A MAN WHO DID HIS DUTY.

Dunstan Times, Issue 736, 26 May 1876, Page 2

A MAN WHO DID HIS DUTY.

—o— A case was heard at the Admiralty Court on Friday week for the recovery of salvage from the owners of the ship Poussin, which had been assisted into the Humber, and ran ashore near Grimsby. The circumstances i which rendered such a cm iso necessary are | as follows :—The Poussin, a vessel of about 350 tons, commanded by Captain Adier Hansen, was laden with timber and having about sixty tons of iron for ball:, and was bound from a northern port to i Antwerp. She encountered a tremendous gale in the North Sea, during which she became leaky, and the crew were kept continuously at the pumps to keep the vessel afloat Their labor was all in vain, however, for the leaks increased to such a degree that the water gained upon them, and when it was found that the case was hopeless the crew ceased their exertions and became moody and mutinous. In the course of Captain Hansen’s evidence he said that the men refused to obey his orders, ’ and he could do nothing with them at last. 1 When the gale had subsided, he, however, ■ induced them to sot the sails, and as it was 1 impossible to fetch the port to which the cargo was consigned, and as the wind was 1 fair for running to the Humber, the captain shaped the ships course for'the Spurn Light. About 3 p.m. on the second day after the vessel filled with water, a fishing smack 1 hove in sight. Two of the crew went aft • to the signal locker, and took out the ensign. 1 When asked by the captain what they were i doing, they said they meant to leave the I ship if they could, and intended hoisting the colors half-mast as a signal of distress. 1 Notwithstanding his remonstrance the sig- ■ nal was hoisted, and the smack bore down ! alongside the ship. The captaiu commanded and entreated the men to stand by him in 1 the execution of their duty. The men ap- ’ pearod paralysed by fear, and told Captain [ Hansen that if he did not come with them ' they must leave him. “ Your duty,” said ! the brave man, “is to stand by me, and ’ endeavor to bring the ship into port. How- * over basely you may desert me (and you will have to take the consequences of your desertion), I shall do my duty and make > the best of my duty without you." Finding 1 they could not induce him to leave the ship, they launched the boat and rowed on board the smack, leaving the courageous old I skipper to his fate. During this parley ho 1 had gone to the helm, which the helmsman t had deserted, and as the smack here away 3 with his crew on hoard the heroic veteran I brought the ship’s head round to the required point of the compass. All through

that long October night he kept his solitary stand at the wheel. About midnight the wind increased, and with it the sea, which now continually broke over the vessel fore andflft. Sometimes the resolute man was so overpowered by the exhausting labor of steering as to sink down on the deck, but soon rail - ing, through sheer determination, he sprang to his feet again, and thus wore away that long wearisome night. As the Poussin ran across the track of vessels sailing along the coast there was imminent danger of collision, but whatever should be the consequences she could not get out of the way, and she sailed on. Towards morning the wind lulled again, and about 8 a.m. the Spurn Light vessel was seen ahead, and standing out into the offing were two pilot cutters. The headmost one was soon alongside. One of the pilots hailed, “ Where are ye hound to ?” “To Grimsby,” replied the hardy mariner, delighted to speak to a fellow creature once more, “ Then you want a pilot?” “Yes, I want a pilot.” “ Let your people back the main yard, then, and 1 will send you one,” said the pilot. “ There’s no people here. I’m all alone, replied the mariner.” “ Luff and shake her, then, and we’ll send you some hands," answered the pilot. This was done, and six hands were on board from the two cutters. By this time they bad come un with the lighship. Though help hiyl now arrived the intrepid sailor would not resign his post at the wheel until hia ship was fairly inside the mouth of the Humber, when he gave charge of the helm to one of the pilots. Shortly after the Poussin was placed safely on the mud bank, near Grimsby, and thus success had crowned the efforts of the man who, by himself, had navigated a ship of 350 tons for nearly 100 miles, and brought ship and cargo safe into port. LISO was awarded to the six men who rendered their assistance to the ship for about four hours, and the gallant old enlleman who bravely stuck to the helm ' -nineteen hours, has the award of an approving conscience, and the appreciative encomiums of the judge of the Admiraly ■Court.