The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-12-02
SHIPW RECK.
THRILLING STORY OF HOW
A PROPELLER'S CREW
WE'RE SAVED.
POLITICAL ERs--ATTEMP1
TO THOROUGHLY ORGANIZE
UNITED LABOR PARTY,

New York, November ga Washington spe-
ial TO the World says agnifcent story OF daring
snd skill comes 10 the Washington Office of the life
having service. The story Ia Ia meager scraps OF
cate driest kind, but in these routine statements
there is the basis for thrilling story II Is tale
of shipwreck and saving of life under peculiar diff
cult circumstances one of the greatest feats ever
performed by any life eaying crew In the service OF
the government Several days ago two propellers
were wrecked off Port MarQeette, in Lake superior
In savage storm they vere driven on the rocks
over which the breakers olnded turiously. There
were no passengers on board, but they were manned
by a crew of twelve men each. They were making
their last trip for this season. The vessels were
wrecked early in the day.
There is no life-saying station az Marquette, the
nearest being Portage city, 40 miles away. The
storm was enc of the bleakest and coolest, equal
ling in lowness of temperature some OF the most
bitter in midwinter The water OF this lake Ii
extremely cold, even In midsummer.
The people Of Marquette turned out In great ex
element when they saw these vessels driven upon
the rocks within three miles OF the town The
propelers did not break up at once after they haC
become lodged, but from the fury Of the waves
and the storm 1t was evident they could last but !
short time.
The citizens made frantic endeavors to rescu,
two crews who appealed to them through signals
of distress, hut there was no boat at Marquette
which could live in the waye'
then beating on shore Ate
a number Of efforts to communicate. with th'
wrecked vessel, the people despaired OF reaching
them and stood watching and expecting every mo
ment they would give way.
The president Of the Marquette, Ontario n Port
age City railroad, which runs between Marquette
and Portage City, came to the rescue at the las
moment. He dashed to the telegraph office ant
notified Portage City to eide track the trains. Ther
he called for the superintendent of the life savins
station at that point.
| He said to him;
| 81 place at your disposal locomotive and ca
| for your life boat The track Is clear ahead OF
you; come on ae soon US you can GET your men an'
boat ready. Twenty-four lives are hanging on thu
promptness of your action"
The superintendent was as energetic and pluck.
man as 10 known In the service A pair OF hor e
| the wagon ana the lifeboat placed thereon. Tn
crew then entered the boat, and 1t wDs desperatel
driven to the railroad station In the brefest poss
| BILE time. The box car was run down to the stt
| ton, ard the lifeboat and crew were placed upo
| it, The engineer, who had received another dit
patch from the president of the road by this time
hurry at the full top of his speed, pulled the thro
tie Of the engine wide open, and the epecial trai
dashed away ON it's errand of mercy
a frightful speed There Is no re
ord in the Office of the time mao
by this fast flying train beyond the fact II was Il
swiftest ever made by life saving crew from Nj
station to distant point; also the longeet distan
ever travelled by such crew for such purpose.
The story ends abruptly in q brief chapte
which tells the crew arrived at Marquette befo
the wrecked vessels had given away, and the cal
tains and their crews were saved every one OF q
twenty-four men who had given up absolute
all hope and would have drowned In the ne
hour ii it had not been for the action of the raj
road president and the skill and courage OF q