Here's a more polished version, the most significant nautical change being from "windward" to "leeward" in the 4th verse (arghhh!):

From a true story "The Rescue" by Ken Textor
Down East Magazine, 2002
Adapted by Charlie Ipcar © 2002
Tune: traditional "Doodle Let Me Go"

Rescue of the Ship's Cat


Chorus:

Them January gales, me boys,
Them January gales,
Let me tell you 'bout a shipwreck
In them January gales.

'Twas in the year nineteen-o-one,
The Luther she set sail,
To be towed on down the Kennebec,
Into a rising gale.

The steam tug Knickerbocker
Over many a storm prevailed,
But the hawser snapped at the river's mouth
And the Luther's fate was nailed. (CHO)

The Luther slipped to leeward,
As the waves rushed o'er the rail,
And she piled high onto Whaleboat Rock
'Fore her crew could raise a sail.

The Captain hoisted the flag of distress,
For no help could her avail,
As his crew prepared to abandon ship,
In a January gale. (CHO)

We surfmen stationed on the shore
Responded to their hail;
We launched our surfboat from the beach,
And rowed out through the gale.

We shot a line across her deck,
They tied it to the rail;
And soon were swinging hand-over-hand,
In a January gale. (CHO)

But just as they was safe aboard,
There came a high-pitched wail;
What did we see but their old ship's cat,
Now clinging to the rail.

Gussie Hodkins was a surfman
Whose courage would not fail;
He deftly swung aboard that wreck
In a January gale. (CHO)

He scuttled 'cross them spray-soaked decks,
Grabbed the cat beside the rail;
He stuffed her deep inside his vest,
And returned to tell the tale.

Now that cat enjoys shore station life,
And with her story we regale;
While she sleeps curled up besides the stove,
In them January gales. (CHO)

Cheerily,
Charley Noble