One day about 24 years ago, a friend of mine, Howie Lane, who was an Essex clam digger, dropped me off on a large clam flat known as "the Spit."
It was about a quarter mile off Conomo Point. The clam flat was huge, with boundaries connected with Essex, Ipswich and Gloucester.
I didn't want to miss a ride out to the clam flat with Howie, as he was in a real big hurry, wanting to get a head start on the low tide. I did not have a chance to grab an extra sweater or my gloves.
Well, when he dropped me off on the Gloucester side of "the Spit" — and I was in for a rude awakening.
The wind was blowing at least 35 mph, a cutting, biting, northeast wind. My face started freezing up, and I tried running around to try to keep warm. The wind picked up at least 10 mph, making it an unbearable situation just to keep from freezing to death in near hypothermic conditions. I literally thought I was a goner. The Essex clam diggers were at least a mile and a half down the Essex River. Suddenly, on the front side of "the Spit," I saw one Gloucester clammer and his boat anchored just a few feet near him.
I ran full speed toward him and his boat. As I neared him, I realized it was "Dirt" Murray and his dog, Chopper. The dog always sat on the bow of the boat, watching Dirt dig clams.
I had met Dirt once before; we dug clams together, and he told me of the houseboat he lived on at the mouth of the river in Annisquam.
When I approached Dirt, I told him I was freezing to death. He said, "No wonder, we're the only two nuts out here today in this kind of weather."
He said to me, "Sit in my boat," and then he covered me with his huge Macinaw warmcoat. He had a couple of heavy sweatshirts on him, and said he was OK. After about 15 minutes, I was all warmed up.
I said to him, "Dirt, you saved my life today," and I was very sincere when I said that to him.
He said he would be ready to leave in about 20 minutes, and to try to stay warm.
We finally left in his boat, heading to Conomo Point, where his pickup truck was parked. We pulled his boat in at the landing. I said, "Let's ride down to Puna's market, I'll buy you and me a large coffee and a couple of hot dogs." He said that sounded like a great idea, and that he could sell his clams afterward.
Well, we finally made it to Puna's store and got the coffee and the hot dogs. I also bought his dog Chopper two hot dogs. We sat in his truck in the parking lot and we both cherished the hot coffee.
We then went to my close friend "Grom" Roberts' house, where Roberts was a dealer for all the clam diggers around. Dirt sold his clams and was on his way back home to Annisquam.
Before Dirt left, I went up to him and thanked him again for saving my life. I told him he was a great guy and also a good Samaritan. He said he was just there to help a fellow clam digger, and I was in need of help.
I will never forget that cold February morning as long as I live.
God bless Dirt Murray, a true Good Samaritan.
WILLIAM 'TURK' LEAVITT
Ipswich
