Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1884-06-18

IL was hoistcd in safety.
And now there began the ,rcll strug
gle, fight FOR lit, tho cluIfhlnv. Of q
drowning man ut n straw. III nm tp,
taking the lee wheel and assisting the
skipper TO. turn Il, inquired what the
shippers intentions were.
"Well, Mr.. James, we are goinp Tor
the beach, andil expect this !, the last
of the old Swallow Ugh! There is n
tremendous biz bllow racing aflor us.
How she does twist and turn IL ~ ~
much US oan do to keep her before
them. There. Just see that surge spin
by us. As live, there j. n GOOD mile
from crest to crest.
But, Captain, YOU surely don't
mean to beach us in this scaway; lhere
viii not be n fragment lcft of the SWal.
low In three minutes after size takes the
sand
II know il, boy, know IL; but there
ism much choice left me. We might
rs we'll die on the beach rs choke like SO
many rats. AMI besides some of ~
may get ashore. The beach can't be u
great distance of, according TO my cal
culation. Go into the main-riggng,
some one, and keep lookout The
first thing sighted Is II large steamer,
head on to sea, and sending her bows
under at every plunge, Every wave
envelopcd her to her guards Staggcr-
ing up 10 u sea she would lift herself u
third out, her paddle wheels furiously
revolving. aud then she would bury
herself with a 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 forC-rigging
On the top of a big wave the mate
catches glimpse OF lhc steamer. The
ncxt moment she was hid in the surgcS.
Calling u man to take his place, he
goes into the main-rigging. As he
mounts up his practiced eyes catch the
outline of n light house some five or six
points on the starboard bow Looking
again at the steamer, dead ahead, he
sees that she almost disappears IN.
der the surgcs at every plunge. Her
sails. boats, and all her head-goar arc
washed away. Well aft he sees a
crowd of people. AS he looks the
American flag. union down, is run up
TO her p 'ak
The mate comes down and reports
II tlaraS Inlet is dead ahead, and that
tn steamer Ella, u Charleston packet,
was ahead and breaking up fast
"Ayc, aye, the Leach will be lined
with them before the sun is up. tell
You, Mr.. James, if il was not for these
ugly pillows I'd make n Try of the in
let let Us see
''l}y gracious, Captain, the tide"
and the mate paused TO make mental
calculation, "the tide is full on the bar
to-day, the water heaped away up. IL
will be risky, that | will admit, but any
port In q storm. With Il brand new
new main-sail on her, it is deal better
than the beach with surf on e ut least
forty fee. high
''Woll,n and tho skipper gave an UNI
easy glance behind ut !hc heaped-up
waves, "well, Mr.. James, here goes for
the inlet. IL is the providence of the
Almighty that it is 70 lecward. How
about the steamerp'
Mr.. James again mounted the rig
ging. The steamer had rugged black
tarpauln between her mnn-rgging
with white spots on it Calling for the
glass, which was handed to him, he
lcvelcd it and read:
I'VE are breaking up. Captain and
mate lost overheard. Stand ny u.s."
He shut the glass with snap and
swung himself out of the rigging.
"'Captain,' spoke the mate when he
reached the wheel, lit is tho Ella sure
enough. They report Captain and
mate lost, probably swept overheard,
and that she is going to pieces. Now
II you are going to try the inlet. what's
to hinder the steamer? Her drafts
about the same rs the Swallows, l."
.'But who is to pilot her ovcr?'
'If you run by close aboard, I'll
manage to get TO her. You eau spare
me now; let me try it, >
But IL sho should stickp'
"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 % chan:e now, 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
staye of tho supreme moment, but
that's only n question of tmc; lot me
try il, Captainv'.
"Wcll, Mr.. James, there is the beach
at last If 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 twcnty-fathom
load line. He stood on the starboard
quarter with tho line held up TO tho
view of the steamer just ahead
Riding up the broad waves and set
Ting down into the cavern of the deep,
on came the schooner, recling 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
the mate launches the lead with UNI
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 and were hauling in. Then n pro-
| longed cheer announced TO the schoon-
or that the mate reached the steamer.
A rough pea jacket was offered him
as no picked his way to the bridge
through the frightened and pale-faeed
passengers. AT the wheel the engineer
informed him that the water was gain
ing fast; that in the night u sea had
swept the deck and washed the Cap
tain, mate and some of the hands over
board; that he had taken charge and
done the best he could that If anything
happened to the engine she was sure to
go 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 il
anything was to be attempted he was &c
have good head OF steam and p good
hand i'm tho pilot-house; that he wanted
to warn everybody that it was des'
peratc undertaking, aud that they mus
keep quiet and prepare themselves fol
any chance. Then taking position OF
the bridge he gave the order to put Tho
wheel over. r,r
IL was we'll the man warned tho pc,
| ,,1o bofo,o bo, hraI konou tn foil M