The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-05-02

lowering crest. Each hand Instructive
4 ~ sought for secure hold Nc aad clutclied
it fast. The mste sprang for the main
rigging and the skipper braced himself,
4 still eagerly watching the Swallow.
I Without break or a curl Of its green.
tinted topsit settled down and taking
the little vessel in its resistless en-
brace it bore her alOft into the tempest.
Keeling and tuivering in every timber
she rapidly psid of. and as she once
more went down into the deep vale .oi
the surgcs she WAS stern on and was
gathering way,
A the Swallow reelcd away before
the tempest the skipper guiding her
over the troubled waters, his voice
once more rang out sharply. directing
his little crew to lay at and stand by
to bend on q close-reefed mainsail.
Under the lead of the mate the new
sail was broken out, reef d and bent
on. The work was pushed forward with
energy, and, in spite of every difficulty,
it was hoisted in safety.
And now there began the real strug-
gle, fight for life. the clutching of a
drowning man at straw. The m tie.
taking the lee wheel and assisting the
skipper to turn it, inquired what the
shippers intentions were.
swell. Mr.. james. we are going for
the beach. and expect this is the last
of the old Swallow. Ugh! there is a
tremendous big billow racing after us.
| How she does twist--and turu-it is as
much as / can do to keep her before
them. There. Just see that surge spin
by us. As / live. there is good mile
! from crest to 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" Ftf EE
/ al know it, boy, know it; but there
isn't much choice left me. We might
as well die ON the beach as choke like so
may get ashore. The beach can't be a
great distance off. according to my cal
culation. Go into the main-rigging,
some one, and keep a lookout. :" The
first thing sighted, is a large steamer.
head ON to sea, and sending her bows
under at every plunge. Every wave
| enve!oped her to her guards. Stagger-
ing up to sea she would lift herself q
third ont, her paddle wheels furiou Sly
revolving. and then. she would bury
herself 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, signal in her fore-rigging. !.
On the top of big wave the mate
catches 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 -practiced eyes catch the
outline of light house some five or six
points on the starboard bow. Looking
again at 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
II attaras 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 thom before the sun is up. [ tell
you, Mr. James, if it was not for these
iNgly pillows I'd make a try of the in
let let us see"
by gracious, Captain. the tide"
and the mate paused 10 make a mental
calculation, 1.-THE tide is tn on the bar
to-day, the water heaped away up. 1t
will be risky, that will admit, but any
port in storm. With brand new
new main-sail on her. it is a deal better
than the beach with a surf on it at least
forty fee: high
WELL" and the skipper gave an I'M
easy glance behind at the heaped-up
waves, .'well, Mr.. James. here goes for
the inlet. 1t is the providence of the
Almighty that it is to leeward. How
about the steamer?"
MIR. James again mounted the rig
ging. The steamer had rugged black
tarpaulin between her main-rigginy
with VIII tie spots on it Calling for the
glass. which was handed to him, he
levelnd it and real:
1--WE are breaking up. Captain and
mate lost overheard. Stand by U.s."
He shut the glass W tn snap and
swung himself out of the rigging.
Captain" spoke the mate VIII n he
reached the wheel, lit is the Ella sure
enough. They report Captain and
mate lost, pro ably swept overheard,
and that she is going to pieces. Now
if you are going to try the inlet, what's
tu hinder the steamer? Her drafts
about the same as the Swallows"
'.But who is to pilot her over?'
''If you run by close aboard. I'll
manage to get to her. You can spare
me now; let me try it,
''But if she should stick?''
"Then I'll force her up on the swash.
Those passengers have no choice what
ever if she goes ashore in the night
time. There is chance now, Slim
one. I'll allow; but they ought to have
the benefit of it. Some one on board
of her is evidently doing all he can to
stave off the supreme moment. but
that's only question of time; let me
try it, Cantainn'
''Well, MIR. James. there is the beach
1T last If you are going, str yourself:
we will be alongside presently. Good
luck to You, my bov."
The mate presently appeared, stripped
to his trowsers. He held in his hand a
ight lead attached to a twenty-fathom
lead liue. He stood on the starboard
quarter with the line held up to the
view of the steamer lust ahead. d
Riding up the broad waves and set
ting down into the cavern of the deep.
on came the schooner. reeling and
swaying like adrunken man. Then, on
the crest of an immense hillou che