Bernadou’s classmates say that he fears nothing on earth or water. His
fearlessness overcomes any consciousness of self.
One afternoon in October, 1881, the United States steamer “Kearsarge,”
Captain G. B. White, lay at anchor in Hampton Roads. The weather had been
stormy for a day or two, and the wind had kicked up a heavy sea. There
was a strong tide running, and the vessel swung out on a long cable. A
seaman by the name of Christoverson, who was boat-tender in one of the
cutters swinging at the lower booms, went out and down the Jacob’s ladder.
In stepping to the thwart his foot slipped, and those on deck saw him
disappear under the gray water.
There was a hoarse cry of “man overboard.” Seaman Robert Sweeny, who saw
the accident, running out along the boom, plunged in without delay, just
as the man came up the second time. Bernadou, then a cadet-midshipman,
heard the cry, and rushing to the gangway, saw the terrible struggle
of Sweeny with the drowning man as the tide swept them out towards the
sea. Bernadou tossed off his coat, and was overboard in an instant.
Christoverson, in his fierce struggle, carried Sweeny down with him, the
latter only breaking away to be carried down again.
Bernadou by this time was within reach, and catching the drowning man from
behind, managed to relieve Sweeny until a line was thrown to them, and
they were finally hauled aboard in an exhausted condition. For this act
both Bernadou and the sailor received the recommendations of their captain
and the thanks of William H. Hunt, then the secretary of the navy.