218 FISHERMEN'S OWN BOOK. 



deprived of support he fell to the deck, striking his back and shoulders on 

 the head of an upright water barrel. The blow broke in the head of the 

 barrel, and the back of the unfortunate man was completely flayed and the 

 skin turned up in strips and rolls on his shoulders. In addition to this, his 

 ankle, which had struck on the house when he fell, was out of joint, and 

 altogether his condition was most deplorable. It is easier to imagine than 

 to tell of the dreadful agony endured for twenty-four long hours before the 

 light winds carried the vessel to port, where medical treatment could be 

 obtained. 



While engaged in bending the mainsail on a new schooner, the J. G. 

 Dennis, he fell from the taffrail and struck on the wheel, receiving a severe 

 injury. So great was the force with which he fell, that the spoke of the 

 wheel, striking between the hip and lower rib, fractured the skin, and his 

 right side was paralyzed for more than a week. 



While in the Dennis, in February, 1862, Murphy assisted in the rescue of 

 the crew of the water-logged sch. Life Buoy, of Shelburne, N. S., an event 

 which illustrated in a striking manner the readiness with which our fisher- 

 men frequently apply means to ends in times of emergency and danger. 

 The former vessel had lost her boat and most of her sails in a severe gale 

 on Georges, and the boat of the Life Buoy had also been swept away. How 

 could the fishermen, without a boat, and with their vessel in a disabled con- 

 dition — having for sails only the foresail below the third reef and a jib bent 

 for a mainsail — render any aid ? The question was how to improvise some 

 sort of a boat. Having decided to construct a boat of one of the gurry- 

 pens, which fortunately still remained intact, the skipper of the Dennis ran 

 close by the Life Buoy, and hailing her crew desired them to throw over- 

 board some of the planks which formed the latter vessel's deck load. By 

 skilful manoeuvring these planks were picked up by the crew of the former 

 vessel, and a bottom was soon made for the gurry-pen and tightly caulked. 

 The fishermen then ran near enough to the wreck to throw a rope on board, 

 and the gurry-pen boat was got afloat and was hauled back and forth be- 

 tween the two vessels, making two trips. Before leaving the wreck her crew 

 sent on board of the Dennis a jib and gaff -topsail, so that the latter might 

 have sufficient canvas to reach the land. Four men were rescued ; the 

 mate had been washed overboard and drowned during the gale. 



In March of the following year, and while still in the same schooner, 

 Murphy had another fall from aloft. While lying to in a gale on Georges, 

 the vessel plunged so heavily into the sea that the spring-stay became de- 

 tached from the foremast-head, leaving the mainmast without support on the 

 forward side, and liable to fall unless something could be done to stay it 

 up. This could only be effected by some one taking the risk of going aloft 

 on the mainmast, which, as stated, might break at any minute. But we will 



