The Press., 1897-09-16
WIND JAMMING DAYS.
AN OLD MARINER'e TA1Es OF BRAv-
 FRY IN WRECK.

ROu," Said the Captain tO a 6wede sailOU.
 Bravery and PathOs In the Sen Business
 of the GSRd Days.
 ''BahP' he said ''You have a lot to learn. young man. You have as much sentiment in your construction as this stick carry.
 ''The idea of 8 youth like you trying to tell me that there Is as much bravery and pathos attached to seafaring now as there was when was master of a wind jammeri 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 hfeboats 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, rafts 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 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 sailor of 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 of that kind are stokers and fire men and rowdies who have the impu- deDce to call themselves sailors.
 II remember the case of shore loafeF named Holmes, who tried sheAlauigan like that He was afterWard tried in the United States circuit court at Pbiladel- phia and was convicted of manslaughter He was one of 80 shipwrecked persons who took to the long boat. which was greatly overloaded and constantly in danger of sinking. We'll, this beach rat Holmes and some more of Abraham's men threw overheard l6 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 passenger were on the plank even the law of necessity would not justify the TV1F Fol 1 not think much of that lawS We'll, 1t is the law of God It is also the law of duty.
 Did you ever bear of the case of Captain Nutman of the ship Aidar7 He was & good sailor and gallant master and no matter what many may think, 1t is possible to be both. His ship foun- dered, but he refused to be taken off Do you know why he refused to be taken oR2 There was an injured man on board, and while the old timbers were going to pieces under bis very feet he knelt down and said to the man:
 won't leave you. lad On my honor as sailor won't
 "On his honor as sailor he would not leave him. Have you ever heard of anything more touchingly honest? Gap 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 It was 8 month or so after that when townsman asked Captain Nut man Whab the name of the rescued man was
 Why, never inquired he said He Just signed articles in the regular way. may have heard 1t then, but I do not know 1t now. He was SW2de, that's all know of bim.
 ''The friend shook his head in aston ishment as he inquired:
 "'Whati A Swede7 Take all that chance for a Sweder'
 "Why, yes, even for Swede didn't care whether he was a Swede OF a Laplapder. 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 shipwreek about 1846, but the name of the craft has escaped my mem 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 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.
 "'I cannot see him dle like this Give him my place in the boat can hold on to the plank, and he canno4
 ''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 several of the men. He will swamp us all
 ''The captain hesitated a minute, waved his arm in the air and said, Back. PrinceI' and the faithful brute swam back in the direction in which the vessel had disappeared beneath the surface Where do you find such pathoe in the sea business nowp Give me the old sailor every time.
 And he hobbled up Beaver street as the young mariner dived into William street. New York Mail and Express.