Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-09-08

low, and slowly faded out from sight, and as
Il disappeared the low moaning in the air
grew wonderfully intense
"Ther'll be Il hard blow " Joe had said in
the early morning. aud after eating our break
fast We strulled over toward the seawaTd
beach
Joe's hut was sheltered by collection of
sand dunes, among which its low roof rose like
a sharper point. 1t stood midway between
the ocean and the sound, and a short walk
was all that was needed to reach either.
When came TO the beach the waves were
rolling up its changing sands with regular
mOnotony that seemed utterly devoid Of
herceneSs but soon a wild, sobhing murmur
sounded across the wide eastern eNpanse,
aud they grew more restless, and began Ia
toss little foam crowned CreSts against each
other The day during its first part was a
changing drearinees The somher hue OF the
sky and the storm sounds in the air, deep
aned and the great waves dArkened, the
gloom above them assumed density that
soon was sadly oppressive Occasional pmtfs
rufiled the water, and these quickly grew
heavier and more frequent
Then jos, who had clambered to the top
of a sand iuno. cried: There she comes. =
and fastening to his side, saw what seemed
q huge wall of white foam rushing shore
ward
Then some sharply driven rain drops struck
hard on our faces, and. with a roar the first
great gust Of the gale surged past us, and the
foam crowned waves rolled laundering up
the beach.
We found shelter i'll a low shed made OF
wreck drift and there watched the sea. 1t
was grand and wild sight, that tumult of
water with the wind sursing over it, and
there was a fascination III il that must bs
felt to I've known. As We stood watching this
tempest painted picture man came swiftly
down the beach, the wind driving him before
ii. He made for our shelter. and as SOON az
be could regain the speech that the gale had
deprived him of, said:
There's a schooner trying TO draw off
shore above us, but | don't think she can
weather the point yonher"
Joe sprang toward the beach.
I'VE must have the boat ready" be said.
There were several men in the shed, and
one asked:
"Do you know the vesSell"
YES it is Mark WARTS schooner know
her by the yellow square on her quarter"
| noticed that the men turned their glanCes
toward Joe, and that his face grew peculiarly
hard and white; but IT was only for n mo-
mPnt. and then il assumed the old look only
a strength and firmntsSs came TO the eyes that
made them burn with a strange hrlliancy
He seemed more erect, too as he grasIr'd Il
line that hung against the wall Of the shed
and there was a tone of command i'll his
voice, he said:
Come boys. we have no time to lose, and
went out, and down the beach, battling with
the wind that almost took him off his feet
We followed, and soon reached low build
ing, in which the men who We're JOes COM
panions, and lie, kept small bat serliceable
Iifehoat. 1t was where short point juit,d
out Just inside of a large beadIand, and
formed shallow, partially protected hay
The wind was from the northeast, and as this
point reachel out toward the southward, it
had a narrow belt of comparatively smooth
water bordering its leewarl face Tbs boat
was run close 10 this, anil the men, lying
down under the lee of the sand dunes,
watched the vessel to the northwarl as she
made desperate fight for all offinS
She can't reach out beyond the point"
said one, for She can carry sail enough
The schooner was under short canvas,
having cln>a reefs i'll all her sails; and still the
Nllll sttlllt'l Ib bui ntI III sEi dN- as IL NIoNe
her down toward the sand To spread moro
sail was impossible, as that already set
was strained 10 its utmost capacity, and q
larger surface would bring upon it more
power than it could bear.
No. sir, she cant reach out beyond the
point, said the eldest man of the group. and
i, shoals fearfully there. l don't think there
is much chance for either vessel or crew.
Again the men turned toward Joe with the
strange look had before noticed, but he
made no sign.
All this time the schooner had been draw
ing nearer, driven Oh by the cruel gale and
signals for help Were now flung out, showing
that her crew had given up all hope of reach
ing the open water beyond the point.
Joe. seeing this. removed his waterproof
suit and stepped into the boat A coil Of
small line lay III the stern, its end run through
a fair leader This end he passed TO the men
on shore. and then sat down and grasped
an oar As he did 50 his comp' Mons seized
the boat and gave her 4 shove clear into the
water, three Of them Springing i'll with Joe.
Then. with strong steady strokes they bent
to their work and the boat shot forward Just
as loud, deSpairinS hail came sounding in
Oh the wind
We looked seaward and saw that the
schooner had grounded and was lying broad
side TO the waves, which were rolling on
board of her in huge masses. Their force
was terrific and they soon drove her stern
around, each blow making her maSts tremble
like reeds This new position was an easier
one for the vessel but the men said that she
would not last long, as the seas Were growing
and the wind still kept rising. We saw her
men clinging TO the rigging, but our main
interest was centere1 in the boat, which was
making slow progress out toward her. 1t
was a hard battle and desperate one, for
the waves came rolling III, heavy and foam
crowned. and the wind rOared along, tossing
their curling crests far up the sand.
But Joe and his companions were stout
and fearless and had often been in similar
positions, anu slowly Jney neareu tue gruund
al craft. Often, however, it looked as though
they would be flung back, and at other
times we lost sight of the boat and thought
her swamped. Then she would appear once
more, and keep on toward her goal The
schooner made a lee of smooth water, and
after a half hour of work that seemed more
than human, the boat ran into this, and We
sent her a cheer of hope; but it was too soon
for the next instant a huge wave swept around
the vessels bow, and. coming over her side
caught the lfeboat and flung il in on the deck
We saw some struggling forms, but could
distinguish nothing, for the sprays were driv-
ing between the iua>tS, envelupIIg the men as
in a mist We also saw that they were get
ting the small line clear, and soon "a signal
told US to haul it ashore. We did 50, bringing
stout tow-line, which We could see the men
make fast TO the schouners mainmaSt as soon
as we had the end secured TO a heavy spile
sunk in the sand. Then we saw them work
ing at the hfebOat, and in little time she
was launched, and limp form passed care
fully into her
The men then pulled slowly toward the
shore by the line, dangerous undertaking,
as the wind made the now heavily loaded
boat surge fearfully, ami the waves bore
down on her Us though they would sweep
her from sight. But she battled on, and in
a short time, though ii seemed ages to us,
reached the smoother water under the lee of
the smaller point and was soon drawn well
up on the beach.