The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1899-07-13

We never knew his real name. Every
one called him Capt. George; and Capt.
George he remained, from the first day
he entered Landport harbor until the
night parted from him in Plymouth
sound, about four years later. His
arrival at Landport was announced in
the Northern Post and Shipping Gazette
in this manner:
arrived from Stockton, with machinery
damaged Owner, Captain George"
What was he like? Well, if you had
put the question to the gentry of the
place some would have answered it
with a shrug of the shoulders, as much
as to say they couldn't well make him
out; others would have told you he
seemed a naughty, reserved, stand-oH
sort of man. If you had asked any Of
the young ladies, you would very
likely hear that he was "charming,"
but that they believed him to be a
pirate chief in disguise, or some nom
sense of that kind. Among US divers
he was looked upon as bold, gallant
sailor, who loved the sea and everything
connected with it, a man we all admired
and looked up to.
He frequently put into Landport
after tAat-at odd times, summer and
winter but came round regularly
every June. He never made friends in
the place, and few acquaintance.
People still held pretty much the same
opinion concerning him. On different
occasions, as he passed along by the
sea wall, l have seen more than one
lovely head turned to take sly look at
his tall figure, and heard the whisper:
''There's that strange man, Capt.
George; isn't he handsome?"
Towards the end of August 1 was en-
gagged with two other divers to remove
cargo from the steamer Magellan,
which had run on an outlying reef
about twenty miles down the coast.
The surveyor of the Landport Salvage
association, Capt. Lorton, was in charge
of the wreck, and had orders to make
push to get her cleared out while the
weather held fine. We put up at
neighboring village, a place called st.
Nevin, a pretty little spot hidden away
at the top of a small landlocled bay.
On the third morning it was blowing
rather fresh. While I was waiting in
the little parlor of the Mariners Rest
the only thing in the shape of hotel
of which St. Nevin could boast-Capt.
Lorton came in. he went up to the
barometer on the wall, tapped it, and
said:
"Glass falling; this breeze will freshen
during the day, and most likely run
up to a gale before night. If it does,
there won't be much of the Magellan
left by morning, Lawrenceson. At any
rate it would be too risky to venture
out with the wind rising in this way"
About twelve o'clock I noticed a
considerable stir amongst the fisher
men on the beach. Looking seaward,
saw large steam yacht entering the
bay. 1 recognized her at once. 1t was
the Wanderer.
Capt. George came on shore during
the afternoon. and looked in to the
Mariners Rest. 1t seemed he had heard
OF the wreck, and was anxious to visit
the scene of the disaster.
Its blowing hard outside" he said,
land very thick, too. 1 saw the fishing
boats running in for Widmouth this
morning, sure sign of dirty weather
at sea. We're in for stiff sou'wester,
fancy, and shouldn't be surprised if
it brought down the rain before even
ing"
He was right. AS the wind increased
a thick mist crept up from the sea, and
presently sudden squall drove a tor