The Irish standard., 1907-11-16
CLARE F'sHERMEN's HERolsM.
Bravery Unsurpassed in History os
Maritime Disasters.

Maritime Disasters.
The story of the rescue from a watery
grave of the crew Of the French sailing
ship Leon XIII. deserves to be enshrln.
ed in letters of gold. For cool, deter
mined bravery on the part of humble
men, under circumstances that well
might chill the ardor Of the most dar-
ing, it has not meen surpassed in the
history of maritime disasters, says the
Dublin correspondent of the Liverpool
Catholic Times. The ship having been
driven by a hurricane upon the rock
bound coast Of County Clare, after a
voyage from Portland, Oregon, there
seemed no hope OF even one out of the
crew being saved. The storm broke over
the ill-fated boat with all the fury
shown by the Atlantic Ocean in tenn
pestuous rage. Twenty-tw two poor souls
huddle6 together, without food or drink,
sheltered in the forepart OF the craft
at low water and sought shelter in tho
rigging when the tide rose and sub
merged the only spot Of her deck upon
which they could seek a resting place.
To attempt a rescue in the frail cora
cles possessed by the fisher folk of
Guilty, of which the fine vessel struck.
seemed like courting death. But the
brave fishermen were not to be daunt-
ed under any circumstances, when fell
low. creatures were in dire distress.
Again and again they put Off to the
rescue, although driven back by the
storm. One canoe got upset and her
crew were thrown into the raging surf.
Another canoe, at great risk to the oc-
cupants saved them. Nothing daunted.
the crew Of the overturned craft pro-
ceeded again to the rescue amid the
cheers of the onlookers. One by one
thirteen of the crew were rescued un-
der circumstances Of unparalleled hero
ism. For forty eight hours the work
Of rescue lasted, and only to an end
when naval cruiser arrived from
Bantry Bay as the storm was abating
and took off the remaining seamen, In
cludtng the captain, whose leg was
badly broken. Throughout the two
weary days and two dreary nights dur
Ing which the French sailors were in
peril and suffering. the shores were
lined with men and women whose
hearts were breaking at the pitiahle
scene before their eyes. Too much
credit cannot be given to the relative.
Of the rescuers, who bade their hus.
bands, sons and brothers to try again
and again, and encouraged them while
their own hearts must have been break
ing at the prospect Of losing their near
est and dearest. To the coastguards
also much credit Is due. Furnished
with D. wretched boat, they did their
utmost, and one Of their body was ac-
tually washed overheard. narrowly es-
Gaping death. They had no life saving
apparatus, otherwise the unfortunate
Frenchmen would have been rescued at
once, and days and nights Of suffering
would have been saved. Millions can
apparently be spent on death dealing
inventions, but not even a few paltry
pounds on rocket apparatus for dan
gerous coast off which many fine ships
have gone down time after time. The
captain Of the lost ship, in an inter-
view with press representative after
landing, paid a warm tribute to the
brave Glare fishermen. "As clung
on the craft for forty eight hours" he
said, "and saw wave after wave sweep
ing down upon me- and heard the roar
ing winds, and the seas rolling over
mo. + gave up all hope; but were to
go to my doom, think my parting mo-
ments would bo made happy by the
sight Of the intrepid 1rishmen who were
calmly facing death In their mad ef-
forts e ssseus ma"
-..a. ..-.-.-.--