The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-04-27

summed up In substance, but not In
fact. A physique sapped up by knocks
and blows, all gloom and no sunshine,
and enfeebled because it was too feeble
to Withstand, was Pierre Henin's physi-
que. He vas always considered COW
ardly, because towards cowed him
down. There was only one person in
the wide world who cared the length of
a mongrel's tail how he fetched up
when the wind was forward of the
beam. That was his mother, who used
to wipe her spsctacles and say: "Ah,
Pierre is a good boy"
OF the thousands who gathered on
the strand that day there was none
who evinced more genuine sorrow over
the fate Of that swRying and helpless
hulk seward than did Pierre Henin.
Old beachcombers said it would be
suicide for anybody on shore to at
tempt to board her, for the Lyle gun
undreamed of then. It was Six
o'clock in the evening, or Il hours after
the vessel had struck, when the puny
IA year old French lad walked up to
the captain OF the port, who was on the
beach in ali the dignity and grandeur
of his official position and said:
Monsieur, l am a good swimmer.
Let me take a line to that ship"
It was a capital joke, or rather the
distinguished captain of the port
thought SO, for he laughed heartily as
he said to half a. dozsn of his satellites
who cruised about him: This scare
crow says he wants 10 take a line to
the ship. What do you think of that9'
HAS he wiDgs9' asked one of the
secondary planets.
Only angels have wings"
do not interfere with the lads
pleasure" remarked another, sarcesti
"Boulogne can stagger along
without him."
Il intend to go whether you permit
or not" said Pierre, quietly, the
youthful color coming to his cheek.
Il know that / am able to swim of
shore that far. have often done 20.
Give me a chance now"
But they would not humor his fancy,
50 he walked hundred yards or so up
the beach and stripped himself. Then
some fishermen brought him q line,
which he fastened under his armpits.
Then he plunged into the water The
fishermen stood by to pay out rope.
aenin had hardly gotten under way
when the captain of the port came
along full speed ahead" shouting at
the top of his lungs:
Come backI Boulogne will have
enough TO bury to night without home
contributions"
The fishermen dropped the line, but
Pierre kept IN.
"Ah, WELL" said the captain in dis
gust, give him all the rope he wants.
II it doesn't hang him it will drown
him"
The world likes a hero, and as the
captain walked back in the direction of
his satellites there was a buzz Of excite
ment among the thousands on the
beach. and finally q cheer broke upon
the air. Il was repeated again and
again. Henin swan for three quarters
of an hour before he reached the side
of the wreck, which he did a little after
seven. What happened after that is
best told in the following copy OF q
crude record Of the affair, which is to
be found in the archives Of the Humane
Society of London, and which is given
without alteration:
"On reaching the rightside Of the
vessel Henin hailed the ere and said
Give me a line to conduct you on land,
or you are lost, the g is coming in.
He spoke English plain enough to be
understood. He touched the vessel
and told them TO speak to the captain.
They Chat is, some of the crew, but
not the surgeon or captaiD) threw two
lines, one from the stern and one from
the bow. The one from the stern he
could not seize; the one from the bow
he did.
He then went toward the shore, but
the rope was stopped. This it is be
lieved, was the act Of the surgeon ol
captain.
He (Eenin) then swan back, and
told them to give him more rope To gel
on shore.
THE captain and surgeon would not,
They then tried to haul him in, but be
got on Shore"
A. thousand willing hands were there
to life him up as he fell exhausted tc
the beach. He had tried hard to save