On a summer day years ago a ship named the Swallow was sailing on Lake Erie. She had a number of passengers on her decks but she also carried a cargo of tar in her hold. The captain noticed smoke pouring from the hold and told Simpson, one of the hands, to go down and see what was the matter. Simpson came up with his face pale as ashes. “Captain,” he exclaimed, “the ship’s on fire!”
The awful cry of “Fire! Fire!” was heard as the billows of smoke poured from the fiercely burning tar. All hands rushed on deck and torrents of water were poured on, but all to no purpose.
The panic-stricken passengers were told to get to the bow as quickly as possible, and the old pilot, John Maynard, steered the vessel toward Buffalo. The fire grew worse and worse but the shore was in sight.
“John Maynard!” shouted the captain.
“Eh, Sir,” came the answer through the flames and smoke.
“Can you hold on for five minutes more?”
“I’ll hold on with the help of God, Sir!” Those were the last words he was heard to utter.
The boat reached safety, but the brave pilot was terribly burned. His right hand was so badly burned he could not use it, but with the left hand he held the tiller fast and thus guided the boat to the pier.
All were saved except John Maynard, who died at his post. The funeral was an impressive one. The crew, the passengers, and nearly the whole town followed the body to its last resting place. Many tears of gratitude and sorrow were shed by those who lived because he had died.
If you were to go to one of the cemeteries in Buffalo, you would see a stately marble monument and on it inscribed in letters of gold—TO THE PILOT JOHN MAYNARD
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THE GRATEFUL PASSENGERS OF THE “SWALLOW” HE DIED FOR US
Now have you ever given a thought to the Lord Jesus who died on Calvary? Do you understand He died for YOU, bearing the punishment of sin that you might be saved and blessed? If so, surely there will be written, not in letters of gold on a tombstone, but in burning letters on your heart, HE DIED FOR ME: “The Son of God who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” Gal. 2:2020I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20).
ML 08/27/1961