Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-12-02
BY FRANK III. SHAW.

= ELDOM, If ever-the stanch cam
cradle Of white water being what
1t is--does the call for help from
~ distressed ship go unheeded
and ocean historys brightest
pages deal with heroic episodes that
vie with one another for the greatest
glory of self-sacrifice and gallantry
Each new tale Of sea adventure re-
calls to the old-time seafarer his own
battles with the snarling devilishness
Of open water in gale-his own ex-
periences of disaster and rescue, back
IN windjammer days.
This latest catastrophe of the At
lanttc-the sinking of the liner Vestris
with great loss of life-is an exception
to the usual run of such episodes in
modern days, with speedy liners rush
ing in at the radioed S o and taking
of the doomed vessels human cargo
in a manner that has been reduced
almost to an exact science. Even
though 1t appears in the light of pres
ent reports that many more from the
VeStris could have been saved if the
call Of distress had been broadcast
earlier, the succoring ships were able
to rescue many who might otherwise
have met death in open boats on the
storm tossed sea or clinging to bits
Of wreckage in the wtaer itself
In general-and l attempt in no wise
to lessen the honor that belongs by
rights to such as risk life and limb in
efforts to succor suffering fellow-voy-
ayers when angry oceans are attempt
ing to exact their last grim toll-the
ocean rescue of today seems, to the
old-timer, to lack certain vigorous ele-
ments characteristic of the past, when
ships were not floating miracles of in
genuity and stoutness. No matter what
the weather may be, powerful and
gigantic liner can be Unanswered in
such way as to lessen the distance
between salvor and salved almost to
the vanishing point. The liner herself
can offer mighty bulwark against
the roaring attacks of white-crested
conbers, and give shelter to her boats
as they are lowered and cast adrift
to battle with fate for the lives OF
those in peril.
If it be night there are powerful
searchlightS to assist in the labor; and
If the state of wind and sea is too
considerable to allow a boat to leave
its parent ship, in most cases the liner
is fitted with gear that will permit. as
o last" resort, line to be f1oated or
shot across the wreck, to effect a
workable connecting link between the
ships for the salvati<h of the perish
ing And when it1 work is done and
there are no mort to be saved, the
vessel HOSTS in her own boats by
means of deck wihches and roars on
her lawful occasio.s.
Far different from windjammer days,
when white winged beauties rode the
pillows on Lonesome routes where the
disabled ships hops for salvage lay not
in the well nigh certain call OF the
radio, but in the meiest chance that an
other vessel might hSppen to come with
in hailing distance, ;ald when even then
rescue operations wore of a nature to
wrack the nerves even of men hardened
to the treacherousness of the sea.
Off the pitch of the Horn, far south
where the great icebergs roam and meet
and crash thunderously together and
calve into many bergs, where the big
seas careen unchecked by an interven-
ing continent and the great winds roar
an almost incessant diapaSon to the
growl of the thunderous surges-here
sea rescue is bitter work. We-ourselveS
badly buffeted by many weeks of fight
ing against weighty odds-sighted for
lorn wreck soon after the dawn OF
gray December day, when the sky low
cred blackly and the sea was riotous
fury of unbridled spite.
1t is doubtful if we should have sight
ed her at all but for the fact that some
of us had been sent aloft to make fast
a topgallantsail that had torn partly
free of its gasketS, The horizons were
miSted and the sense of loneliness was
intense-but it was intensified even
more when a pointing hand drew atten-
ton to smudge far to leeward, that
careful gazing revealed as ship. Even
at that distance it was possible to see
that she was not as other ships-there
was something definitely unusual in her
appearance.
CT OST her sticks!" some one opined.
- A dismasted ship in so south
means something more than a curious
object passed One of us funneled hands
about his mouth to hail the deck: ship
on the lee bow, sir Looks like wreck!'
"Ay, ay," came family back. "How's
she bear?"
Three points on the bow, sir" We
saw the watch officer dive into the
chartroom for the glasses, and we saw
him scramble aloft up the mizzen and
come to anchor in the cross-treeS. He
came down again and dived below. The
captain came on deck almost immedi-
ately.
Down from aloft, the watch
weather mainbraces!" came to us, ex-
pectant up there aloft That was a
command to give thrill to any sea-
fareT.
Hes running down to speak hin!"
we said The mute call had been noticed
and would not be ignored. 1t seldom is
ignored, thank God! Even if it is i'm
possible to help it is always possible to
grant the sufferers human companion
ship in the hour of their passing, and
that means more than mere words can
tell We got down on deck as quickly
as might be and manned the weather.
braces, Souaring away the yards as the
ship ran off the wind sufficient to bring
the stranger ahead.
We were under shortened canvas, for
we had been ratching on taut bow
line in the teeth of northeaSterly black
gale that had batfied us for days. But
now:
Shake that topgallansail out, mis-
terP' 1t was done. and the appointed
boys made their best timing aloft to the
jolting yard. We sheeted home and
hoisted the yard with a hearty song,
and the honest old ship began to move
through the water springily, as if eager
to bear a part in blessed mission.
Such of us as were not required for
Immediate work lined the rail and
searched the misted distance. From
tAlC ACbh lllc ot1 "oo DdAClJ NAoAblC'
save as nebulous blur; but minute by
minute we raised her, and minute by
minute the sadness of her plight be-
came more apparent.
BE damned If she isn't the old Mil
waukee!" said the tough old skipper ex-
plosively. An added thrill communi-
Gated itself to us. We had lain with
the Milwaukee in a west coast port;
her people had fraternized with US; her
apprentices had fought with us at Mole
for the honor of their ship as opposed
to ours; we had been drunk together
and rioted together; we had sung
hymns together, sharing the same
hymnal on Sundays when we were
Bethel ship.
The old Milwaukee, by the gods! In
her dav she had been a half famous