Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-01-04
BLOODLESS.
A Battle Undistinguished by Ap-
preciable Gore.
The History of . Famous Chase After q
Yankee Tug by the Canadiaa
Revenue Officers
Stirring Affair.
detroit Post.l

Tho competition among the lake wreck
ing tugs is SO keen that many pages
might be written concerning the de-
vices to which the 'aptains resort to get
the better of the opposition. Mum is the
word regarding a wreck until the job
of hauling her of is secured, and even
then, when information of her where
abouts is given the newspaper reporter,
the chances are that the stranded vessel
may lie a hundred miles from where the
gentlemanly wTecker says she struck the
shore.
About two weeks ago, in the last gale on
Lake Huron, the schooner Startling,
bound down, was driven ashore among
the Gheyto Islands on the Canadian
coast. Her owners made bargain with
Manager Elsie, of the Grummond tug
and wrecking office in this city to
haul her eff, and the tug Winslow,
equipped with a submarine diver, steam
pumps, and q full wrecking outfit, was
started for the scene of the wreck. The
day after the Winslow left port all Of
the city papers noticed the departure Of
the tug. "The Winslow," the public was
Informed, "has gone to the Great Mani
tOuiAh AoidAu op tho hChu VA A<hnS ASA
10 rescue the schooner Starring"
The Manitoulin Island thus referred to
Is about seventy-fve or one hundred miles
north of the Gheytos, where the wreck
happened. But all is fair in love, war, and
wrecking. Besides it occupies nearly
week of Canadian customs officers time
to find an American tug with no more def
mite information than that which was
furnished the newspapers, among the in
Vulnerable small bays, inlets, and other in
ientations around the rugged coast Of the
Great Manitoulin.
Meanwhile the Winslow made her way
through the rough waters Of Lake Huron
and the tortuous channels of the Ghertos
and went quietly to work on the Startling.
The camp equipage was disembarked;
,oundings were made about the vessel;
the submarine diver looked to his armor
and the huge hawsers were uncoiled in
preparation for the pull. As precaution
against surprise a lookout was posted on
the coast bluff with instructions to give
warning of the approach of Canadian boats
Or any other craft that did not show their
eolors.
1t appears from the statement made by
an eyewitness that the look out, after
carefully sweeping the horizon with his
glass and finding it extremely cold at that
altitude, incautiously descended to warm
himself at the galley fire, where he re-
manned for some time discussing basin Of
hot soup furnished by his friend the cook.
Suddenly he heard the hurried tramp Of
feet upon the deck above him and the stem
torian roar of Captain Mart Swayns
through his trumpet, heard high above the
gale:
'sReel off them hot-water hosei Cast
off the hawsers! All hands to the labberd
side to repel boarders! Every man to his
cutlass!"
Rushing to the deck, the lookout saw q
boat containing Her Majesty's customs Of.
fcer and crew of picked men bearing
DOWN the inlet and the black smoke Of the
tug International in the offing.
Throw barrel of pitch into the fur
nace !" shouted Captain Swayne, through
his trumpet. "Stab the first man that
:rawls up the side with a marling spike!
Set ready for a run! Break open that
oarrel of kerosene, and if We strike shoal
ouch a match to it. Burn the craft, but
ion't let her fall into the hands of Brit.
sher. Yaw hip"
The pitch burned savagely in the fur.
lace, and the steam began to hiss fiercely
through the pipes as the small boat nsared
hem.
"Back therep exclaimed Swayne, as the
nate trained the pivot gun on the boat,
and the crew made their cutlasses gleam
n the sun. "Back there, or I'll blow you
,ut of water!"
Her Majesty's customs officer staid the
,ars. and. arising in his boat. sboutad ovar