The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1871-07-20
THE WRECKER'S son.

ROCKY POINT WAS dangerous place at
all times, and On this particular night espe-
clally so. Its great ragged rocks prOtruded
their heads above the Wave s, threatening
woe to the ship that might be left to
their mercy, while the white, foaming
water dashed on the rocky beach, and the
wind whistlei loudly overhead. ltneeded
no seaman's eye TO tell that a storm was
brewing. Standing on one of the highest
rocks, two men were looking out 10 sea.
Their general appearance betokened them
fishermen, but 1t was evidently not their
occupation that brought II EN- out on the
rocks in this storm.
Is the fire ready to build?" asked one
OF them, turning to his conn anion.
es the wood is under cover and won't
get wet. Amt 1t pretty near time to light
up?"
Eve will do it in few minutes" was
the reply.
A silence ensued for a while, when the
man who had been laL to speak spoke
again
so this is your last wreck, is it Jas
per-"
Yes, jim, this is my last wreck, and
amt extra sorry. You see when my wife
died-you knew her, delicate, weakly
kind Of a thing-she made me promise to
take Charley, our only boy, and have him
eddIcated. She wasn't like me; and i
she was Fisherman Onslow's girl, and
born on the coast, she was a delicate
woman nevertheless. Well, she wanted
our boy To have hetter bringin up than
hed get here, so / Mt him away to live
and get an eddication. And now, after
years, he's comm back to see me, and I'm
goin' to leave Rocky Point forever. Of
course he'd be ashamed and mad if he
knew his father was the cause of ship
wreck and death, just To get him an eldi-
eaten and arm money for him. But I've
been thlnkin' over it for years and come
TO the conclusion That il | didn't do it
some one else would, and as it's payin'.
I've stuck al il"
That's so, Jasper" said jim; eff we
didn't draw the ships on the rocks, some
one else would. But ain't it time to build
the fire now?
Yes, light up. I'll stay here and look
out"
The scene scarcely needs an explana-
ton. There was but one good place to
land near Rocky Point, and that was Just
beyond the rocks 1t had been customary
to light watch fire on the rocks on wild
nights, to warn away ships from destruc-
ton; but there were rumOrs of strange
Rocky Point. The watch fires were some
times built at the wrong place 1t was no
uncommon thing, on slOImy night, to
see a fire blazing on the beach at Point
Harbor, while the rocks were dark as
death; and when ships went ashore on
Rocky Point, people said some hard thiHgs
about the amiable fisherman of that place.
Jasper Wilton passed up and down the
rocks
This wreckin' is hard business" he
muttcred to himself, but it brings hard
cash. Jgh-many night I've woke up
and seen white drownin faces and corpses
shaking their drippin' arms at me- But
I've doue it all for my boy, ana it's nearly
over How much like his mother that last
picture he sent me looked; delicate and
weakly But he needn't fight the world
Tor his bread and butter; I've done that for
him in the storms, night after night. 1t |
have put my hands i'll dead mems pockets,
its been for him. Ugh-l thought saw
white face just now.
Boom over the stormy water came the
solemn sound that announced ship in
distress, and moment later the watch-tiTe
on the beach tlared up Now for work,
muttered the man as he buttoned his pea
jacket around him closely and turned to-
ward the blaze. Suddenly he stopped and
bent his head in listening position.
Boom, thundered the gun again, and
that was ali. Il thought | heard some
one calm me-" he said in hoarse
whisper; Il wonder what's in me to-
night; see the white faces all around
and he walked rapidly on.
On the beach several men were stand
ing talking to each other. The fire shed
n srI1 f,Nyc Il
over the roaring waters but beyond the
sea and sky was darker than ever.
There she is" said one of the men to
Jasper, pointing to y dark speck on the
sea
Where do you think she'll strike?'
"OA the rocks, | expect, was the rough
reply.
Must be in bad humor to night" said
the man, with a careless laugh; and then
they turn to look al the ship again. 1t was
steamer, and the practiced eyes OF the
wreckers soon saw it was badly crippled.
The boom of her guns was heard every
few minutes. The light Of the fire show ed
her outlines family as she rolled in the
heavy sea.
Shell be on The outer rocks soon, said
Jasper
Sure enough; scarcely thirty seconds
later there came crash from the noble
steamer, followed by wild cries OF despair
Put out the boats, and let's see ii We
can save any of them, shouted Jasper
"1ll 20 with the next mau."
You're mighty squeamish all of sud
den, sneered one of the men. IN look
out for the swag, and let the men take
care of themselves"
And l." cried the rest, as they sepa-
arated, each to gather Whist spoil he could
Curse the luck what's IN ME to-
night?' growled the wrecker, as he wake
nervously up and down the wet beach.
Il never felt this way before. They re on
the rocks now, and could not help them
If | would and then, with sudden
fierceneSs, he shook his fist towards the
sinking ship, and shouted, Drown, ye
rats; what are you to the money | must
'arn fors my boyy" and he turned and
swiftly followed his companions.
Dim ana dreary the morning broke over
ROCKY Point; the heavy mist wrapped
the coast IN It's mantle of drearinesS. The
sun seemed to De afraid to come out and
Iooh on the tragedy of the night before.
barrels, BOXES, Kegs, and all manner of ar
tlcles were washed ashore, aud immed diate-
ly seized by the tireltss wreckers Now
ano then dead body was washed ashore
aud dragged higher up on the sand, out of
the reach OF the waves. Jasper worked
swiftly and silently among the rest. He
did not speak to the men, and seemed to
avoid them. Once the dead body of a
child was washed ashore almost at his
feet He shuddered and drew back, while
he growlei: It's for my boy. What are
they % the money l must arm for my
boS"