Lyr Add: Rescue of Ship's Cat

Subject: Lyr Add: Rescue of Ship's Cat
From: Charley Noble
Date: 17 Nov 02 - 02:32 PM

Here's a new song inspired by a magazine article of a historical event, one which took place at the mouth of the Kennebec River here in midcoast Maine:

RESCUE OF SHIP'S CAT

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

Chorus:

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

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

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

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

Captain Francis had the distress flag raised,
For no help could her avail,
And his crew prepared to abandon ship
In a January gale. (CHO)

We Hunnewell Station surfmen.
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 secured it to the rail;
They soon were swinging hand-over-hand,
In a January gale. (CHO)

But just when they was safe aboard,
There came a high-pitched wail;
What did we see but the old ship's cat,
Clinging to that schooner's rail.

Now Gussie Hodkins was a surfman
Whose courage never failed;
He deftly swung aboard that ship
In a January gale. (CHO)

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

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

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rescue of Ship's Cat
From: katlaughing
Date: 17 Nov 02 - 11:10 PM

What a wonderful story, Charley and well done on the song!! Old Hodkins surely has a special place in heaven for that rescue!

Thanks,

kat

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rescue of Ship's Cat
From: Charley Noble
Date: 18 Nov 02 - 09:16 AM

Thanks, Kat!

There's a nice picture of the ship's cat curled up on some cushions in the article. The surfman subsequently adopted the cat, renamed her Hunnie in honor of the Hunnewell Beach Life Saving Station.

Gussie Hodkins was complimented in an editorial of the Bath Daily Times, 1/24/1901, noting: "That sailor who braved the elements at Whaleback...to save a pet cat has the right kind of heart in him."

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rescue of Ship's Cat
From: Gareth
Date: 18 Nov 02 - 11:05 AM

Cox'n Henry Blogg of the Cromer Lifeboat was awarded the Silver Medal of the Canine Defence League for his rescue of the ships dog from the stranded and abandoned "Monte Nevaso" wrecked on Haisborough Sands in 1928. The dog, a Tyrollean sheep dog, was presented to Cox'n Blogg, by the survivors. And named Monte remained with Cox'n Blogg as a house hold companion till the Dogs death in 1935.

To put matters into perspective Cox'n Blogg was also awarded The Silver Medal of the Royal National Lifeboat Institute for the same service in taking of the crew of the "Monte Nevaso".

For the record Henry Blogg served 38 years as the Cox'n of the Cromer lifeboat, and was the most decorated Volunteer in the service, being awarded the George Cross, The British Empire Medal (Gallentry) Three awards of the RNLI Gold Medal, and Four awards of the RNLI Silver Medal.

Gareth

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rescue of Ship's Cat
From: Dead Horse
Date: 18 Nov 02 - 12:58 PM

"Doddle Let Me Go"?
Hooraw, me yalla gals, especially the one called Doddle.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rescue of Ship's Cat
From: Charley Noble
Date: 18 Nov 02 - 01:13 PM

Dead Horse- You're right, of course, it's "Doodle Let Me Go." Spellcheck's let me down again.

Nice notes, Gareth. Now put a song together about this seadog and we can add it to a new CD featuring "Animals at Sea." We'll make millions! We'll become filthy rich! Disney will make the movie, and it won't bear any resemblance to what we put together...

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rescue of Ship's Cat
From: Gareth
Date: 18 Nov 02 - 06:06 PM

It seems that rescueing dogs and cats features quite often, but for sheer luck and longtivity the story of Oscar - Ships cat on the DKM Bismark - takes some believing - click here for photos and the story.

Gareth

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rescue of Ship's Cat
From: katlaughing
Date: 18 Nov 02 - 06:23 PM

Incredible stories!

Charley, I think you're on to something!! At the very least it would make a fine thread...hint, hint!

Thanks, gents!

kat

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rescue of Ship's Cat
From: Joe Offer
Date: 18 Nov 02 - 08:31 PM

I added the tune to Doodle Let Me Go to Mudcat MIDIs. Is it the right tune, Charlie?
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rescue of Ship's Cat
From: Charley Noble
Date: 19 Nov 02 - 09:00 AM

Joe - Close enough for most folks to work with. Thanks!

Gareth - thanks for the link to the Bismark kat.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rescue of Ship's Cat
From: Charley Noble
Date: 20 Nov 02 - 08:33 AM

This song obviously needs some polishing, in terms of singing. I just get excited when I first put something together, and the vote from my housemates Tilahun, Tejitu and Gashey was that I should post the verses anyway.

We'll see what this one looks and sounds like after it undergoes some more folk-processing.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rescue of Ship's Cat
From: Gareth
Date: 20 Nov 02 - 10:15 AM

Nice song - Polish away !!! Regret my limited talents don't run to a song of "Henry Blogg" or "Oscar".

Gareth

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rescue of Ship's Cat
From: Charley Noble
Date: 21 Nov 02 - 09:48 AM

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

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rescue of Ship's Cat
From: Charley Noble
Date: 22 Nov 02 - 09:18 AM

Probably, I should change the title to simply "The Rescue" and preserve some element of surprise.

Further notes: the Joseph Luther was a 3-masted schooner, Captain Franscis in command with a crew of six, bound in ballast up the coast from Bath some 40 miles to a Damariscotta River landing where she planned to load up with blocks of ice for a run down to the Caribbean. The mouth of the Kennebec River can be treacherous, especially when an in-coming gale meets the out-going tide running down river.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble, safe ashore

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rescue of Ship's Cat
From: Charley Noble
Date: 26 Nov 02 - 08:18 PM

Refreshing for further comment if any.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rescue of Ship's Cat
From: katlaughing
Date: 27 Nov 02 - 09:47 AM

Still love it. Now I have to learn the tune! The extra info you provide makes all the more interesting and the polished version is great, Charley. Thanks!