The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-12-28
IN Athletes DARING DEED.
REsCUES two SIWAsHEs WHO ARE
IN PERIL OF DROWNING.
SWAN to Their Relief Through
Heavy Surf, and Landed Them In
safety. Although Badly Battered

Specia, Dispatch TO the Posf-InteiIIgencer.
VICTORIA. 3. e.. Dec. G.-Had II not
been for the nssoism OF Harry Z Morton,
the lacrosse player and all-r0un6 athlete,
tie 1ust-gone Christmas would have been
cIouSsd BY a tragedy and the waters Of
the straits would have claimed two fresh
victims from among the Indians who ind
.ner nome aaoat The colonist ellis
the story as follows: The acci-
dent, which came within an ace
OF terminating fatally. occurred at ii
O'Clock or Whereabouts, in the height
OF Wild sogthsastsr and the siwashes
WHO. but for Aorten's strength and Draw
cry. would have ended their days in the
storm are old man waurn and Tom, both
from the Chatham island reservation.
Inc Indians whose hvse were saved
were. when they came to grief. on their
way from Oak bay 10 Chatham cor Dis
covsry island1 In a fine large fishing sloop,
on which they were carrying rather more
saii than was practicable In view OF the
fact that d soutneaster was raging that
streaked the rough waters with foam
The sloop headed mp 10 1t well until about
mar an hour 10 noon when the boom
CHANGED 10 swing In a particularly ugly
sea, and at the same instant a sudden
squau sent the craft over Fortunately
the set sail with the mast and gear held
her up. while her bottom, being to the
sea. broke the oncoming swells, KEEP
ing her from laundering and enabling the
Two natives 20 Chamber on the side Of
their uniucky sioop.
This occurred within 80 yards OF Dis
covery island. but the capsized craft had
dTirted TO midway between Ten Nile point
and Mary Todd island before IL was seen
from Oak hay. Hon Fred Peters and Mr..
j. A. Virtue at once made preparations for
going 10 the rescue. but a glass failed 10
7~zrw.- h. ga -
ing from the hotel-about mile away
that the two Indians were in their canoe
padding. while a fact they We're sim
ply riding the wreck and doing their best
10 give her a course shoreward.
Morton was one OF the first TO realize the
ac;uai state OF affairs. Three separate
times he tried with assistance 10 launch a
boat from Oak bay. The breakers each
tine threw il back like cork high on the
beach. Then b. ran TO little bay further
along the shore, where some Indians were
encamped and applied for their boat. with
the idea that IL might be fioated In the par
tial shelter Of the bay.
Halo said the indians-neither boat
nor man could live in such water. They
had ''tenas tum,um" for their brothers on
the sloop--no one could save them-their
only hope was that the current might
bring them 10 shore.
Disguised with the siwashes' cowardice
and apathy. Morton, with Mrs. John ).
Bawker and two or three curious white
men, hurried to Cadboro bay point. near
TO where the wrecked sIoop seemed 10
be drifting. When she came within q
hundred yards or Whereabouts Morton.
who had discarded his outer garments
and cleared himself for action, as ii were,
took 10 the water--tfis in Itself being
easy thing with the surf running SO high
that the other white men at the spot de-
clined even 10 wade in and lend a hand at
the critical moment.
Reaching the sioop by alternate wading
and hard swimming the rescuer first gave
attention TO old Waum, who was quite
played out, a ton weight IN his water
Golden clothes, and still breathing. bat no
more. His collar was gripped with the
right hand. and making a detour with
him in order TO clear the debris Of the
slcop. the athlete fought his arduous way
10 shore-both he and his burden being
dashed on the rocks with force that his
hand and body will bear through the re-
mainder OF his lifetime the sears of cuts
obtained by contact with the shore reef.
AS soon as the old man was delivered
into the care Of those ashore Morton re-
turned for the younger Indian. He. with
greater vitality TO draw upon, was capable
OF assisting in his own salvation, and get
ting the snapped-of mast within his
reach, Morton was able to draw him
ashore with comparatively little difficulty.
This was shortly after noon. bat so close
a cali had the old man that IL was not
until In the evening that he was able
to speak. An hour earlier. Morton called
to see how he was faring and the veteran
simply reached Tor his hand. held 1t, and
weps not unmanIy tears Had he the ora
nory Of Demosthenes at command. ne
could nor have expressed his gratitude
more eloquently.
Both he and She younger man are rapid
~ becoming themselves again. while Nor
toms cuts and bruises and general stiff
ness are stili with him to remind him Of
an eventfui Christmas. not iu-spent.