Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1906-10-10
WIND TANNING DAYS
AN oIo TIME MARINERS TALES OF
BRAVERY IN WRECKS.

Descrt Common
s"iior-Pnthetie Fate OF Prince, a
Noble Newfoundland Dog.
"Bahr' said the old and er,nnied
mariner OF the days Of long ago 10 the
young man who knew all about mod.
ern ships OF steel and steam sYou
have n lot TO learn. young man. You
nave as much sentiment In your con-
Struction as this stick carry.
The Idea OF youth like you trying
TO tell me that there Is as much brav.
cry and pathOs attached TO seafarIng
now as there was when I was master
OF a wind TANNER! You probably be-
heve that you are correct I'm your state
ment; but, man alive. you are making
n Tool OF yourself. Here IN these davs
you have lifeboats big and stout
enough Ia carry an army OF men. You
nave steam TO manipulate the falls.
patent davitS 20 swing clear No low
ering away by hands and not getting
them back over the side with every
pound Of flesh a-pulling. New tangled
guns for throwing n life line. RATS that
won't go to pieces I'm the FIRST chop OF
sea, cork jackets that need no in
struction cards. but which 20 on like
mans vest; pumps that are rusty for
want of use. seamless plates and doz-
ems OF other inventions in these DAVIS.
Where We're they in the old timesI
Let me tell you something don't
say but that there are many Grave ana
gallant mariners I'm the business now.
But the old shipwreck meant more IN
the matter Of life taking than the ship
wreck of today does. Did YOU ever
hear tell OF sailor OF the old school
trying TO get into a boat before the
passengers We're out OF danger? You
needn't say you have. because you
have not. Why. the only ones who
ever attempt anything OF that kind are
stokers ana firemen and rowdies who
have the impudence to call themselves
sailors
Il remember the case OF a shore loaf
CT named Holmes who tricl trick like
that. He was afterward tried I'm the
United States circuit court AT Phlladcl-
phia aud was convicted OF manslaugh-
ter. lie was one OF thirty shipwreclled
persons who took To the long boat.
which was greatly overloaded and con
stantly i'm danger Of sinking. Well. this
beach rat Holmes and some more OF
Abraham's men threw overheard six
teen passengers. two OF whom were
women. TO Tighten the boat. The court
held that sailor is bouId 10y law If
necessary TO sacrifice hi life TO save
the life Of passengers. Furthermore.
the court held that while two sailors
might struggle with each other for the
possession OF the same plank which
could save but one. IL passenger
were on the plank even the law OF ne
cesSlty would not justify the sailors I'm
taking ii from him. You DO not think
much Of that law Well. II IS the law
OF G 81. 10 Is also the law or duty.
Did you ever hear OF the case OF
Captain huffman OF the ship AidarT
He was a good sailor and gallant
master. and. no matter what many
may think. Ii Is possible 10 be both.
His ship foundered but he refused 10
be taken or DO you know why he re-
fused TO be taken OF? There was an In
jured man on board. and while the old
timbers were going 10 pieces under his
very feet he knelt down and said TO the
man:
- won't leave you. lad. On my
honor as n sailor l won't
ION his honor as sailor he would
not leave him. Have YOU ever heard
OF anything more touchingly honest?
Captain huffman went down with his
ship. but managed TO hold on TO his
man and TO get TO the bottom OF an up
turned boat, from which they were
afterward rescued. Ii was a month or
so after that when townsman asked
Captain huffman what the name OF the
rescued man was.
why. l never inquired he said.
He just signed articles in the regular
way. l may have heard it then. but I
do not know it now. He was n Swede,
that's all know Of him
THE friend shook his head In aston
ishment as lie inquired:
what. \ Swede? Take all that
chance for n Swede%
why, yes. even for Swede.
didn't care whether he was a Swede or
n Laplander. He was a good sailor
and would have done the same for me
had things been reversed
Nor is that all, young man. There
was another shlpwreck know about,
but the name OF the craft has escaped
my memory. The crew took to one
boat. which was overcrowded. 4 no.
BILE Newfoundland, the pet OF the ship,
swan alongside the boat. All the men
turned their eyes sadly upon him. but
they knew there was no room for him
in that boat The captain loved the
dog better than he loved his life, and
he stood up in the boat as he took off
his coat and said:
~ cannot see him die like this
Give him my place in the boat. / can
hold on to the plank. and he cannot
There was a chorus Of dissent. and
one OF the sailors struck the brute over
the head with the blade OF an oar.
while another pulled his sheath knife.
"'Don't hurt him., said the captain
kindly. but firmly.
"'Order him away. then growled
several of the men. He will swamp
us all
The captain hesitated minute.
waved his arm In the mir and said.
Back, Prince" and the faithful brute
swan back In the direction in which
the vessel had disappeared beneath
the surface. Where do you find such
pathos in the sea business nCw2 Give
me the old sailor every time"