Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1874-12-02

and most certainly carried tneli
helpless craft farther and farther
out TO sea. Then, to make the
matter worse, a snow storm came
on, and chilling them and render
ing still more helpless their chances
Of being seen by any passing ves-
sci. The night came on and there
was no relief. Clear starlight
clear and cold-succeeded the
snow storm. How they passed the
night needs no description. The
men themselves cannot describe 1t
except that they beat their breasts
and limbs in order to keep warm
and to keep awake.
Once during the night a steamer
passed so near TIE poor men
that they feered their frail craft
would be cut in twain and they
consigned to a watery grave. A
slight shift OF the wind saved them
however, and the steamer passed
on ploughing the tempestuous sea,
her officers unaware of the perilous
condition in close proximity of two
Of their fellow creatures-the
shouts of the fishermen failing to
reach the ears of any one on board.
The sun rose on Wednesday, but
no sight of land gladdened their
eyes. The hope that the drift
might bring them near the shore
had proved false. Still they kept
courage and consoled themselves
with hope. Both were cc:s!ent
of being rescued. They judged
they must be in the track Of YES
sells, and kept on saying to each |
other, ''in an hour we viii be
saved" 1t was this hope alone !
that saved them. Arms and legs |
they swayed vigorously, and thus
preserving the circulation.
The short November day was all !
90 long for them. The yellow
light OF the sun whenever it was
'evealed faded into the gloom OF
light, and still no relief. Long
md dark the hours-rough and
,oisterous the sea-no relief. The
ray of morning dawned npon
hem I; faint and nearly overcome
7ith hunger, benumed with wet
nd cold, they cheered themselves
5 the sun Of Thursday rose and
lied to believe that help must now
e near at hand.
No wind Thursday, no snow. but
lear and cold, and ice forming all
round them. They did not dare
) unlose the fastcnings Of the
opcs which held them to the boat,
" they were SO enfeebled that any
lrch received might send them
most certainly to he
rowned. Il was more than fifty
ours since they had tasted food.
hey began to talk Of death. Both
greed that unless relief should
nns they must before night sue
umb.
Walker, as fortune would have
!, had good supply of tobacco.
was poor food for ravenously
ungry men, but they alt,rnated
heir guilds Of it with hearty chews
{ the grease spot on sone pr
ions Of their clothing, aud founl
little comfort and still less sus-
enance therein And the best of
Il, they kept their courage up and
heir arms and legs moving.
Without prolonging this story |
f unparalleled hardships and in
lurance, let it conclude with the
act that at eleven o'clock Thurs
lay forenoon off Point au Barqnes
hey were picked mp by the steam
,arge Mary Jarccki. AS they
we're capsized about nine o'clock
Tuesday morning they were con-
fifty hours adrift on the
bottom of the boat-fifty hours of
Wind and storm, snow and ice, up
IN the wintry waves Of Lake HUI
ON. Their boat under the infiu-
,nce of the northwest wind, had
lrifted nearly sixty miles, and
across that ever stormy entrance
10 Saginaw Bay.
After they were taken on board
the Jarecki the officers and crew
exerted themselves in the utmost
in their behalf, and it is no doubt
mainly due to their efforts that the
two fishermen did not succomb to
the terrible strain after the reac-
ton came. The barge reached
Detroit Friday, when McAuley and
were taken ashore. They
we're humanity cared for by Mr..
Craig, and by others under his
Supt. Sargent of the
Detroit and Bay City Road furnish
ed them with free passes, and they
Bay City at 1920 Friday
night, where they were to take the
boat on Saturday for their home
(ro,ly.ier