The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1907-04-11

those who were watching him realized
put upon him,
That first voyage Of the new craft
IS still recalled at the fish houses. In
the sail lofts and offices and wherever
fishermen gather to gossip She short
ened the run to the banks 10y two days.
She was slowing AWAY cod when the
other craft arrived Her daily catch
was the largest for years She had
filed mp and was ready for home and
n market, while half the fleet were
still whistllng for fish.
Then came another such day as that
on which the accident had happened.
There was the same leaden sky out of
which squalls burst at intervals and
without warning the same ugly. hcaV-
ing sea, swelling up as if to pour its
weight on deck and sink the craft out
Of hand
The Acct was heaving and drifting
now aud fifty pairs of eyes saw the
mAsts Of the SWordlish 90 overheard
before the downhy Of a 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 OF lacking
What every man at once realized
was that the crippled Sword1sh 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 pennant 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
SwordfSh. Men Of the fleet viii tell
you today that there was only one man
among them who dared take the
chance. That man was Captain Dave
Bliss. There was only n moment of
hesitation Then he reused out a haw-
ser, had a casting limo bent on. and
setting mo>e sail than he would have
dared to under any other circum-
stances and running a 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 Swordtish
were watching and when his plan be
came clear Captain Baker turned to
bis mate and said.
Hes the bravest man in the fleet.
but he's also fool! Both craft will
go down together"
The Mary and Jane was stirring mp
the sand ms she came flying down. for
a 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 ready TO hcave the casting line.
and CAPTAIN Baker went forward 10
receive H. 1t was thrown at the right
second and men hauled away at line
and hawser in frcnzlcd haste The
Mary and Jane must come up into the
winds eye and hold there moment
until the h5wser could he secured
Good sailors have said that there
were fortynine 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 craft. fell Off, and moment
later she WAS towing the wreck into
deeper water and safety. 1t was the
top notch Of seamanship and level
hendedness
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 APP
pear The story was told again and
again as other craft came in, but her