Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-03-29
A LIFESAVER TALKS.
Some Experiences With Persons Res
cued From Drowning.

SoOo - 1oAA DAo"AAAA16.
1.-The drowning of the entire crew, with
the exception of one man, of a Cape Cod
life-saving station during a gale short
time ago, together with the loss of the
crew of the wrecked vessel, the rescuing
lifeboat capsizing in the high surf, is the
severest casualty the life-saving service has
sustained this year." said guard from At
lantic City, at present in the city on his
honeymoon, at a downtown hotel, land it
calls to mind how curiously, selfishly and
almost insanely people will act when we
rescue them from what would have been
certain death by drowning in the undertow
of the surf at Atlantic City but for our eff
forts
This curious, but nevertheless existing
streak of ingratitude in the human make
up crops strangely to the surface during
these times. l have had my face slapped
by women who were nearly drowned, and
would have been but for my efforts but
who had strength enough left to smack me,
because l did not grasp them while they
were sinking with perhaps the gentleness
shown in a ball room, and who afterward
berated me with as much vigor and volu-
bility as the salt water and seaWeed in
their mouths permitted. Others, upon re-
gaining their consciousness, or when placed
upright on their feet on the beach, have
gathered up their dripping skirts and ran
avenging sea monster without single
word. Others have been led away dazed
others hysterical, but very rarely has one
| had the presence of mind and the gratitude
| to say even, 1 thank you, sir, for saving
my life
| to recover their normal senses more quick
| ly anu grasp the situation more firmly than
| women. Some will shake our hands. ex-
| pressing their thanks, others will return
| and invite us to have drink or a cigar,
while some will offer us money. Others
give no voice at all to their feelings. The
| occasion of the grateful gentleman hand
| ing the guard $1,000 bill or a watch, 1
| have yet to see. In fact, the rich are less
| proportionately generous than the DOOR
| They seem to take their rescue as a mat
| ter Of course. 1t Is seldom that people ap-
pear to remember how close they were to
| death, though they never forget slight or
| a trif1ing personal affront.
| People readily pay from S. to 81 900 for
| the restoration of lost dog but will
| scarcely bestow a thank you upon the
man who may save their own lives from
| drowning; not that we want or EXPECT
| money, or even thanks, as it is our busi-
| dragged woman from the surf she came
| back and handed me so cents, saying that
| she was working girl living in Philadel-
| phia, and that that was all she had over
| her return ticket. 1 declined 1t, of course.
| but when she began to cry l accepted it To
| quiet her. She afterward sent me So
| Poor woman; she was giittering excep-
| ton to the average of both sexes for have
| pulled hundreds literally out of watery
| graves and ought to know. I have never
| spent that new So bill the poor Philadel-
| phia working girl sent me, and I won't un-
| til am hungrier than 1 am now. 1 value
| it more than the medals 1 have been
| awarded"