Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-08-17
A HUMBLE HERO.
Story of the Man Who Did Bravo
Deed and Then Forgot II.

lie is the bravest man ever
knew" said Mr. F.. Hopkinson Smith
of Capt Thomas A. Scott, whose death
occurred 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
selfsacrifce 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 I'M
tn the pack choked her paddles in
mid-river. The weather was bitterly
cold and keen wind was blowing. Il
was an early morning trip. and the
decks were crowded with laborlng
men, the driyeways We're full Of teams.
and women and children stood inside
the cabins. solid mass up to the
swinging doors.
While the boat struggled TO gain
Roadway, an ocean tug crashed into
her side, cutting a great V-shaped
cash below her wateTSline Shrieks
went up from hundred threats Men.
women and children were crazed with
fear. The disabled boat careened and
fell over on its beam. The water
poured in like a torrent Sinking
seemed only a question OF seconds.
Capt Scott. on the wrecking tug Re
lance. saw the situation. Bringing
his boat alongside. he sprang TO the
deck of the ferry. Quickly ne forced
the crowd 20 the starboard side and
thus righted the boat. which regained
a nearly even keel With q threat TO
throw any man overheard who stirred.
be dragged mattresses. blankets.
clothes. anything. and crammed them
into Che hole. Il was useless: even the
oil rags had been used. and still tho
water poured in
Capt Scott stood for a moment as
IL 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 Hohoken slip. When they lift
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 to wrist When he opened
his eyes, he said feebly to the doctor:
Was any Of them babies hurt?"
Weeks passed before he rogained
his strength Then he went back TO
his work on the Reliance. In the
meantime the wrecking company had
presented a bin 10 the ferry company
for salvages. which had been refused.
Captain. said the president OF the
wrecking company 20 Scott the first
time the latter appeared IT the Office.
were going TO have some trouble
getting our pay for that ferry job.
Here's an AFFIDAVIT for you TO swear
to-"
The captain took the paper. read IL.
laid IL down, aud walked toward the
door
Did you sign it2'
'No and l amt going TO-"
"Why?"
Cause I ain't so mean as you be.
Look at this arm! DO YOU think I'd
have got into that hole II Il hadn't
been for them women and babies?
And you want EN- to pay for it,"
Then he walked straight to 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 70 tell" re-
piled the captain. she got foul OF a
tug and listed some, and sorter plug
ged her up. Been so long I most for
got about It."