The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1897-01-07
MID-OCEAN RESCUE.
Periis Of Saving Drowning Per-
sons at Sea-
Many Lives Often Risked to Save One
stirring Incident of n Trip Across
the Atlantic - A would-Be
Suicide.

Much imperiling of life is demanded
in the mid-ocean rescue of a drowning
man, and such an incident always far
nishes intense dramatic interest for
spectator. Baron de Malortic, in re-
cent interesting work, recalls an excit-
ing scene he witnessed years ago, while
crossing the Atlantic. The ship was
several days out, when one afternoon
he was idly lounging about on the up
per deck. Suddenly, he says, | saw a
man approach the bulwark. lie threw
overheard some objects - we learned
afterward that they were his Bible and
a 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-spced astern, and orders
for the lowering of the boat were the
affairs Of minute or two.
Volunteers to man the boat" shouted
a young midshipman, cutting lifeboat
from the davits.
Ten men came forward for every one
wanted, and, selecting four Of the most
powerful tars, the MILDLY vas lowering
the boat when a young doctor, quickly
pocketing flask of brandy for restor-
alive, let himself down one Of the ropes
and reached the boat as n monumental
wave was dashing over =.
The men pulled with a will, and the
gallant little nutshell fought bravely
up and down the mountains of angry
waters. As to the suicide, he was far
astern and only from time to time could
we see the something like "A human
form emerge on the top of a white
crested wave.
Oh, the anxiety with which we
watched both the boat and its goal!
Disappearing altogether at moments,
when we feared we hadseen the last OF
these noble fellows, another gigantic
wave would toss them up again like
a cork. 1t was exciting in the extreme.
But the boat was gaining; nearer and
nearer it came, while we were slowly
following in its wake.
There! the doctor throws a lfebelt.
They are only some yards off now. But
no, cruel wave has tossed them past
the object of their tremendous efforts.
There, they are throwing round her
nose; they are lacking; the MILDLY has
passed the rudder to an old quarter
master, and, armed with boathooks,
he and the doctor stand ready for action.
Another second and the lifebelt is
hooked; the man is grasping it desper-
ately; but he has no strength left;
there he slips-all is lost just at the
critical moment.
But who is that jumping overboard7
Three cheers for the brave man-it's
the doctor! But he, too, disappears.
Are there to be two victims instead OF
one? 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 lifebclts are thrown.
They help the doctor to keep above
water; another pull and the boathoos
has done its duty, and while two of the
men stick to the oars, the Others are
busy dragging rescuer and rescued on
board.
The long cold bath, the fright and
the proximity of death had wonderfully
sobered the would-be suicide, whom
remorse for drunken spree had driven
to this mad freak. 1t did not require
many restoratives to bring him to, and
two hours later he had an opportunity
Of recapitulating his adventure in dire
solitude, having been condemned to he
kept in irons for the rest of the voyage,
q well-deserved punishment for expos
ing six valuable lives, the lives of six
heroes indeed, in this perilous venture.
Montreal Star.