The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1907-08-20

o1nCi CIdlt diIlFeu. Tier Oally cdIC0
was the largest for years. She had
hiled up andy ready for home and
MARKET while half the feet were
still whistiing for fish E1as. IS i3s.f 81
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 fwarning-the same ugly, heav-
ing sea,oswelling up as If to pour it's
weight on deck and sink the craft out
Ut hand. Jr issG4az18 gs
The feet was heaving and drifting
row., and fifty pairs of eyes saw the
masts OF the Swordfish go overheard
before the downiy 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 4of sea
room. On this the feet had been drift
ing down into the shadows and was
just on the point Of lacking. 2. 80 ~
4 What, every man at once realized
was that the crippled Swordfsh must
go to leeward before the send of the
sea until she grounded on, the sands q
mile away Then tbeliwayes 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
Swordfish 8 Men of the feet will, 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 a moment OF
hesitation. Then he reused out haw-
ser. had casting line bent. on. and,
setting more sail than he would have
dared to under any other circum-
stances and running a risk that made
his crew turn pale and SILVER, 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 Swordfsh
were watching, and when his plan be-
came clear Captain Baker turned to
his mate and said.
Hes the bravest man in the feet,
but he's also a fool, Both craft. will
go down togetherr' EaisHA ~.
The Mary and Jane was stirring up
the sand as 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 .heave the casting line,
and Captain Baker went forward to
receive it. 1t was thrown at the right
second, and men hauled away at line
and hawser in frenzied haste. The
Mary and Jane must come up into the
winds eye and hold there a moment
until the hawser could be 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 craft fell off, and a moment
later she was towing the wreck into
deeper water and 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 thankfnlness to her
heart, but Captain Dave did not APP
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 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
fand whispered:
Take her. Dave, and give me cor
ner Of the fireplace for the few years
/ I've got to 1--we I'm done with the
ifaof-s - = - 4 IS