Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-06-07
The Rope and
the Ring
How an Escaped Convict Ac-
complished a Heroic
Deed.
By F. A. mitchell
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.

The steamer Tecumseh was moving
along at a ten knot gait Off Norfolk
Va, when the lookout called:
Boat ahead ON the port bow"
With his glass the captain swept the
quarter Of the ocean indicated and saw
a cockleshell skiff pulled by single
man. He was alone in the boat and
beyond sight Of land
Put her Off three points to west
ward" said the captain to the helms
man.
The ship was steered In the direction
of the man In the boat. and as 1t drew
near him broad stripes revealed them
selves on the garments he wore.
Escaped jailbirdw exclaimed the
captain In disgust at having to rescue
such man.
A rope was lowered, and the convict
was pulled aboard. He walked aft tC
where the captain stood waiting fol
him and said:
You see by my garb, captain. thai
am an escaped prisoner. l broke
away last night, made my way to tho
coast before morning, seized boat
and pulled out, where hoped to be
picked up by passing ship. | must
throw myself on your mercy not to
put me back where l came from. II
you intend doing so | beg you rather
to toss me overheard, for | prefer tC
die rather than return to that horrible
life"
1T wouldn't do for me-" replied the
captain. ito assist prisoner regular
Is convicted under the law to obtain
his freedom. You may work with th'
crew while you are on board my ship
but when we reach port I'll have tc
turn you over to the authorities"
There was look Of agony In the
mans eyes as he turned away In com
pany with the mate to take his place
among the crew. Pie was young-noi
more than NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. and
refined looking. He had eaten nothing
since the day before. Food was given
him; but. though he needed 1t, he had
not the heart to eat more than he alb
solutely required.
Bad weather set in that night from
the northeast. blowing a cold blast
The ship was riding obliquely across
the waves which dashed up against
her bows, now raising skyward and
now pointing toward the bottom.
1t was about midnight that. while
the stern was raised high in the air
an enormous wave struck 1t with ter
rife force. There was u sharp report,
and the helmsman found that the
wheel turned without assistance
Something had happened to free the
rudder and render 1t useless. The ship
was ut the mercy Of the waves.
When the captain, who was on deck,
learned Of the trouble he blanched
He was not more than thirty miles
from the Virginia coast. and with q
northeast wind blowing his ship south
westward 1t would go ashore by day
light.
While this flashed into his mind the
vessel was turning and in few mo-
ments was rolling In the trough OF tile
sea. Orders were issued to get up such
sails as would be Of service In steer
Ing. With the help Of these. though
the ship steadily lost ground, those
aboard of her gained time. Morning
came. and there was the shore like a
faint cloud resting on the horizon. and
with powerful glass white line
could be seen breaking against IT,
Some steering gear must be rugged
or within few hours the ship would
be breaking up under the waves roll
Ing on that coast.
An investigation was made. and the
rudder itself was found to be sound
though the stock was shattered. leav
ing the huge steel mass. weighing three
tons, swinging from side to side with
every wave and threatening to staVe
Il hole In the vessels stern. To save
the ship and the lives Of those aboard
of her II was necessary that the rud'
der should not only be secured. but
that 1t be again converted into n
means of steering the ship. In other
words, there were two dangers OF
equal importance-th breaking OF the
ships plates and being driven ashore
The captain conceived plan. but
owing to the rolling OF the ship dic
not consider its execution feasible. IL
was to make fast two chains. one or
each side Of the stern. to ring or
the outer edge Of the rudder. Had the
vessel remained on al even keel this
ring would have been about four fee'
under water. AS she pitched some
times It was high In the air. sometimes
far down below the surface. AT the
rudder's rise a man could be lowered
on to It in the hope that he might put
the chains through the ring. but before
be could do 80 he would be buried
many feet In the brine.
The captain lined the crew up oil
deck, told them of his plan. admitting
that several men might be lost In the
attempt, and called for volunteers
Half a minute passed before mar
moved; then the convict stepped for
ward and said:
"I'd rather be drowned down there
than 70 back to prison. I'll make al
attempt"
"If YOU succeed" said the captain
you'll never return to your stripes II
can help you"
One end Of rope was attached tc
the end Of the mizzen boom. the Other
end being looped under the convict
shoulders. Just before he was low
cred he said:
"Tell the world that I. Arnold Tur
ner, convicted Of bank defalcation
about to die. declare my innocence.
know the guilty person. but decline. a
have always declined. to tell"
Turner stood on the gunwale ant
as the stern rose was quickly lowere'
with a wire rope and. perching him
self on the rudder. endeavored to pas
1t through the ring. Before he coul
do 30 the stern descended. bearing hil
with II. Necks were craned over tn
rail to see. when the rudder rose agair
II he would still be there. Few bt
lieved that he would. But as the ster
came up there he was, his knees press
ing the vessels sides. his hands clutch
ing the ring.