La Junta tribune., 1907-07-06

other craft arrived. Her daily catch
was the largest for years. She had
filed up and was ready for home and
a market, while half the fleet were
still whistiing for fish
Then came another such day as that
on which the accident bad happened
There was the same ieaieu sky out OF
which squalls burst ut intervals and
without warning-the same ugly, heay-
Ing sea. swelling up as II to pour Its
weight on deck and sink the craft out
OF hand.
The fleet was hearing and drifting
now. and fifty pairs of eyes saw the
masts of the Sworiiish go overheard
before the downfy OF squall There
was no Dave Bliss on board this time,
but the thing had happened Just the
same On the previous occasion there
were deep water and plenty OF sea
room. On this the fleet had been drift
ing down Into the shadows and was
Just on the point II tackiug.
What every man at once realized
was that the crippled Swortitish must
go to leeward before the send OF the
sea until she grounded on the sands n
mile away. Then the waves would
finish her In ten minutes The Mary
and Jane had her home pcnnant flying
and was already on her course. She
was loaded deep with her catch and
drawing twice as much water as the
other.
There was Just one way to save the
Sworsifsh. Men OF the fleet will tell
you today that there was only one man
among them who dared take the
chance. That man wns Captain Dave
Bliss. There was only moment OF
hesitation. Then he reused out haw-
ser. had q casting line bent on. and.
setting more sail than he would have
stances md running risk that made
his crew turn pale and shiver. he head
ed his craft down toward the other.
He knew the depth of water to an
inch. He had but to look over the side
to see the sand boiling up. The help
less. despairing men on the Swordfish
were watching and when his plan be-
came clear Captain Baker turned to
his mate and said:
"He's the bravest man In the feet.
but he's also fool. Both craft will
go down togcther.'
The Mary and Jane was stirring up
the sand MS she came flying down. for
craft of her keel within eighteen
inches OF the bottom will almost cut
groove In the sand ar mud. On the
bow OF this one stood Captain Dave
Rllss rendy to hcave the casting line.
and Captain Baker went forward to
receive II. II was thrown at the right
second, and men hauled away Mt line
Mary and Jane must come up Into the
winds eye and hold there n moment
until the hawser could he secured.
Good sailors have said that there
were forty nine chances out OF fifty
that her masts would go during that
crucial moment. but the odd chance
won. The hawser was made fast. the
rescuing crnft fell of. and moment
later she was towing the wreck into
deeper wstsr aud safety. 1t was the
top notch Of seamanship and level
headedness.
They heard about the rescue in the
town when the Mary and Jane reached
port. Tears came to the waiting Mary
Bakers eyes and thankfulness to her
heart, but Captain Dave did not ap-
pear. The story was told again and
ngain as other craft came in. but her
lover did not make his appearance at
the cottnge on the hill. 1t was only
when the SwOrdfish came limping into
port that Dave took his old captains
arm. and they both walked through the
streets until they came upon Mary
waiting at the gate. Then the stern
old father Joined their hands together
and whispered:
"Take her. Dave. and give me cor.
ner of the fireplace for the few years
I've got to live. I'm done with the
feet