Walt Whitman never came nearer prophecy than in the lines
describing a shipwreck in his poem, "Song of Myself." He might have been an eye-witness of the noble deeds of the 'President Roosevelt's' gallant captain, officers, and crew, during their rescue of the Antinas company :— " I understand the large hearts of heroes,
The courage of present times and all tunes, How the skipper saw the crowded and rudderless wreck of the steam- ship, and Death chasing it up and down the storm. How he knuckled tight and gave not back an inch, and was faithful of days and faithful of nights,
And chalk'd in largo letters on a board, Be of good cheer, we will not desert you ;
How he follow'd with thorn and tack'd with them three days and would not give it up, How ho saved the drifting company at last."
One would like to see those words engraved on the gifts and medals presented to Captain Fried and his fellow rescuers.
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