The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-12-13
BY ANTHONY II. WHEELER.
Copyright, 1903, by T. c. Mcclure.

George A. Jameson, a lighthouse
keeper on Sandy Neck, in Barnstable
Bay, Mass, is typical of the unherald-
ed heroes of coast and storm who are
now busily engaged the length Of the
Atlantic seaboard, rescuing men and
ships from the anger of the ocean.
Many of these matter-of-fact heroes,
who would look uncomfortable if told
they were heroic, are members of the
government coast guard, whose sole
occupation is to succor seamen in dis
tress. These men are assisted by a
mieson is one. Jameson was pretty
busy all last winter keeping numerous
wives from being made widows, but
for all that his rescues never get into
print, and now are told for the first
time.
Sandy Neck forms protecting
breakwater to Barnstable Bay. On
last Dec. 20 Jameson saw that two
schooners had sought refuge from a
nasty gale, and were anchored in the
bay just below his lighthouse. Toward
evening the gale abated and he saw
one of the schooners set sail and
tack out.
Next morning when he went up in
the tower to care for his light he saw
a sea of vapor about him, covering the
water and shore completely, the tower
of the lighthouse sticking out into the
clear atmosphere above. Further out
he saw two sticks protruding above
the billowy mass of white mist. His ex-
perienced sailors eye told him at once
what the trouble was.
He hastily descended, and, single
handed, pulled out in a boat to the
schooner still remaining in the bay.
Here he obtained the help of one of
her crew. The two men rowed ashore,
dragged the small boat across the mar
row neck of land, and put out to sea
toward the stranded schooner.
Few people know just what it means
to launch a boat through a surf. That
these two men did so successfully was
probably more by luck than skill.
Once they were capsized and the boat
was hurled up on the beach. They
tried again, and finally managed to
get outside the line of breakers. When
they had pulled out to the wrecked
schooner they found some slight pro-
lection in the lee of a big rock, other
wise they could never have done it.
They dared not approach within less
than fifty yards; then the schooner S
crew sprang overheard and swan to
the boat Coming in the breakers
again capsized the boat, but all the
men got safely ashore.
The four shipwrecked sailors found
temporary shelter with the lighthouse
keeper, while the man who had aided
Jameson returned to his schooner.
That night the second schooner put
out to sea.
house keeper and his four guests the
other schooner ashore several miles
down the beach. They at once man.
ned the lighthouse tender, and with
even greater difficulty than the light
house keeper had experienced the day
before, for the storm had risen over
night, they put out to the wrecked
schooner, one of whose crew had help
ed rescue Jamieson's four assistants.
Again the crew had to jump over
board to reach the boat, and again
the return trip was attended with
much danger. When the lighthouse
was finally reached all hands remain
ed there until the sea went down
enough for them to go ashore at
Barnstable.
A few weeks later Jameson saved
the lives of some cottagers living
risen in the bay, blown in by an east
erly gale, and partly submerged the
cottages. By paying out long rope
from a boat, one end of which was
fastened to the lighthouse. dock, he
drifted down to the endangered cot
tagers and rescued them just before
their homes were demolished by the
waves But first the imperilled people
had to jump from the upper windows
and roofs of their houses into the
water. Those who could swim made
the boat without further assistance,
but those who could not swim were
pulled to safety by Jameson and those
already in the boat.
When it was all over and Jameson
had returned to the lighthouse he was
averse to receiving even thanks. He
took ii all as a matter of course, as
he still does when visitors to his eyrie
ask him to tell the story of his win
ter's many rescues.
The simple heroism of Uncle Sans
life savers are known to all. Here is
the story of a crew that was brave
unto death.
Two wears ago a small brig went
ashore on Monomay Point on the
southe m end Of that strip of beach
which terminates in Cape Cod. A fierce
northeasterly gale was blowing in gil
gantic rollers that burst on the rocky
shore like shells from big caliber guns.
The brig was just outside the breakers.
The life savers saw the danger Of her
crew and launched a boat to save
them. With the exception of one man,
the crew OF the lifeboat were all ex-
cellent swimmers.
The boat pulled out, her nose duck
ing into the big combers. But by
some accident, the steering oar became
fouled and the lifeboat preached. In
one second she was buried under a gi-
gantic roller, and the life savers rose
beyond swimming. One Of them, the
best swimmer Of them all, had grasped