Putnam patriot., 1910-04-15

 The Rope and the Ring How an Escaped Convict Ac- complished a Heroic
 Deed. By E. A. MITCHELL : Copyright. i4a hy American Press ! Association.
By F. A. MITCHELL
Copyright. 1910. hy American Press
 Association.

The steamer IecumSeh was moving along at fen knot gait otf 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 q ceekleshell skin pulled by a single man. He was alone in the boat and beyond sight of land
 Put her off three points to west ward" said the captain te the helms. man
 The ship was steered in the direction If the man in the boat. and as 1t drew near him broad stripes revealed them selves on the garments he wore.
 Escaped jailbird.. exclaimed the captain in disgust at having 10 rescue such man.
 A rope was lowered, and the convict was pulled aboard He walked nft to where the captain stood waiting for him and said
 You see hy my garb. captain. that I am an esea9ed prisoner brake away last night. made my way re tAe oasf before morning. seized q hoat and pnlied out. where ! hoped to he picked ur by a passing ship. 1 must throw myself on your mercy net b put me back where came from. If you intend doing so l beg you rather to toss me overheard. for 1 prefer b dle rather than return To that horrible life"
 it wouldn't do for me" replied the captain. 10 assist q prisoner regular. ly convicted under the law 10 obtain his freedom. You may work with the crew while you are on board my ship. but when We reach port I'll have to turn you over to the authorities"
 There was look of agony in the mans eyes as lie turned away in com. pany with the mate to take his place among the crew. He was young-not more than nty-seyen-yigorous and refined looking He had eaten nothing since the day before. Food was given him; but, though he needed it. he had not the heart to eat more than he ab- solutely required.
 Bad weather set in that night from the northeast. blowing 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.
 It was about midnight that while the stern was raised high in the air. an enormous wave struck it with ter rife force. There was 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 at 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 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 the 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 1t. Some steering gear must be risged 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. leay ing the huge steel mass. weighing three tons, swinging from side to side with every wave and threatening to stave a hole in the vessels stern. To save the ship and the lives of those aboard of her if was necessary that the rnd- der should not only be secured. but that il be again converted into a means of steering the ship. In other words. there were two dangers of canal in.3ortance-the breaking of the ships plates and being driven ashore.
 The captain conceived a plan, but owing to the rolling of the ship did not consider it's execution feasible II was to make fast two chains. one on each side of the stern. to ring on the outer edge of the rudder. Had the vessel remained on an even keel this ring would have been about four feet under water As she pitched some. times if was high in the air. sometimes far dow.. below the surface. At the rudder's rise q man could be lowered on to it in the hope that he might put the chains through the ring. but before he could do so he would be buried many feet in the brine.
 The captain lined the crew up on deck. told them of his plan. admitting that several men might be lost in the attempt. and called for volunteers. Half minute passed before man moved: then the convict stepped for ward and said:
 aId rather be drowned down there than go back to prison. I'll make an attempt"
 ..If you succeed" said the captain you'll never return to your stripes if l can help you
 One end of rope was attached to the end of the mizzen boom. the other end being iooped under the convicrs shoulders Just before he was low cred he said.
 Hell the world that I. Arnold Tur- ner. convicted of a bank defaication, about 10 de. declare my innocence l know the guilty person. but decline. as I have always declined. 10 tell"
 Turner stood on the gunwaie and as the stern rose was quickly lowered