Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1884-05-02


on. The work was pushed forward with
energy. and, In spite Of every difficulty,
Il was hoisted In safety.
And now there began the real strug-
gle. n fight for life. the clutching OF a
drowning man at n straw. The mate,
taking the lee wheel and assisting the
skipper % turn il. inquired what the
/ shippers intentions were.
"Well. Mr. James. we are going for
the beach. andlI expect this is the last
OF the old Swallow. Ughl there is a
tremendous big b:llOw racing after us.
How she does twist--and turn-it is as
much rs can do TO keep her before
them. There, just see that surge spin
by US. As I I've. there is a good mile
from crest % crest
but, Captain. you surely don't
mean TO beach us in this seaway; there
will not be fragment left Of the Swal-
low in three minutes after she takes the
sand"
II know IL, boy. know il; but there
isn't much choice left me. We might
rs well die on the beach as choke like so
many rats. And besides some of us
may pet ashore. The beach can't be A
great distance of, according to my call
culatiOn. Go into the main-rigging,
some one, and keep a lookout. The
first thing sighted is large steamer,
head on to sea, and sending her bows
under ut every plunge. Every wave
enveiopcd her To her guards. Stagger-
ing up 20 n sea she would lift herself a
third out. her paddle wheels furiou5ly
revolving. and then she would bury
her self with fearful pitch.
Rolling and climbing and tossing
wildly the Swallow fled from the wrath
Of the tempest. Presently another
steamer is sighted. She, too, lies head
on, Il signal in her fore-rigging.
On the top Of n big wave the mate
catches n glimpse OF the steamer. The
next moment she was hid in the surges.
Calling a man To take his place, he
goes into the main-rigging. As he
mounts up his practiccd eyes catch the
outline Of light house some five or six
points on the starbOard bow. Looking
again ut the steamer. dead ahead, he
sees that she almost disappears I'M
der the surgeS at every plunge. Her
SAILS. boats. and all her head-gear are
washed away. Well aft he sees A
crowd Of people. As he looks the
American flag. union down. is run up
TO her peak.
The mate comes down and reports
Hattaras Inlet is dead ahead, and that
the steamer Ella. Charleston packet.
was ahead and breaking up fast.
aye, aye, the beach will be lined
with them before the sun is up. tell
you. Mr. James. If II was not for these
ugly pillows I'd make n try of the in
let; let us see
by gracious, Captain, the tide"
and the mate paused to make a mental
calculation, 1.-THE tide is full on the bar
to-day. the water heaped away ND. IL
will be risky. that will admit, but any
port in a storm. With brand new
new main-sail on her. 1t is a deal better
than the beach with n surf on il at least
forty fee. high"
We'll" and the skipper gave an I'M
easy glance behind at the heaped-up
waves, ''well, Mr.. James. here goes for
the inlet. IL is the providence of the
Almighty that IL Is TO lecward. How
about the steamer"
Mr.. James again mounted the rip-
ging. The steamer had rugged n black
tarpaulin between her main-rigging
with white spots on il Calling .or the
glass. which was handed to him. he
lcveled il and read:
we are breaking up. Captain and
mate lost overheard. Stand by us"
H. shut the glass with n snap and
swung himself out of the rigging.
Captain spoke the mate when he
reached the wheel, lit is the Ella sure
enough. They report Captain and
mate lost, probably swept overheard.
aud that she is going to pieces. Now
II you are going to try the inlet. whats
To- hinder the steamer? Her drafts
about the same rs the Swallows"
'But who Is To- pilot her over?'
''lf you run by close aboard. I'll
manage To get to her. You can spare
me now; let me try it,
"But IL she should stick?n
"Then I'll force her up on the swash.
Those passengers have no choice what
ever If she goes ashore in the night
tim. There is a chan e now, n Slim
one, III allow; but they ought to have
the benefit of Il. Some one on board
of her is evidently doing all he can TO
stave off the supreme moment. but
that's only n question of time; let me
try It. Captain
"Well, Mr.. James. there is the beach
ut last II you are going. stir yourself:
we will be alongside presently. Good
luck to you, my boy"
The mate presently appeared, stripped
To his trowscrs. He held in his hand n
light lead attached to a twenty-fathom
lead line. He stood on the starboard
quarter with the line held up to the
view of tho steamer Just ahead.
Riding up the broad waves and set
Ting down into the cavern of the deem.
ON came the schooner, reelinp and
swaying like drunken man. Then. ON
the crest of an immense billow. she
ranged past. As she hurried by the
steamer rolled wildly toward her. and
tie mate launches the lead with I'M
erring aim. Deity passing the line
about him, he dropped himself over
board.
Before he came to the surface another
wave passed over him and chased the
schooner half mile. But ready hands
ON board the steamer had secured the
line AMI were hauling in. Then n pro.
longed cheer announced to the schoon-
err ut the mate reached tie steamer.
"A rough pea jacket was offered him
rs he pi 'kcd his way To the bridge
through the frightened and pale faced
passengers. AT the wheel the engineer
informed him that the water was gain
ing fast; that n the night n sea had
swept the deck aud washed the Can
tain, mate and some of the hands over
board; tina, he hal taken charge and
Il me the best he could that il ANYTHING
happened to the engine she was sure to
90 ashore.
The mate explained that he knew the
way in over the bar and through the in
let, and had come 10 help them; that If
any thing was TO be attempted he was to
have a good heal OF steam and a good
hand in the pilot-house; that he wanted
to warn everybody that il was n des-
pcrate Undertaking. aud that they must
keep quiet and prepare themselves for
any chance. Then fixing n position on
the bridge he gave the order to put the
wheel over