Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-03-13

like a groan of pain in its hour OF dis
tress.
They'll never go out to her." said
the old man, shouting in my ear, for
after the lull the storm came down
with redoubled fury-the wind shrek
ing and bowling past, cutting the
crests of the waves off as it came tear
ing over the Hill OF waters and dash
ing the salt spray in my face I'll II
almost seemed to cut the flesh; while
at times the women who came down
were completely held back against the
steep sand bank.
''There look therer' cried the old
man suddenly Selling my arm
Catching at straws. Why, there S
a boatload coming ashore. There,
don'e ydu see-noW atop o that
breaker2"
] caught sight of small boat
crowded with figures, and then there
seemed To- be a tall wave curl over 1t,
and saw it no more.
Gomez said the old man, Il
knowed it. Nothing could live in
such storm. "
Let's go to the lifeboat and see if
they are going of, said /; but the
old man was intently gazing out to
sea.
There, just as I said, he shouted,
hoarsely, lust in time. She's
struck.
And taen above the yelling Of the
storm we could hear a crash and a
wild shrek that seems to ring through
me now on a stornay night, when
far inland / listen to the bowling
wind.
"It's now or never" said the old
man. as he ran down
toward where the life boat
stood upon It's carriage, the WON
en- hanging ON to their husbands and
apparently begging them that they
would not dare the perils before them.
The sea had looked fearful enough
from where we stood before. but here,
as close as we dared go to the break
ers, it looked perfectly awful, while
the attempt to launch boat seemed
absolute madness. 1t was evident the
men thought so too, though as we
came up one sturdy fellow shouted:
Ppm ready mates, if you're going, q"
remark that elected no response,
for every one stood stolidly gazing to
ward the doomed vessel.
Just then, in the dull haze seward,
q blue light shone out over the water
like dull star, but still noone moved.
All at once the old man at my side
laid hold of my arm and whispered:
Give rue a lift sir;' and before |
knew hardly what his object was be
had climbed, by my help, into tAe
boat. " Now, then, you boys" he
shouted wildly. 81 can't stand this.
Stand aside, and let some of the old
ones come"
The spell was broke. Women were
hastily thrust aside, and boats crew
was soon made up amid the shrieking
and wailing of sweethearts and wives,
who ran about the beach wringing
their hands.
"Hurray for old MarksW shouted a
voice at my bow, and the crowd
loudly cheered the old man. The
oars were shipped and all made ready,
the old sailor Selling a steering oar as
he stood up in his place with a life
belt on and his hat blown Off looking
nobler than ever.
NOW, are you all ready3' he shout
ed.
mo, mol" was the reply; and in the
hush of expectation two men arose in
the boat, dashed off their life belts,
and, amid half-muttered groans, leap
ed out from their places and ran up
the sands to the bank, where they
disappeared.
Two more2' shouted old Marks,
and for few moments, so dread was
the peril, not a soul moved; then two
stout lads came rushing toward the
boat, pursued by an elderly mana
perfect giant.
" Stop them I" he roared. " Yer
shan't 60 lads
He came up to them by the boats
side as they were climbing ia. and
endeavored to stop their progress; but
in his turn he was seized from behind
by couple of men, and the two new
corners were IN half a minute equipped
for the dire struggle before them, and
in their places.
Let me GOT shrieked the man;
but the others chung to him as the
signal was given, the carriage backed
down into position, the time accurate
ly chosen, and with wild "hurrahm
heard above the storm, the hfeboat
was launched
My attention had been so taken up
that ! had ceased TO look upon the
man who was struggling to regain
his liberty; but just rs the boat was
leaving its carriage a bystander was
driven violently against me, and the
moment after / saw figure dash
across the intervening space and
seize the side of the boat; then came
the roar of the storm and the rush of
spray, while for a few minutes the
lifeboat was invisible. Then a short
distance off she was seen rising upon
wave and then disappearing again
IN the dull haze. which mingled with
the coming night, soon shut out every
thing from our gaze but the foaming
water
Over seyenty-six, shouted voice
in reply to a query. odd man-o-
.f,t,r pa, -t.....-.