Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-06-30
1Niserllantous Reading.
THE GREGORY HEROES
Recalling a Thrilling Episode of the
Hiuh Sea,


The arrival here of the steamship
Gregory of the Booth Line, in charge
of Capt. w. r. 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 re-
sponse to an o S call, the steamship
Gregory arrived on the scene some
hours later. The five men who had
clung to the still floating 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. With
out hesitation the three officers Of the
Gregory-Buck, Williams and Rob-
erts-the latter with his boots on
into the icy and tumultous
Atlantic, while Capt. Aspinwall ac-
the difficult task of hold
ing 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
but recently mar
ried and was on his way to rejoin his
young bride. 1t is said that Capt
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 pre-
sented to each Of them a handsome
gold medal. The United States has
also taken cognizance of their heroic
action and congress has ordered med
ais 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 Celt, told his story with the
of a sea dog and the in
souisance of a child. For what We
did," he said, Il never expected any
thing like this. 1t was bad sea but
nothing more than a good hard gale.
We were running with the gale. We
were satisfied-we wanted to get in
night, because we knew
we'd have a good time in New York.
We'll, then we sighted what looked
like a raft, and then the poor fellows
on it. 1 hadn't to call anybody twice
for rescue work-then their boat cap
shetland next thing l saw was Rob-
erts hopping over the side. Then 1
saw Williams skipping it. Then 1
saw Buck making ready and ordered
him to put a line around him.
Everybody, down to the smallest
boy we had, did splendid work and
we finally got the poor chaps aboard"
officer Bucks speech consisted Of
three words. He said:
Il thank you"
The address of officer Williams was
a classic. He said:
I'VE only did what anyone would
do who happened to find himself
there. That's ALL"
officer Roberts-he of the boots
Il 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 relate
an instance of the brotherhood of
man and the high democracy of the
sea that no lesser than that of Joseph
Conrad could do justice to.-Norfolk-
Virginian Pilot.