The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1903-02-26
BENTON, LOUISIANA THURSDAY, FEBRUARY rs, 1909

"On the second night they saw one
man, armed with ropes end, beat
two of the men near him to keep
them awake and from freezing. The
next day the sea died down, the ice
broke and the surf boat was finally
worked to the side of the schooner,
but not before the man who had
whipped the Others to keep them
alive had fallen into the sea.
vThe two survivors were brought
ashore and one died shortly after.
The other I'm told, lived, but he was
amputated all to pieces, nearly.
when it was all over Capt. Baker,
who was half crazy all the time he
was powerless to rescue the sailors,
went to pieces and died a few weeks
later. He died of a broken heart
died because he had not been able to
save the eight sailors who froze be-
fore his eyes. And these are the last
words he said before he died:
"'God pity the poor boys out
yonder in the rigging"
Capt. Penny struck match and
as he relighted his pipe, he said be-
tween short puffs:
Tell them about Nipsy, Carter"
Charles A. Carter is No. l at the
Shinnecock station, where he has pa
trolled the beach for 25 years. He
reached down at his side and patted
medium-sized black dog on the
head.
'This is Nipsy," he said. "He's a
cross between spaniel and bull, and
he's a mighty bright dog.
'He keeps me company on my watch
in good weather, but whenever he
! sees me put on my sou'wester, he runs
! and hides behind the stove. But if
/. there's a wreck, and he sees us taking
out the beach apparatus, no matter If
it's blowing gale and the rain cuts
like knife, Nipsy follows and works
| with me.
'Nipsy has done a good many pref
ty bright things, but the best thing
he ever did was to save life two years
ago last August, when coal collier
bound for down east from the Della
ware capes, foundered several hun
dred yards off shore.
''We launched the surf boat ano
made for her as soon as we saw hel
| distress, but before we reached hel
and just before she went under big
wave broke over the ship and washed
the crew of four overheard.
1T was stiff work, but somehow WI
managed to pull three men from th'
sea before they'd shipped enough wa
ter to drown 'em. The fourth wal
nowhere to be seen, and after looking
around for awhile, we gave him VI
for lost and headed for the shore.
"When we landed Nipsy was run
ming up and down the beach wher
, he knew we'd come ashore, barkin:
like all possessed. He jumped al
around me, nearly knocking me over
and between jumps he'd run eastwar'
go with him.
Finally said to myself: 'Nipsy'
{ found something, and maybe it's tn
missing sailor / said, just for some
thing to say. Well, anyway, l hu
mored the dog and followed him an
he ran about 500 yards down the beac
and stood still and barked.
"Pretty soon I came up to him an
what do you think l saw lying ther
in the sands? My nephew.
9 "Nipsy took me to him just in tim
and so we saved his life. He was tn
missing man from the collier and h
had been tossed ashore by the breal
| ers."
Carter looked at the clock.
''Almost eight O'clock" he sait
! "Rudd, We'll be on patrol in a fe
minutes and won't be back before mit
night, so speak up before we CO."
). "Yes-yes," John W. Rudd, No.
: drawlingly responded in Long Islam
o vernacular, and then continued:
: 81 started out for patrol duty on til
q first night of the 'ss blizzard. 1t
P only matter of so or 60 yards to th