound-
land, the pet of the ship, swan along
side the boat All the men turned their
eyes sadly upon him, but thew knew
there was no room for him in that boat
The captain loved that dog better than
he loved his life, and he stood up in the
boat as he took off his coat and said:
II cannot see him die like this
Give him my place in the boat. can
hold on TO the plank, and he cannot
There was a chorus of dissent. and
one OF the sailors struck the brute over
the head with the blade of an oar. while
another pulled his sheath knife.
Don't hurt him, said the CAPTAIN
kindly, but firmly.
" Order him away, them erowled
several Of the men. He will swamp us
ALL
1.-The captain hesitated a minute.
waved his arm in the air and said.
Back, Prince! and the faithful brute
swami back in the direction in which
the vessel had disappeared beneath the
I