Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1902-04-24
WHAT A LIFE-SAVER SAYS.
CuriOusIy Insane and Selfish Actions
of People Who Are Rescued
from Drowning.


"The drowning of the entire crew,
with the exception of one man, of a
Cape Cod live-saving station during
a gale a short time ago, together
with the loss of the crew of the
wrecked vessel, the rescuing life
boat capsizing in the high surf, is
the severest casualty the life-saving
service has sustained this year" said
guard from Atlantic City, accord
ing to the Washington Star, land it
calls to mind how curiously selfish
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 efforts.
This curious but nevertheless eX-
isting streak of ingratitude in the
human makeup crops strangely to
the surface during these times. !
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 | did not grasp
them while they were sinking with
perhaps the gentleness shown in a
ball room, and who aftcrward be-
rated me with as much vigor and
volubility as the salt water and sea-
weed in their mouths permitted.
Others, upon rcgaining their CON
sciousness, or when placed upright
on their feet on the beach. have gath
cred up their dripping skirts and ran
for their bath houses as if pursued
by an avenging sea monster, without
a 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, L thank you, sir for saving my
life
Men are more considerate. They
seem to recover their normal senses
more quickly and grasp the situation
more firmly than women. Some will
shake our hands. expressing their
thanks, others will return and invite
us to have a drink or cigar, while
some will offer us money. others
give no voice at all to their feelings.
The occasion of the grateful gentle
man handing the guard $1,000 bill
or a watch, | have yet to see. In
fact, the rich are less proportionate-
ly generous than the poor. They
seem to take their rescue as n mat
ter of course. 1t is seldom that peo-
pie appear to remember how close
they were to death, though they
never forget slight, or trihing
personal affront.
People readily pay from S. to
$1,000 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, nor
even thanks, as it is our business
and we are paid salaries. Once
dragged woman from the surf
She came back and handed me so
cents, saying that she was a work
ing girl living in Philadelphia, and
that that was all she had over her
return ticket. I declined it, of
course, but when she began to cry
I accepted it to quiet her. She after
ward sent me s.. Poor woman; she was
glittering exception to the average
of both sexes, for | have pulled hun
dreds literally out of watery graves,
and | ought to know | have never
spent that new S5 bill the poor Phil
adelphia working girl sent me. and
l won't until [ am hungrier than !
am now. | value it more than the
medals ] have been awarded"