The Lincoln County herald., 1871-08-24
THE WRECKER,S SON.

Rocky Point was a dangerous place at
all times, aud on this particular nigh.
30. Its great ragged rocks
protruded their heads above the waves,
woe to the ship that might be
left to their mercy, while che white foaming
waters dashed on the rocky beach, anl the
wind whistlud loudly overhead. II needed
no seaman's eye to tell that storm was
brewing. Standing on one Of the high
est rocks, two men were looking out to
sea Their general appearance betokensd
them fishermen, but it was evidently not
their occupation that brought them out
on the rocks in the storm.
"ls the FIRE ready to build ?" asked
one of them, turning to his companion
"Yes, tho wood is under cover and
won't ge, wet. Amt it pretty near time
TO light up?"
ave will do it 10 few minutes" was
the reply.
A silence ensued for while, when the
man who had been last to speak spoke
again.
$50 this is your last wreck, is il,
Jasper?"
"Yes, Jim, this is ny last wreck. and
amt extra sorry. You see when my
wife died-you kuew her, delicate
weakly thing-she made me promise to
take Charley, our only boy, aud have him
eddicated. She WASH like ue, and if she
was Fisherman Onslow's girl, born on
the coast, she was delicate woman new
ertheless. We'll, she wanted our boy to
have better bringing up than he'd gel
here, SO | sent him away to live and gel
an eddication. And Low, atrer years
he's coming back to see me, and m
going to leave Rocky Point forever. Oi
course he'd be ashamed and mad if he
knew that his father was tho cause Of
shipwreck and death, just to get him ar
eddicatlon, aud arm money for him
But I've been thinking over it for years
and come to the conclusion that if
didn't do it some one else would, and as
it's payin,' I've stuck at it,"
That's SO jasper" said jim "if VT
didn't draw the ships on the rocks, som,
one else would. But amt it time I,
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 tt
land near Rocky Point, and hat was jus
beyond tie rocks. 1t had been custom
ary to light watch FIRE on the rocks o,
wild nights, to warn away sh,ps from
destruction; bat there were rumors o.
strange mistakes on the psrt Of the 10
habitants Of Rocky Point. The watch
6ros wero sonetimes buils At tho urnnf
place. II was no uncommon thing, on ,
stormy night to see FIRE blazing on th
beach at Point Harbor, while the rocks
were black as death and when ship
went ashore at Rocky Point, people sale
some hard things ABOUT the amable tish
ermen Of that place.
Jasper Wilton paced up and down th'
rocks.
"This wreckin' is hard business" h,
muttered to himself, "but it brings hare
cash. Ush-many nigh, I've woke ul
and seen white drowhin faces aud corpse
shskin' their drippin' aru.s at me. Bu
I've done it all for my boy, and it.
nearly over. How much like his mo,he
that last picture be sent me looked del
icate and weakly. But ho needn't fgh
the world tor his bread and butter; t'v
done that for him IN the storms. nigh
after night. If have put my haud il
dead mems. pockets, its been tor him
Ugh thought | saw white lace JUS
now"
Boom, over the stormy water. came tht
solemn sound that announced ship il
distress, and a moment later the watch
fire on the beach dared up. "Now 70
work" muttered the man, as be buttone,
bis pea jacket around him closely 40,
turned toward the blaze. Suddenly b,
stopped aud bent his head iu . listening
position. Boom, thundered the gun
Boom, thundered the gun again, aud tina
was all. II thought l hes'd some on
calling me-" be sa,d, in hoarse whisper
"l wonder what's in me to night; | SCI
the white faces all around" and b.
walked rapidly on. r,.
On the beach. several men were stand
ing, taking 10 each 0ther. ne nr'
sbed strange. terrible CLEAN for som,
distance over the roaring waters, but be
yond the sea and sky were darker thar
ever. "There she is," said one OF The
men to jasper, pointing to . dark specL
on the sea. 1rI-g aa 8.... -
"Where do you expect she striks ?
"On the rocks, l expect" was ths
rough reply. .4FH sal ru red
"Muss be 10 bad humor Tonight,
said the man, with careless laugh snc
then they turned to look at the sh,E
again. 1t was . steamer, and the prac
tlced eyes Of the wreckers soon saw il
was badly crippled. The boom Of Of hel
guns were heard every few minutes
The light OF the Ere showed her outline,
family ~ she rolled in the heavy Sea. ?
She'll DO on the outer rocks soon,