New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1886-12-29
Rescued From the Rocks.

Rescued From the Rocks.
Washington Cor. New York World.
Amagnldcent story Of daring and
skill has come to the Washington Of
flee of the life-saylng service. The sto-
ry is in meagre scraps OF the dryest
kind, but in these routine statements
there is basis for a thrilling story.
1t is a tale Of shipwreck and saving OF
life under peculiarly difficult circum-
stances, one of the greatest feats ever
performed by any life-saving crew in
the service OF the government. Sever
al days ago two propellers were wreck
ed off the port Of Marquette, in Lake
Superior. In savage storm they
were driven on the rocks, over which
the breakers pounded furiously There
were no passengers on board, but they
We're manned by crews OF twelve men
each. They were making their last
trips for the season. Thavessels 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, equaling 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 outin
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 made fran
tic endeavors to 60 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 to commu-
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, Ontonagon and Portage
City railroad, which runs between
Marquette and Portage City, came to
the rescue at the last moment, dashed
to the telegraph Office and notified
Portage City to clear the track OF all
trains. Then he called for the super
inJendent OF the life-saving station at
that point He said to him.
Iplace at your disposal a locomo-
tive and a 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 plucky a 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 and the special
train dashed away on it's errand OF
mercy at afrightful speed. There is no
record in the Office Of the time made
by this fast-fying train beyond the
fact that it was the swiftest ever made
by a life-saving crew from any station
to a distant point. It is also the
longest distance ever Travelled by such
crew for such a purpose.
The story ends abruptly in a 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
hour if it had not been for the action
OF the railroad president and the skill
and courage Of the crew.