Ballads of Brave Deeds By H. D. Rawnsley. With a Frontispiece and Preface by G. F. Watts |
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A Pearl for our Sea-king's Crown |
 | Ballads of Brave Deeds |  |
A Pearl for our Sea-king's Crown
The news of this heroic deed comes from Victoria in British Columbia. A storm raged so furiously on Wednesday, 24th January 1894, in the harbour there, where Her Majesty's Ship “Garnet” was lying, that a sailor was blown clean overboard. It is easy to understand from this fact the force of the wind, and what the waves would have been like. On the disappearance of the sailor, orders to lower the cutter were immediately given. It was seen, however, that the man was drowning, and his death would have been certain, had not Midshipman Addison, the very youngest officer of the ship, jumped overboard, and supported the man until help arrived. Captain Hughes-Hallett of the “Garnet” reports that the action was one of uncommon bravery, as a full gale was blowing, and he will recommend the young officer for the Royal Humane Society's medal.
Fairer you shine for the jewel of English courage to-day—
You, who rode to the storm, when the glass went suddenly down,
And the waves rose up and roared right into Victoria Bay!
Man overboard! how it shrilled through quarters, cabin and hold!
But the boatswain's pipe blew shriller to save a soul from its doom,
And we sprang to “lower away,” more swift than the telling is told.
Of the bold young midshipmite, and he cried— “Can he swim? Can he swim?”
And over the side he went like a flash, for good or for ill,
Lost to our sight in the surges that leaped to swallow him.
But the tightest lip ever set, to a Father in Heaven can pray;
For we loved that midshipmite, and we knew the course he steered
Was Death, in the hurricane hollow of dark seas there in the bay!
And drew not one—but twain from the jaws of the ravening wave;
And set in our Sea-king's crown the pearl of a deed that is brave.
| Ballads of Brave Deeds | |