A STORY ABOUT CAPT. WEBB.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 29, 2 January 1884, Page 3

A STORY ABOUT CAPT. WEBB.

Is September, 1875, when the world was filled with the praises of Capt. Webb, for swimming across the English Channel, at the Straits of Dover, a New York lawyer contributed to the Burlington .Free Press a graphic account of a heroic feat performed by Capt. Webb in April, 1873, which the latter wituessed, on a return trip of the .Russia to Liverpool. The initials signed to the letter, “J18E.,” were those of ex-. Police Commissioner and present United States Marshal Erhardt. The letter was copied, with due credit, in the Evening Mail of September 22nd, 1875, and is tn the main republished below. A seaman had fallen overboard from the Russia. “ J.8.E.,” thus continued the story:— Hia fall was witnessed by bis companions—not, however, more than a companion because a messmate of tiie same crow—not rising to the cioseuers of a friend. He gave the alarm, dropped his bucket, ran, dressed as be was, clear to the Bitrn, some 250 feet: with a bound cleared at once the railing and the screw, a blow from the blade of which would have crushed him instantly, and swam after his comrade. Long before the steamer bad t trued round, both the man who had thus jumped and the boat that went after him had disappeared from tins sight of all but an officer who had beeu sent to the maintop to watch them. Half an-hour passed aud the boat had given up both men for lost, and was returning in obedience to a signal from tbe steamer, when on its way back it sighted and picked up the hero who had jumped into the broad ocean, 800 miles from land, Jumping with his top-boots and a tightfitting cardigan jacket on, he was helped into the boat with nothing on but bis trousers, having divested himself of the rest whilst swimming and blue with cold. He had brought with him the hat of his comrade, who had sunk to rise no more, having doubtless been struck by the screw and killed. The Kussia proceeded on her voyage. The passengers, headed by William J. Florence, the actor, subscribed £5O for the family of the poor lad who was lost and £5 for the crew who picked up the hero; and they raised and presented him £lOO in gold. This act of heroism was the most gallant the writer has ever seen, and it has been his good fortune to have seen many, both in the field and in civil life. The man was a sailor, and he well kuew that such attempts at rescue result generally in the loss of both. He knew that it would be ten minutes before the steamer could turn and drop a boat, and that he would be three miles astern, and he well knew that unless both he and the searchers for him mounted the crest of a wave at the same time, and very near each other, he would not be seen, and that his voice could not be beard above the noise of the wind. He knew that steamers are not apt to delay long to search for men lost under such circumstances. He took all these risks, but he took no needless risks, for he ran 250 feet to the -Stern before he jumped, to avoid the danger of being sucked under the ship and struck by the screw, showing that he acted thoughtfully as well as promptly. The man’s modesty was equal to his bravery. He took the gift rather unwillingly, and with a speech worthy of a hero : I thank you, and wish my comrade was here to share it.” He meaut every word. He spoke with his eye and from his heart ; he did not think of what he had done, but what he had failed in doing, and of the companion he had lost. After the accident the passengers saw little of him. He kept out of their way, and seemed to feel that tbe people were looking at him, and although he w-as cornered in the forecastle once or twice by some of the passengers, he talked but little concerning his effort. He did say, however, that when the boat gave him up and pulled away his “ life passed quickly before him. Had it been indeed his last review of life, would not the errand he was on, and the hat he held in his hand, have passed him in at “ the Gates ?” There were among tbe passengers many wellknown citizens—Jackson 8. Schultz, of New York ; Mr. Garrettson, U.S. Commissioner to Vienna, and many others. Mr. Schultz made our hero the offer that if he ever desired to leave the sea he would take care that he succeeded on land. He thanked him for the offer, but did not accept it. The Royal Humane Society, of London, deviated from their rule, I think almost settled, not to give a medal unless a life was saved, and gave this sailor one! It was justly earned.