The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-31
TIE 'eSSsT o s @ E G s a e 46 Sas s<'Ne
Notables on the Banks
Lucky Steve"
Sketch No. IL.

One Sunday in December. 1917, the
Rosabell left her dock at Wreck Lead
and shaped course for the Cholera
Banks to fish for cod.
The weather was cold and gloomy.
sou'east wind was blowing, which
freshened into half a gale as We neared
the banks. and then began the lookout
for the flag that marks the fishing
grounds, but the heavy sea running had
washed the flag partly under and
for a time 1t was not seen, when sud
denly a man who sat on the fo'c'sle
head intently scanning the tumbling
seas sang out, There she is. George !"
And Capt George replied: Where
away?'
Two points to starboard," was the
| reply. and then Capt George said {:
You're right. Stevie!"
A sharp eye has Lucky Steve" and
a nimole tongue. too; in fact, 1t is prob
able that in heller SHELTER, catch as
catch can repartee he has absolutely no
equal on the banks or, for that matter.
! ashore either.
To see this man you would not think
him to be a sailor perhaps. but at sea
he shows himself TO be aces high at
every point of the game-can splice a
rope, and the main brace. too: can
take a trick at the wheel and is always
on deck to lend a hand wherever 1t is
needed.
! He is a wizard not only in his elo-
quence, but also with the rod, for he
| always gets fish. though It cannot be
said that he succeeds BY reason OF va
! r!ety of tackle, for no man has ever
seen him with more than two hooks and
| one sinker. and yet II he loses rig he
| by some occult necromancy Immediately
has another rig on. How he does 1t is
| question asked by many and answered
by few.
Steve Is the life Of the Rosabell-
! that Is. he and Capt George together !:
| in fact. Lucky seems to be part OF
| the old craft.
Steve loves the sea, too. He loves
to fight the gale and is on deck noting
every bit OF wreckage as II drifts by
with that keen eye of his, and a kindly
heart he has also. for do I not remem-
| Der being on a boat with him when a
man fell overheard in a winter sea, and
| 1t was Lucky Steve" who pulled him
aboard nearly dead, and 1t was he who
dried his clothes and gave him every
| attention until he revived.
But to see Lucky Steve in his glory
ID TO see MIN on hot day at sea, when
the blue and white clouds are aloft and
when the sea Is calm, the wind west
and fish coming aboard-then It Is that
he entertains US all with such astound-
ing orations, such amazing volleys of
verbal fireworks as TO convince the most
sceptical that he has no peer on earth
| In his own particular line.
Poor David Hebblethwaite. the most
good natured Englishman you ever met
and one OF the Rosabell Fishing Club,
has to tamely submit to SO much tongue
flashing from Steve that / wonder he
does not rebel, but, then, Davy knows
II Is no use ktcking-no use to oppose
Steve, for Lucky" can "down" US all
at argument. oh, he has "bally rag
| ging tongue" as the Irish say.
| Very few people know Lucky Steves''
full name, and I am not going TO tell
tales out OF school Suffice TO know him
at his best as good friend and compan-
ion. always cheerful, full OF fun, a voice
like a foghorn, an appetite that Is never
appeased. the digestion OF an ostrich.
can eat more different things in one
day and survive than any other human
being, has that gift of the gods, con-
tentment-that is Lucky Steve"