The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1907-07-18
A HUMBLE HERO.
story Of the Man Who Did Brave
Deed and Then Forgot II.


''IIe is the hravest man ever
knew" said Mr.. +. Hopkinson Smith
OF CRpt- Thomas A. Scott, whose death
occufxed a few weeks ago. and whom
the author has made famous In some
OF his stories and novels. But no act
attributed by the pen Of fiction to this
submarine engineer and diver can
equal the real facts OF his courage and
selfsacrifice. The New York Tribune
quotes from Mr.. Smith the tale OF one
OF Capt. SCOTS deeds which lifts the
man into the ranks OF true heroes.
The captain was in the employ OF the
On-shore Wrecking company, when
one morning In January an accident
happened TO a Hoboken ferry boat
The ice in the river was unusually
heavy. and the boat slowly crunched
her way through the floating foes un.
al the pack choked her paddles in
mid-rlyer. The weather was bitterly
cold and keen wind was blowing. II
was an early morning trip. and the
decks were crowded with laboring
nA1Af AAA' MAANNMMM = NNIN AIAA VI ANAAAHf
and women and children stood inside
the cabins. a solid mass up to the
swinging doors.
While the boat struggled 10 gain
Roadway. an ocean tug crashed into
her side, cutting great V-shaped
cash below her waterline. shrieks
went up from a hundred throats. Men,
women aud children were crazed with
fear. The disabled boat careened and
fell over on It's beam. The water
poured In Ike a torrent Sinking
seemed only a question OF seconds.
Capt. Scott. on the wrecking tag Re
lance. saw the situation. Bringing
his boat alongside, he sprang 10 the
deck OF the ferry. Quickly he forced
the crowd 10 tho starboard side, and
thus righted the boat. which regained
nearly even keel. With a threat TO
throw any man overheard who stirred.
he dragged mattresses. blankets.
clothes. anything. and crammed them
into the hole. II was useless; even the
oil rags had been used. and still the
water poured in.
Capt Scott stood for a moment as
n undecided. then deliberately forced
his own body into the gap with his
arm outside. level with the floating
ice.
An hour later the disabled ferry
boat. with every soul safe. was towed
into the Hoboken slip. When they MT
ed the captain. he was unconscious
and barely alive The water had
frozen his blood. and the ice had torn
much OF the flesh from his arm from
shoulder 20 wrist. when he opened
his eyes. he said feebly TO the doctor;
WAS any OF them babies hurt?"
Weeks passed before he regalned
his strength. Then he went back 10
hts work on the Reliance. In the
meantime the wrecking company had
presented a bill TO the ferry company
for salvages. which had been refused.
Captain, said the president Of the
wrecking company TO Scott the FIRST
time the latter appeared at the Office.
we're going TO have some trouble
getting our pay for that ferry job
Here's an afidavit for you TO swear
to-"
The captain took the paper. read Il.
laid Il down, and walked toward the
door.
did you sign it?'
mo. and amt going to-"
"why?"
"'Cause amt 50 mean as you be.
Look at this arml DO you think I'd
have got into that hole II II hadn't
been for them women and babies?
And you want 'em TO pay for IL"
Then he walked straight 10 the
cashier, demanded his pay. resigned
his position and walked out.
Some time after some one asked the
captain TO tell the story OF how he
stopped the leak.
"Oh. there amt nothing 10 tell" re-
piled the captain. she got foul Of n
tug and listed some. and sorter plug
ged her up. Been so long I most for
got about H."