The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-03-20
THE EVENING STORY
When the Light Shone.
Rv Lawrence Alfred Claw


he fishing schooner Laura B. had
come into port with her catch, and she
had hardly been made fast to the wharf
before the cottages a mile away were
talking in whispers about an incident
that had happened while she was still
f. at sea. The feeling of loyalty
among the men that face the tempests
and hardships of the fishing grounds is
very strong. They have their differ
ences and quarrels while at sea, but all
is forgiven when land is sighted again.
No landsman knows that all was not
harmony.
A fisherman will forgive taunt, a
curse, a blow-more than lhat-but
there is one thing he cannot forgive,
and that is cowardice in the face OF
danger. No schooner captain asks a
man if he is brave, when selecting a
crew. The inference is that every man
who would go down to the tempest
tossed sea is ready to imperil his life
at the demand and think little of il.
Cowardice can be overlooked in a lands
man, but not in a fisherman. The
landsman cowardice may have no re-
suits. That Of a fisherman may make
a dozen widows and three-score or
phans.
The Laura B. came home in a fierce
gale and a terrible sea. The fishermen
do not select their own weather. While
taking his trick at the wheel young
George Shaw looked behind him and
saw a mountainous wave racing down
on the vessel.
That sight had frightened many a
helmsman. There is peril, but the
bowling gale and ravening sea magni-
fies it ten times over. The man had
seen the same thing often enough and
held fast, but this time he flinched.
Fishermen do not want explanations
the eye cannot see. With a shout Of
terror Shaw left tie wheel. In sixty.
seconds the schooner would have been
to jump to the abandoned wheel and
hold on for life of all, even when
the waters closed over his head and his
sou'wester floated away amid the
foam. 1t was touch and go, but the
s-4nch craft won the fight
Was there a storm of curses for
Shaw? Not a curse. Reproofs from
captain and shipmates? Not a word.
Did the man seek to explain what he
realized would be looked upon as a
cowardly act? He did not utter syi-
liable. He knew that any word he
could utter would be thrown away. He
had been marked down for a coward.
That settled it. In ten minutes he felt
an outlaw. His shipmates spoke to
him, but there was a drawing away.
They did not look into his face when
they spoke. Among themselves they
said they would keep the secret, and
was it the gulls that carried it from
house to house when port was reach
ed?
High up on the hill was the cottage
of the Widow Larkins. Her husband
and his schooner had been lost in just
such e. gale when homecoming, per-
haps from some act of cowardice. Jen-
ME Larkins, her handsome daughter,
could row or sail q boat, and as a
fisherw oman's daughter she had con-
tempt for a man who f1inched when
gale and sea demanded wrecks and
lives. 1t was known that George Shaw
was her accepted lover. Would she
excuse and forgive. asked those who
whispered. Would, the lover call at the
house and explain? MOI
She didn't look for him. and had he
come she would have been greatly sur
prised. He didn't think Of calling. On
landing he took the trolley car for his
home, six miles away. The incident
was related to his parents in plain,
straight way. They had the sympathy
of the bond. but they shook their heads
and sighed.
A month passed, and then there came
the great gale that Will be remember
ed by children when they have grown
to be men and women. It came out
of the east like bowling fends. 1t up
rooted great trees and unroofed build
ingS. 1t caught UP great patches or
foam from the raging sea and carried
them inland for a mile. oh, the greed
of that gale! Thirty-f1ve schooners and
their crew were a part Of the sacrifice.
After the gale had ragged for 4S hours
and was still bowling, George Shaw
went down to the port. Almost the first
thing he heard was that one of the
lightkeepers on Tomplxins Point was
in the town, unable to return, and that
the other was i'll and telephoning for
help The man was known to Shaw,
and over the line of wire which might
be broken any minute a voice in the
lighthouse said to the men safe on
land:
George. may have been poisoned
by the canned tomatoes. I'm in ter
rible pain and have raging fever. I
don't believe I shall live two hours
longer. Get help to mei'
Shaw went down to the shore among
the fishermen.
"OnIy a dory can land there, and
what dory ever built can face that
seal There's a hundred of us would
go if there was any chance"
Shaw walked back to the telephone
Jim, I'm going to make a try for
it. There's one chance in a thousand,
and I'm going to to take it."
Don't, George" was the reply
There's nothing can live in such a
gale and sea. Only-only, George,
there'll be no light tonight. and God
help the vessels driving inE
But I tell you I'm going to try it.
and I'll have medicines for You If I
can get there. Brace up and try to
weather it OUT
Back to the shore and among the
crew of the Laura B.
Some of them nodded in a distant
way. but none had word.