Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1886-12-30
Rescued From the Rocks.
shinpton Cor. New York World.

Washington Cor. New York World.
A magnificent story of daring and
skill has come to the Washington of
fee of the life-saving service. The sto-
ry is in meagre scraps of the dryest
kind, but in these routine statements
there is basis for thrilling story
1t is tale Of shipwreck and saving of
life under peculiarly difficult chcum-
stances, one OF the greatest feats ever
performed by any lifeSaving crew in
the service of the government. Sever
al days ago two propeilers were wreck
ed off the port of Marquette, in Lake
Superior. In O. savage storm they
were driven on the rocks, over which
the breakers pounded furiously. There
were no passengers on board, but they
were manned by crews of twelve men
each. They were making their last
trips for the season. The vessels were
wrecked early in the day There is no
life-saving station at Marquette, the
nearest being at Portage City, ITO
miles away.
The storm was one of the bleakest
and coolest, equalinS in lowness OF
temperature some of the most bitter
in midwinter. The water of this lake
is extremely cold, even IN midsummer.
The people OF Marquette turned out'n
great excitement when they saw these
vessels driven upon the rocks within
three miles of the town. The propel-
lers did not break up at once after
they had become lodged, but from the
fury of the waves and the storm it
was evident that they could last but
short time. The citizens madefran-
tic endeayors to go to the rescue of
the two crews, who appealed to them
through signals OF distress. But there
was no boat at Marquette which could
live in the waves then beating on the
shore.
After number OF efforts tocommu-
nicate with the wrecked vessels
the people despaired of reaching
them and stood watching, ex-
pecting every moment that they
would give way. The president of the
Marquette, 0ntonagon and Portage
City railroad, which runs between
Marquette and Portage City, came to
the rescue at the last moment. dashed
to the telegr aph office and notified
Portage City to clear the track OF all
trains. Then he called for the super
inLendent OF the life-saying station at
that point. He said to him.
place at your disposal a locomo-
tive and car for your life-boat. The
track is clear ahead of you. Come on
as soon as you can get your men and
boat ready. Twenty-four lives are
hanging upon the promptness OF
your action.
The superintendent was as energetic
and plueky man as is known to the
service. The pair of horses belonging
to the station were quickly harnessed
to the wagon, and the life boat placed
thereon. The crew then entered the
boat, and it was desperately driven
to the railroad station In the brief
est possible time a box-car was run
down to the station and the life-boat
and the crew were placed upon it.
The engineer, who had received anoth-
er dispatch from the president of the
road by this time to hurry to the full
top of his speed, pulled the throttle OF
the engine wide open ard the special
train dashed away on its errand OF
tDtTCy at titiSl1iui Spceu. .lHtEe - HO
record in the Office of the time made
by this fast-flying train beyond the
fact that it was the swiftest ever made
by a life-saving crew from any station
TO distant point. 1t is also the
longest distance ever travelled by such
crew for such a purpose.
The story ends abruptly in brief
chapter which tells that the crew ar.
rived at Marquette before the wreck
ed vessels had given way and that the
captain and his crew saved every one
of the twenty-four men who had given
up absolutely all hope, and would
have been drowned within the next