The Washington times., 1902-12-28

clutched him about the neck with
strength borne Of desperation he tore
himself from Rogers grasp, and even
pulled himself once more to the boats
bottom, where he lay scarcely able to
breathe, while Rogers again held to the
submerged rail His strength was nearly
gone. however, and soon he. too. fol-
lowed his lost comrades moaning @
feeble farewell to Ellis.
"The tragedy was now almost com
plete, and il seemed a matter Of only
a few moments when the last should
be swallowed up by the hungry sea. Bur
before the waves could win a complete
triumph the boat and its burden drifred
into quieter water, aaa the centerboard
slipped part way cit Of its socket. en-
abling ElHs to keep his place more
securely and with less exertion-
Saw the Danger.
The Fitzpatrick was stiH intact on
the shoaI not far from the wadena. and
when the Iife-savers we're taking OF the
men from the latter vessel. a wrecking
crew was engaged on the former in bat
tening down hatches They had just
started their steam pump when Capt.
Elmer F. Mayo. in charge Of operations
aboard, happened to glance over the
port rail, and to his CONSERVATION be-
held capsizea sSvat win TOur men cling
ing 70 f. He at first thought that one OF
his own wrecking boats had met disas-
ter. but, remembering that earlier in the
day ne had seen a distress signal flying
on the wadena. it instantly flashed
across his mind that the imperiled men
were the Monomoy life-savers. While he
stood watching the struggling men three
were seen to let go and disappear. Fur
ther scrutiny showed that the boat was
drifting toward his barge, and Mayo as
tonished his crew with the declaration
that he would go to the rescue. There
was only one boat on the Fitzpatrick. a
dOry less than a dozen feet in length.
which. owing TO an accident on the dav
previous. was without oars or thole pins.
Mayo quickly cast about for means to
equip the frail craft for his daring ven
ture
Against Fearful Odds.
Into the railing on one side Of ths
boat he drove a pine stick that ehaneed
to be lying on deck, while into the other
he pounded an old file. then securing a
pair Of sawed-oT oars he pulled of his
boots and overcoat. and. strapping life
preserver under his arms. gave the sig
nal to lower the boat Almost as soon
as the cookie shell craft touched the
water the intrepid captain had seated
himself. adjusted the oars to the i'm
provised locks and pulled on. Watching
his chance. he swept across the heaviest
line Of breakers with consummate skin.
and then locating his man through the
mist and flying spray ne pulled ahead
with all his might. AS he swept up to
the capsized boat Ellis extended an arm
and grasped the rail OF the dory. while
Mayo dextrously laid hold Of his collar
and hauled him aboard
"MayO's work was we'll and braveIy
done, but he was stul in the surf and
likely at any moment to find himself in
as hapless a position as the man he had
Only expert seamanship could
get him out OF Inv great danger ne had
voluntarily run into. At this moment
he observed a man coming down the
beach, and when the latter was abreast
OF the boat he drove it forward with am
his strength. The man on shore. who
had taken in the situation. ran down into
the surf, seized the dory's bow. aud
hauled il OUT OF the water
Both Mayo and Ellis were awarded
gold lifesaving medals by the Treasury
Department, the latter being also pro
NOTED 20 keeper of the Nonomoy sta
,ion