The United States has five Great Lakes: Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan and Lake Superior. Each of these is large enough to have large ships going from port to port just like on an ocean. In fact, since all of these lakes are connected to each other and from Lake Ontario ships can reach the Atlantic Ocean through the Saint Lawrence Seaway, the port cities on the Great Lakes are like ocean-port cities.
The boats that travel on the Great Lakes carry cargoes such as ore, coal, grain and other materials that are shipped in large quantities. These ships have crews and in some cases a few passengers. Years ago many people used these ships for travel before there were airplanes and good highway systems. It was on one of these ships that this story took place.
A ship named the Swallow was traveling from Detroit, Michigan to Buffalo, New York on Lake Erie. It carried a full load of tar, the crew and several passengers. One of the crew was John Maynard who as the pilot or helmsman had the responsibility of steering the ship. The captain would tell him the course to steer, and it was John’s job to follow the captain’s directions.
One day a frantic cry came from one of the crew, “Captain, there is a fire in the hold!”
“All hands on deck!” ordered the captain. “To your fire stations! Keep a steady course, John!” he ordered as he left the bridge to check the fire.
“Aye, aye, Captain,” replied John.
The trained crew fought the tar fire with all their skill, but they could not control it. Billows of black smoke rose from the back of the ship. The heat of the fire was so intense that the crew had to retreat to the front of the ship.
“How far are we from Buffalo?” an anxious passenger asked.
“About 45 minutes,” replied the captain.
Everyone but John Maynard was at the front of the ship. The forward motion of the ship kept the smoke and heat away from them. But this was not the case for John. The smoke and heat swirled up through the bridge where he held the wheel. But he knew that the safety of everyone on board depended on his being able to steer the ship into port.
“John Maynard!” shouted the captain through the radio.
“Aye, aye, sir; what course should I steer?” came the reply.
“East, south-east!” shouted the captain.
The fire became worse, but the shore was closer now. Only a few more minutes....
“John Maynard!” the captain called again.
“Aye, aye, sir,” came the answer through the raging flames and smoke.
“Can you hold on for five minutes more?” shouted the captain.
“I’ll hold on... with the help of God.”
Those were John Maynard’s last words. At that moment his hair and beard were burning and his clothes were on fire. His right hand was completely burned, and he steered only with his left hand. Yet because of his courage he was able to steer the ship to shore where everyone was rescued — everyone, that is, except John Maynard. He died before he could be rescued.
He was buried in a cemetery in Buffalo, New York, and a large marble monument marks his grave. Engraved on it are these words:
To the Pilot, John Maynard,
from
the grateful passengers of the
Swallow
“He died for us.”
Have you ever thought about the Man who died for sinners like you and me? His name is Jesus and He died on Calvary’s cross. He suffered the punishment from God that we deserve, because He loves you and me. Have you accepted Him as your Saviour? Has His blood washed your sins away? The answer to these questions can be “yes” if you will turn to Him now and be saved. Let it be engraved on your heart, “He died for me!”
ML-12/10/1989