The Indianapolis journal., 1903-11-01
FISHERMEN LIFE SAVERS.
Steamer Fellows No Good, Declares an
Old Salt, When Seas Run High.
Boston Journal.


The chill zephyrs of late October have
driven from the lettering place at the end
of L wharf most of the persons of leisure
who delight to watch the bartering of the
fishing captains and the buyers, and the
process of unloading when the deal has
been concluded. Only the workers are left
and a few ex-fishermen, who fond of
giving advice TO their successors in the
trade and of exchanging experiences in the
lee OF the wharf house.
The little schooner Fish Hawk, which
is lying at the wharf, had brought in ear
lier in the week the crew of a wrecked
vessel, who had been rescued in a manner
the heroism of which could not be con-
cealed by the matter of fact way in which
and crew, and the sight of her drew the
talk Of group Of weather-beaten old fell
lows to the perils of the and the dar-
ing of the men who overcome them.
You can't tell me- said one white
bearded mariner In an argumentative man.
ner, that those five men the Fish Hawk
brought in would have been saved if it had
been a steamer instead of fishing schoon-
er that fell in with the sinking craft-a
steamer, l mean, that didn't carry one of
those big life boats, but had just ordinary
boats or even a couple of dories on board"
Don't see how you can make that out"
drawled another, taking him up, while the
others settled back in the attitude Of at.
tentive listeners. 1T warn't the sails of
the schooner that saved them, but the sea-
manship Of them In the dory who took
them Off"
er, eagerly That's exactly what / mean.
What does fat deck-swabber of a steam
er man know about seamanShip. tell yOu,"
he continued, IF 1t had been one of them
ocean liners that had hove in sight Of the
Swanhilda last Monday, do you think she
would have taken the crew off, in the sea
that was running, unless she had one of
them ten-Men life boats in working order?
Supposing she had life boat; do you think
shed launch it?
Shed come In and her captain would re-
port as liner captains report time and time
again." We sighted sinking schooner.
Her crew signaled to be taken off, but we
could not get down to her and the sea was
SO rough q boat couldn't live in 1t. I fear
the poor fellows were drowned.
Those steamer fellows never think that
they may be in the same boat themselves
some day. They will help another If they
sorry for them. Besides even IL they were
willing, how many liners has boats crew
that can do much more than pull across a
harbor on a calm day? They carry a crew
of coal beavers, bedmakers, brass cleaners
and deck wipers, but they haven't got no
sailors
Now with a fisherman it is different He
lives In small boat. He can manage a
dory In hurricane that would drive a
steamer on shore. And he has feelings.
When he sees man In danger he thinks of
that mans wife and family He knows he
may be as bad off himself tomorrow, and
he thinks of his own wife and family, and
then he sets out and risks his own life to
and he has the skill to save him, and for
my part if l was In danger at sea I'd
rather see a fisherman five miles off than a
liner ropes length away
There was q murmur of assent from the
group, and the orator having settled the
relative merits of schooner men and steam
er men for good and all, ambled over to
watch a new arrival make fast to the