River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-09-18
nd the SURFING sea about them max

The crew of the Manomet Iifeboat
went to the end of the stony point.
They attempted to shoot line by
means of which to send aboard the
breechcs buoy. The gun failed them.
They tried it again and again, but it
refused to do the work for which it
was intended. Between the extremity
of the point and the vessel lying at its
anchorage of stone there was series
of rocks, each one of which rose high
enough above the water to be clear,
save when the storm waves beat over
them. ''There is a chance of getting
line out" said one of the men, "by
knotting the end to a stout swimmers
waist and letting him go through the
sea, swimming from rock to rock, and
then to the ship"
''No man of mine will be ordered
into that water" said Jim Sparr, the
captain. mo man could live to take
three strokes" Then they stood by
helpless.
A moment more and man pushed
his way to the front, grasped the end
of the life line and made two turns
with its end about his waist. cpl
CO." he said. 1t was Calvin Gordon.
"You!" said Jim Sparr, and the
sound OF his voice had something in
it of scorn, and then, as if regret
ting the tone, he added: ''No, boy,
it's DEATH"
"Dearh or not, I'll go. Look after
my little Jane, boys" and Gordon
plunged into the boiling sea.
How he did it he never knew, but
something bore him up and gave him
the strength to win fight that night
from one of the worst tempests that
ever struck the shore of the old Bay
state The lights that were being
burned constantly on the ship guided
him. From the last rock he gagged
the strength and direction of the
driving wind and water, and striking
out he was borne toward the vessel.
For moment one of the great rocks
of the reef on which the vessel was
grinding gave him shelter. It was
one chance in 10000, but he grasped
a life-preserving buoy that was
thrown from the vessel and was
drawn on board.
The rope which he had brought
through the sea was pulled taut and
the sailors who but moment before
had seen nothing but deaths face
now saw a glimmer of hope. In five
minutes they had other lines on
board, drawn from the shore above
the vortex of waters. Then there
came the breches buoy, and as 1t
reached the side Calvin Gordon saw
man rush through the gathered
sailors and heard him cry out in a
tone that had naught in it but alb
iect fear: II go first. I am a pas
senger, and this is my right. Isn't
it my right, captain? The ship is
breaking up. We won't all have time
to get Off"
"Let the cur go first" said the voice
of the ships captain, and first he
went.
One by one they went ashore,
though it seemed every moment we're
the vessels last. Capt. Calvin went
last. The captain of the ship would
not so have it, but Gordon said: eff
you owe me anything for coming out
here this night let me have my wish"
The next day the rescued crew and
the men of the lifeboat stood out
side Calvin Gordon's little home.
Gordon saw standing in front of the
crew the terror-stricken passenger of
the night before, and in him recog-
nized The 1ife-saving service inspector
who four years before in an official
report had called him coward.
The inspector stepped forward
like most of his kind, he knew how
to make a brave showing when no
danger threatened. "You are a hero,
Mr.. Gordon" he said. "You shall
have recognition by the government
and the medal of the Massachusetts
Humane society. 1t shall be inscribed
any way you like"
Something like a sheer came into
the face of Gordon.
''Must the inscription necessarily
praise my deed of last night?" he
asked.
"Yes,' said the inspector.
''Then let it read like this: in hon
or of Calvin Gordon, who saved the
life of a coward "-Chicago Record
Herald.