The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1897-07-17
AN OLD MARINERS TALES OF
BRAVERY IN WRECK.

NNhpiiilChp III Soul OoiStluCtiO dS plIlS SblCh
carry.
"Ihe idea of a youth like you trying to
tell me that there is as much bravery and
pathos attached to seafariDg now as there
was when | was master of IA wind TANNER!
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 getting them back over
the side with every pound of flesh a-pulling.
New tangled guns for throwing life line,
RATS that won't 60 to pieces in the first
chop OF sea, cork jackets that need no
instruction cards, but which 90 on like a
mans vest; pumps that are rusty for want
OF use, seamless plates and dozens of other
inventions in these days. When were they
in the old times?
Let me tell you something. | don't
say but that there are many brave and gal
liant mariners in the business now. But
the old shipwreck meant more in the mat
ter of life taking than the shipwrpck of
to-day does. Did you ever hear tell of
sailor OF the old school trying to get into
boat before the passenger were out Of dan
ger? You needn't say you have, because
you have not Why, the only ones who
ever attempt anything of that kind are
strokers and fire men and rowdies who
have the impudence to call themselves
sailors.
81 remember the case of shore loafer
named Holmes, who tried a shenangan
like that. He was afterward tried in the
United States Circuit Court at Philadel-
phia, and was convicted of granddaughter.
He was one of 30 shipwrecked persons who
took part to the long boat, which was
greatly overloaded and co stanty in dan
ger of sinking. Well, this beach rat Holmes
and some more of Abrahams men threw
overheard l6 passengers, two of whom were
women, to tighten the boat. The court
held that sailor is bound by law, if neces-
sary, 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, il "a pas
senger were on the plank even the law of
necessity would not jus ify 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 Cap
tain huffman of the ship Aidar? lie was a
good sailor and gallant master and no
matter what many may think, it is impos-
sible to be both. His ship foundered, but
he refused to be taken. Do you know 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 honor
as a sailor | won't.
son his honor as sailor he would not
leave him. Have you ever heard of any
thing more touchingly honest Captain
huffman 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. 1t
was a month or so after that when towns
man asked Captain huffman what the name
of the rescued man was.
"Why, | never inquired, he said. He
Just signed articles in the regular way l
may have heard it then, but | do not know
it now. He was Swede, that 8 all know
of him."
'"The friend shook his head in antonish-
ment as inquired:
"What A Swede? Take all that chance
for Swede?'
''Why, yes, even for Swede. l didn't
care whether he was Swede or Laplander
He was good sailor and would have done
the same for me had things been reversed "
"Nor is that all, young man. There was
shipwreck about 1S45 but the name of
the craft has escaped my memory. The
crew took to one boat, which was over
crowded. A noble Newfoundland, the pet
Of the ship, swan alongside the boat. All
the men turned their eyes sadly upon him,
but they 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:
81 cannot see him die like this. Give
him my place in the boat. can hold on
to the plank, and he cannot"
| There was 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, then," growled sew
eral of the men. "He will swamp us all. "
The captain hesitated a minutes, waved
his arm in the air and said, "baek Prince"
and the faithful brute swan back in the
direction in which the vessel had disap-
peared beneath the surface Where do Won