The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1914-07-09
THE GREGORY HEROES.
Recalling a Thrilling Episode of the
High Seas.

The arrival here of the steamship
Gregory of the Booth Line, in charge
of Capt. w. T. Aspinwall, to coal be-
fore proceeding to the Amazon river
, in Brazil, recalls an heroic episode
that occurred last winter that was
unique among the romances and
tragedies of the sea. The facts are
substantially as follows:
Early in January the tank steam
ship Oklahoma broke her back in a
heavy gale in mid-Atlantic. She
broke completely in two and the
parts were separated by the raging
sea. In response to an S o call,
the steamship Gregory arrived on
the scene some hours later. The five
men who had clung to the still float
ing stern of the Oklahoma had taken
to the only boat they had, and as
they approached the Gregory, the
boat capsized and they were thrown
into the sea. Without hesitation
the three officers of the Gregory
Buck, Williams and Roberts-the
latter with his boots on-plunged
into the icy and tumultous Atlantic,
while Captain Aspirwalll accomplish
ed the difficult task of holding his
vessel in a position where it was
possible for them to get back on
board. The three gallant sailors sue
ceeded in the almost incredible task
of rescuing five of the castaways and
brought four of them safely to New
York, the fifth, poor chap, having
died on board. 1t is worth remem-
bering that one of the rescuing Off
cers-Buck-was but recently mar
ried and was on his way to rejoin his
young bride. 1t is said that Capt.
Aspinwall reprimanded Roberts Sc
verely for jumping overheard with
his boots on.
1t is gratifying to recall that upon
the arrival of these brave men in
New York, the Press Club Of that
city rendered them a banquet and
presented to each of them a hand-
some gold medal. The United States
has also taken cognizance of their
heroic action and congress has or
dered medals to be struck off in their
honor.
In responding to the lavish praise
bestowed upon them the demeanor
of the sailors was modest and manly.
Capt. Aspinwall, who is more than
half a Celt, told his story with the
nonchalance of sea dog and the in
souance of a child. For what we
did" he said, 81 never expected any
thing like this. 1t was a bad sea but
nothing more than a good hard gale.
We were running with the gale. We
were satisfied-we wanted to get In
Saturday night, because We knew
we'd have a good time in New York.
well, then we sighted what look
ed like a raft, and then the poor fel-
lows on it. I hadn't to call anybody
twice for rescue work-then their
boat capsized-and the next thing l
saw was Roberts hopping over the
side. Then l saw Williams skipping
it. Then / saw Buck making ready
and l ordered him to put line
around him.
Everybody, down to the smallest
boy we had, did splendid work and
we finally got the poor chaps
aboard.
Office Bucks speech consisted of
three words. He said:
81 thank you
The address of Officer Williams
was a classic. He said:
1--WE only did what anyone would
do who happened to find himself
there. That's ALL
Officer Roberts-he Of the boots
remarked:
81 don't want there to be any
false impression about what we did.
We acted on the impulse of the mo-
ment We saw there were men to
be saved, and we did it."
Thus did these simple sailors re-
late an instance of the brotherhood
of man and the high democracy OF
the sea that no lesser that that OF
Joseph Conrad could do justice to-
Norfolk-Virginian Pilot.
1116rrIAI OF An ACCIDENT.