The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1903-07-09
STORIES or A. S. HEWITT.
Famous New Workers. Thrilling AID.
venture mt Seq.


venture at Sea-.
Abran2 s. Hewitt, ex-mayor Of New
York city, was on one occasion the hero
Of an adventure of q startling charac-
ter, says the New York American. His
companion in danger while tossing
about at sea in a rotten boat at the
thrashing wind swept end of gale was
Edward Cooper, son Of Peter Cooper.
1t was in the early forties that Mr..
Hewitt, then just graduated from Co
lumbia college, journeyed to Italy as
tutor to Edward Cooper. Many pleas
ant months were spent travelling
through southern Europe, and the re-
turn trip to this country was begun in
schooner freighted with Italian mar
BILE.
While Mr.. Hewitt sat on deck read
ing one beautiful autumn day the ships
cat wandered aft, leaped lightly upon
the rail, gazed thoughtfully into the
sea and then sprang far out into the
water. A sailor standing near who
noted this omen of coming disaster
turned pale and muttered hurried pray
ers.
"This ship will never get to land" he
said to Mr.. Hewitt.
His prediction was fulfilled.
Two days later the ship was struck
by gale which drove it far out of its
course, wrenched and strained it's tim.
bers and left it at the end of the storm
a wreck. A leak had been sprung
which could not be kept down by tho
pumps. Nothing could be done but at.
tempt to reach land In the small boats,
and Mr.. Hewitt, Mr.. Cooper and the
captain, with two sailors, started off In
one of these while the rest of the crew
took the other. For several days they
rowed or drifted, the boats leaking
badly. AT last the captain said to Mr..
Hewitt:
eff you know how to pray, l wish
you would pray for my family. Every
thing had was invested in that vessel,
and now that she is lost my family with
starve. Pray for them and for us"
Mr.. Hewitt dropped on his knees in
the bottom of the boat and prayed with
an earnestness and fervor that brought
tears to the eyes Of the hardened sailors
and their captain. While his head was
still bent in prayer and his petition to
the Almighty was being sent aloft, the
captain raised his eyes and saw outlin-
ed for a moment against the horizon
the spars of large ship.
Both boats from the marble freighted
schooner were picked up. AS the one
In which Mr.. Hewitt and Mr.. Cooper
had lived for three days was raised to
the davits of the ship that rescued them
the rotten planks broke and the boat
dropped in two pieces into the sea. 1t
could not have held together another
hour
Ex-Mayor Hewitt had no mistaken
ideas as to how Ne~ York city ac~
CURED its pre-emlnence. 1t is said that
he was recently in conversation with a
man who knew little of the metropolis.
"To what do you ascribe New York's |
greatness?" the former mayor was ask
ed.
ITO push" laconically responded Mr.
Hewitt.
But your city has been greatly ia
vored. You will admit thatY'
''Only in giving birth to citizens who
are resourceful and energetic, and in
the ability to always attract men of the
same stamp from other places"
But haven't the natural advantages
of New York much to do with the city's
progressY'
"Sir," answered Mr.. Hewitt, closing
the conversation, mature would make
grass grow ON Broadway if we didn't
interfere"