The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1906-10-19
WIND TANNING DAYS
AN OLD TIME MARINERS TALES OF
BRAVERY IN WRECKS.

The Case Of Gallant Captain Nutman,
Who Wouldn't Desert . Common
sailor-Pathetic Fate Of Prince, .
Noble Newfoundland Dos.
BAH" said the old and crippled
mariner Of the days of long ago to the
young man who knew all about mod
ern ships Of steel and steam. "You
have a lot to learn, young man. You
have as much sentiment in your con-
struction as this stick I carry.
1.-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 wind jammer! You probably be-
lieve that you are correct in your state
ment; but, man alive, you are making
fool Of yourself. Here in these days
you have lifeboats big and stout
enough to carry an army Of men. You
have steam to manipulate the falls,
patent davits to 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 life line, RATS that
won't go to pieces in the first chop of
a sea, cork jackets that need no in
struction cards, but which go on like
a mans vest; pumps that are rusty for
want Of use, seamless plates and doz-
ems of other inventions in these days.
Where were they in the old times?
LET me tell you something. l don't
say but that there are many brave and
gallant mariners in 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 were 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 and firemen and rowdies who
have the impudence to call themselves
sailors.
II remember the case Of a shore loaf
er named Holmes who tried trick like
that. He was afterward tried in the
United States circuit court at Philadel-
phia and was convicted Of manslaugh-
ter. He was one Of thirty shipwrecked
persons who took to the long boat,
which was greatly overloaded and con-
stantly in 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 bound by law if
necessary to sacrifice his life to save
the life Of passengers. Furthermore.
the court held that while two sailor
might struggle with each other for the
possession of the same plank which
could save but one, il a paSSenge,
were on the plank even the law of ne
cessity would not justify the sailors liz
taking it from him. You do not think
much of that law? Well, it is the law
Of God. 1t is also the law Of duty.
did you ever hear, Of the case OF
Captain huffman Of the ship Aidar::
He was a good sailor and a gallant
master, and, no matter what many
may think, it is possible to be both
His ship foundered, but he refused to
be taken off. Do you know why he re
fused to be taken off? There was an in
jured man on board, and while the old
timbers were going to pieces under his
very feet he knelt down and said to the
man:
"T won't leave you, lad. On my
honor as a sailor l won't
ION his honor as a 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. 1t was a month or
so after that when townsman asked
Captain huffman what the name of the
rescued man was.
Why, I never inquired he said
liz JOSt OlSllCu uIllC1CS III lAC 1CSu laai
way. l may have heard it then, but
do not know it now. He was Swede.
that's all know of him.
1.-THE friend shook his head in aston
ishment as he inquired:
"'What! A Swede? Take all that
chance for a Swede?
Why, yes, even for Swede. /
didn't care whether he was a Swede or
Laplander. He was a good sailor
and would have done the same for me
! had things been rev ersed.'
Nor is that all. young man. There
was another shipwreck l know about
but the name of the craft has escaped
my memory. The crew took to one
boat, which was overcrOwded. A 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 of
his coat and said:
1