The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1907-05-02

bther craft arrived. Her daily eaten |
was the largest for years. She had |
3lled up and was ready for home and |
4 market, while half the feet were |
still whistling for fish.
Then came another such day as that |
on which the accident had happened. |
There was the same lesden sky out Of |
which squalls burst at intervals and |
without warning-the same ugly, heav.
ing sea. swelling up as II to pour its |
weight on deck and sink the craft out |
If hand.
The fleet was heaving and drifting
now. ard fifty pairs Of eyes saw the
musts of the Swordflsh go overheard
before the downny of squall. There
was no Dave Bliss on board this time,
hut the thing had happened just the
same. On the previous occasion there
were deep water and plenty Of sea
room. On this the feet had been drift
ing down into the shadows and was
Just on the point of tacklng.
What every man at once realized
was that the crippled Swordfsh must
60 to leeward before the send Of the
sea until she grounded on the sands a
mile away. Then the waves would
finish her In ten minutes. The Mary
and Jane had her home pennant flying
and was already on her course. She
was loaded deep with her catch and
drawing twice as much water as the
pthe-
These was Just one way TO save the
Sworlfeh. Men of the feet will tel
you today that there was only one man
among them who dared take the
chance. That man was Captain Dave
Bis There was only moment Of
hesitation. Then he roused out a haw-
ser, lad cnstiny line bent on. and.
seth = more soil than be would have
Care to rnicr any other circum-
etancns rrd runniag a rick that made
his - TN ra,e and shiver. he head
cd r. cra-s down toward the other.
lie knew the depth Of water to an
inch. He had but to look over the ri1e
to see the rand boiling M. The HELM
less, Gc3pa!ring men cn the SworlGsh
were watching, and when his plan be-
came clear Captain Baker turned to
his mate and scid:
Hes the bravest man In the feet.
but he's also fool. Both craft will
60 down togc -he:"
The Mary ana Jane was stirring up
the sand as she came ny ing down. for
craft of her keel within eighteen
inches Of the bottom will almost cut a
groove In the sand or mud On the
bow OF this one stood Captain Dave
Bliss read- to heave the casting line,
and Captain Baker went forward to
receive II. II was thrown Mt the right
second, and men hauled away at line
and hawser In frenZied haste. The
Mary and Jane must come up into the
winds eve and hold there moment
until the hawser could be secured.
Good sailors have said that there
were forty-nine chances out Of fifty
that her masts would 60 during that
crucial moment, but the odd chance
won. The hawser was made fast the
sowing craft fell Off. and moment
ter she was towing the wreck into
deeper water and safety. 1t was the
top notch Of seamanship and level
headednecs.
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 Dive did not ap-
pear. The story was told again and
again as other craft came in but her
lover did not make his appearance at
the cottage on the hill. 1t was only
when the svordnsh came hmping into
port that Dave took his old captains
arm, and they both walked through the
streets until they came upon Mary
waiting Mt the gate. Then the stern
old father toined 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
foot