Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1886-08-13
LIEE-ROAr SERVICE.


A sketch Of the Work Performed ON the
English Coast. 81
We will imagine the watch set and
all the other good Caster folk in bed.
The night wears away, until as day
begins to break. longer look than OF.
binary is taken through the glass, and
discussion of bearings, etc. ensues,
with the result that vessel is descrioi
fast aground on the Cross Sand, with
heavy sea breaking over her.
Out dash the men on to the staging;
one lays hold of the cord attached to the
clapper of the bell and the other rushcs
at brcak-neck pace down the steps and
up the gap, shouting and hammerins
at the doors as he goes. Then breaks
out Babel of sounds; men rush from
every door and side road, som, OF
them with their trowsers on, pulling
on their shirts as they run, stumbling
in the dark, through the heavy sand.
but all making for one point, the sh ed.
There, hung up to the rails at the roof,
are their oilers, sou westers and boat
stockings: under the benches their big
sea boots. In a twinkling the men
have donned their sea-gear, and are
making bee line across the sands for
the life-boat The surfis smashing on to
the beach and up the gap, bringing
with it clouds of sand, until the air
seems almost solid with it. The red
tanned lugsails are carried down and
placed in the boat ready for hosting,
and the skids laid down forward of the
boat; the legs which kept the boat on
an even keel are taken away and re-
placed by the broad backs of the sturdy
beachmen, amid shouts of ''Hold her
ups" the hauling off warp, which is
anchored out to seward, is taken in
over the pulley in the bow, and the
boat begins to move ON her porpoise
oiled skids. AS she goes over and
clears the one at her stern it is caught
up by the side handles by two beachm EN-
and taken to her bows, and placed in
line ready to pick her up again as she
comes steadily on down the sand.
Then the men tumble ON board and
haul at the warp. The remaining men
keep her moving over her skids until
she dashes her bows into mass of wa
ter Just breaking and laundering on
the beach, and, shipping tons of it and
giving her crew the first smother OF
many they will have before they re-
turn, she moves slowly on. Another
gathered way, and she looks almost
like coming back, but the beachmer
on shore have had the sett ready. They
ship it OH the stern and shove her of
into the smother. Up goes the fore
sail with a run; up goes the mizzel
and the boat thrashes through th'
broken water; overheard goes th,
hauling off warp and she is clear o
the beach and fighting her way through
the heavy seas to the wreck; sea aftel
sea breaks over her until they can Sc,
nothing of that boat. only feel it undel
their feet, hang like grim death to th,
ridge ropes and take q breath whei
the sea gives them chance.
Over the Barber they thrash. thel
over the Scroby. They have to max,
3 long leg to fetch the wreck. and a
they rise on wave they can sometime
make her out dimly, with seas spout
ing fountains over her. She is a small
schooner, and her crew, two men ant
two wretched, half-starved- lookin,
boys and an equally wretched-lookin;
mongrel cur, are huddled together ii
the weather shrouds of the foremost
the mizzenmast has already gone owe
the side. The life-boat fights her wa,
to windward, then anchors. and lower
ing her Tugs veers down to the wreck
drops alongside and takes in the poo
half-drowned wretches and their poo
dog, hauls back to the anchor, then u
sail and away to the beach, where th
rest of the company is awaiting them
English Illustrated Magazine.