New-York tribune., 1907-02-24
WORK OF A REAL HERO
Hoe "Captain Joe Scott Squed
Crogcded Feyryboat from Sinking.

'7ha greatest submarine engineer on the Allan
tic Coast" This was the tribute PAID by r 1op-
kinson Smith architect artist author ana engineer
TO Captain Thomas n Scott. whose death occuIIeu
last Sunday at his home In New London, Conn The
evening before Mr. Smith, who is best known 70
the public by his novels and short stories among
which are caleb West, Master Diver, rom HFo-
gan AT Close Range" and Colonel Carter OF
Cartersville' although an engineer he mas nee"
connected with great public works, was giving Il
reading from his books before large audience IN
Brooklyn. lie prefGced the account or an act %
heroism by saying OF Captain Scott; he ls ''S
bravest I know, and wtthal so modest aoouI
his own deeds that has to learn them from
others and not from himself OF his work as an
under water engineer know from my Ssocia'lol
with him in building the Race Rock lighthouse OIL
New London Harbor. and in other WORK "he'e ne
showed his qualities capable. whole souied'
brave faithful man Besides, the story am aoou1
to read to YOU in which he figures as captain JOG
put him in caleb West. Master Diver under tho
same name Of Captain Joe. but to all OF US "Ho
know him he is Captain Tom
The story which Mr.. Smith read bears the tue
Captain Joe" 1t begins with explanation or
how the author advertised for submarine enSl-
to lay the foundation for a lighthouse IN me
Race" at the eastery entrance OF Long Island
Sound. off Fishers Island. In response to this a
man entered his office HE was about fifty years
Of age powerfully built. short, and IS broad as ne
was long. The very 1T Of his clothes indicated ms
enormous strength. His pea Jacket had long since
been pulled out of shape IN j-% tltOil u '-A-''''-
Inodatc itself to the spread OF his shoulders. HIS
trousers were corrugated and half way up his
ankles in the perpetual struggle 20 protect equal
II seat and knee-cach ankle outlining d Enotted
muscle twisted up and down pair Of legs Short
and sturdy as rucder posts. His brown hair pro-
truGed from under a close fitting cloth cap and
curIed over q neck scanned and bronzed, showing
bumps where almost every other had holows;
these short curIs were strealcd with gray. His
face was round, ruddy and wind tanned, the chin
hidden In a stubby beard which clunG TO his lower
lip; the mouth firm. the teeth row OF corn.
the Jaws strong and determined. Everything about
him indicated reserve force, endurance capacity
and push"
He explained now he came to be unemployed. IA
he had left the OF Shore Wreckiug Company after
four years with 1t. In reply to the question what
for he said.
Me and the president didn't see. He hadn't
fault TO find with me. but didn't like his ways
and I quit"
An agreement made for tho work TO be done,
and in the progress Of it tho author tried To get
him talk Of himself and his earlier lfe and said
20 him:
oh Captain Joel I met a friend OF yours yes
terday who wished me to ask you how you stopped
the leak In the Uobokeu ferryboat and why he
left the employ OF tho OFF Shore Wrecklng Com
pany."
oh there amt nothn' to tell She got foul Of n
tug and listed some. and I sorter plugged her UP
till they hauled her into the slip Been so long ago
I most forgot about it
But by questioning others and piecing out person
| al "reminiscences the author managed TO gather
these details: