The Democratic advocate., 1909-06-11
HEROES OF THE DEEP.
Brave Captains VINO Have Perlshcd
with Their Ships.

i rAF~A~NA-1 tNAAV AA@WC TWEMMHU
With Their Ships.
The captain Of the vessel shall b
the last to leave"
This heroic sentiment has been ex.
emplified time and again by the brave
men who go down to the sea in ships
and TO their everlasting honor there
ls no attempt or desire to shirk the
FEARFUL duty and responsibility. So n
was that Captain Sealby OF the mi
rated Republic refused to leave his
snip Till every man, woman. child ana
member OF his crew had been saved.
The last to leave - IL ia the law
universally acknowledged at sea by
oiilcers and men alike as the basis nj
self respect and honor. From n M
captain is exempt.
One OF the bravest OF these haroaa
Was Chief Officer Patterson OF tho
British King. One day some winters
ago he sailed from New York unday
Captain O'Hagan Great storms inn
peded the passage OF the ship. and SO
stupendous was the Violence of tbe
waves that they stove in the bow
plates, and before the leakare vas
discovered tons OF water rushed into
the hold.
captain o'Hagan told his men to
shllt the cargo, but barrels and cases
were hurtling this way and that. and
one OF them, driving the captain back
against the wall, crushed his leg 40
severely that he had to be carried 10
the lifeboat.
For brief space there was no can
tain. Then Patterson took command
Al a critical moment his strong ner-
sonality and calm assurance saved
me crew from panic. Three boats
iilled with sailors from the British
KING were launched In safety. while
tne new commander stood In silence
on the bridge. Lower and lower sank
the III starred ship, and as she heaved
ana LOOK her final plunge Patterson
biew farewell blast upon HIS whistle
70 the last departing crew.
Quite different. but no lesH heroic
was the manner In which CAPTAIN
orifiith OF the Atlantic Transport line
steamship MoheEan faced death
Ihough Il was scarcely darker than
twilight. he had run his vessel ON
the rocks near the Needles In October
1888, and II was rapidly sinking. The
last glimpse OF Captain Griffith showed
MIN standing on the bridge ordering
the boats TO be lowered In order to
save his crew.
Heroic Ia death, too. was the can
tain OF the oil ship I.oodiana. which
several years ago was burned az sea
before thinking OF his own safety he
saw every man Of his crew clear Of
the doomed vessel. and then IL was TOO
late Foot by foot be was driven for
ward by the flames tIl at Last he hung
over the bow. A tramp steamship
came up, but the waters were too
rough for the lowering Of the boats
Flnaily The hameN compelled him 20
loosen his hold. and while his shlp
burned hercely on he was dashed Into
the angry seas beneath
But stu more dramatic was the
death Of Captain Dsloncle OF the
french liner La Bourgogne. sunk In
the summer OF 1898 As he stood one
night upon the bridge tall bark sud
denly loomed out OF the darkness and.
dealing La Bourgogne a fatal blow.
steamed huTriedly away. The men ON
board went frantic. In a scramble
Tor safety hremen and crew lost their
wits, and people ran mp and down the
deck 10 wild despair.
Dcioncle stood calm amid the tu.
multi Suddenly he abandoned him.
self 10 the dramatic. horror of the
scene and. Heizing the whlstlo rope.
sent into the skies one long, wild. wall.
Ing groan. Il was Deloncla'n iast
salute.
Perhaps the nobleat death of All wAa
that Of Captain Craven OF the monitor
TecumBeh al the attack in August
1864, on Mobile. The ship was faat
sinking. There was not moment 20
be lost At the foot OF the ladder lead
ing to the mAnhote above, the turrct
OF safety, two men met Captain Cra-
ven and hiH pilot There would ha
time for but one 10 mount. The can.
tain knew u: the pilot knew Il. But
there was no hesitation. With a smile
Captain Craven stepped 60 one side.
After you. pilot" he said.
The man sprang up the ladder, and
bis life was saved. but the brave cap
tain was swept under and carried 10
destruction by the cruel sea,--London
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