Early in 1880, on the rocky coast of northern Scotland, heavy storms of wind, sleet and snow had persisted for several days.
One morning, as we were preparing for breakfast, a cry was raised in the village that a ship was aground. Hastening down to the beach, we could see her near the rocks off-shore.
She had been battling against the storm for a long time. Now, driven by wind and tide, the torm-tossed ship proved too much for her exhausted crew. Out of control, she turned to shore and ran head on towards the rocks. As the fearful onlookers watched they saw the ship, as though piloted by an unseen hand, turn into a narrow inlet. This inlet, or cutting, had been made by the fishermen of the village. It was the only safe channel for their little fishing boats through the rocky reefs along this rugged beach.
But could this larger vessel navigate safely a channel barely sufficient for them? Even as it seemed she would, the watchers on the beach became aware that the treacherous waves had jammed her against a jagged reef.
It was impossible to put the lifeboats out in such heavy seas. The rocket apparatus must be used to remove the crew from the doomed vessel. Dragging it to the beach, at times through four or five feet of snow, it required the united efforts of all the villagers to get it upon the spot nearest to the stricken ship. It was a time of the greatest excitement and anxiety as every sea that came over her threatened complete destruction. The oldest men there had never seen such a sea on the coast before.
The tide was coming in fast. Every moment was precious. Several attempts were made to get a line on board by means of the rockets, but the wind being so strong they were beaten down into the water before reaching the ship. Success came at last, however. An empty barrel, with a small cord attached, was thrown from the ship and reached shore. Then a large rope was tied on, hauled aboard, and made fast to the foremast.
Of the crew of eleven men on board, only four or five were in condition to help. The rest of them were below deck, entirely exhausted from their efforts and long exposure to the cold. As soon as the apparatus was ready for the traveling cage which was to be drawn along the rope, one of these helpless sailors was put into it. Willing hands quickly drew him ashore and into the care of kind friends.
This first man was scarcely in safety when the fast rising tide and the strong wind beating upon the ship suddenly raised her stern up over the reef of rock which previously had kept her head on towards shore.
Swinging round broadside to the beach, she settled down across another rock, her back broken and her mainmast splintered almost to pieces. The traveling apparatus became entangled across her bow and was rendered unmanageable.
At this juncture we saw through the drifting snow a man climbing over the side of the ship. Seizing the sagging rope, he swung towards shore, hand over hand. Out over the water he hung, a helpless man, buffeted by storm and sea. Great waves beat over him like falling houses, and, tossed by the raging wind, the poor fellow could make little headway.
As we strained to see through snow and spray, a heavy sea swept towards him―over him. We knew he could not last long.
When it was passed, we saw that strong man hanging helplessly by the bend of one arm. In a few more seconds he dropped into the surging waves. When his body was picked up two days afterward, it was found that the sea which crashed over him while he clung to the rope had dislocated both his shoulders.
Almost immediately after this man was lost, the bow of the ship lifted again over the rocks which were holding it. She swung free and in another moment she was once more head on to the beach, the apparatus disentangled and again workable. No time was lost now. The doomed vessel was rapidly breaking up, and all hands worked fast to rescue the crew. In half an hour the men were all safely landed. The helpless ones had been first to be put into the apparatus by those who had a little strength left.
One brave fellow helped to put all his shipmates (captain included) out of the ill-fated ship and into the hands of the friends on shore. He remained on board till the last with a quiet fearlessness which astonished all who saw him. When he came ashore the first question asked him was: "How can you be so calm amid such dangers?”
He said, "I am a Christian, and I knew that, come what would, I was safe in my Savior's keeping. 'The Lord is my salvation, whom shall I fear?'”
We then asked him about the poor lost man. "Ah," he said, "We begged him not to attempt to save himself in that way. It would have been impossible for him to reach shore without help. But he would― he would! He would not listen to us.”
"A fine fellow he was," added the captain, with tears running down his face. "He was the best man in the crew. He is gone―lost, because he tried to save himself in his own way.”
Yes, all the rest were saved, but by other hands than their own.
When the tide went out, it left a scene of desolation: a splintered skeleton of timbers, scattered planks, and broken barrels.
Such a solemn sight as we remembered the poor lost man!
Lost! And yet "the best man" of the whole crew! How was it possible? Simply because, to save himself, he trusted in his own strength to brave the waves.
And how is it with you who read this?
You, too, are on the sea of time in a vessel too frail to withstand the coming storms.
Are you ready to meet God and eternity?
If not, prepare now, before it is too late―before the day of grace shall have ended and you go down into the depths of a lost eternity. Receive the Son of God into your heart. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31).