Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1891-03-21

when the schooner, drifting broadside
on, struck The wind was blowing
sixty miles an hour and the sleet and
hail cut into the face like needles.
WRECKED Ply WAVES,
was quickly on the shore The yes
sci was scarcely 100 feet away, and was
right on top Of the sharp rocks, which
were exposed by each reccling wave,
The men were plainly visible, huldled
together, hanging on to the house at the
stern Of the schooner. AT five minutes
TO a. fifteen minutes after she struck,
the ml2zeumast toppled over with a
crash that was heard above the other
noises and the mainmast and the fore
mast quickly followed. As the fore
mast went over the side the vessel split
in the middle, and the cakes Of ice with
which sine was loaded came pouring out.
As the vessel parted the men jumped
for the rocks. They all landed. Young
Lawrence, mere boy, only IS years
old, was the last to jump. He never
reached the shore, The mate John
Roo"ey, as quickly as he could, threw
off Us boots and overcoat. His fore
thought saved his life The captain, the
mate aud the steward, Frank Ham
mond, kept together. While Bernard
Webers and another seaman named
Kuua tried to work their way over to-
ward the south end Of the reef, the
others went straight ahead and more
toward the north side, where the sea had
full sweep.
had run down to the shore while
Kissouth had gone after another man
named Ruwley When they got t. the
scene the vessel was in pieces ana the
men struggling for their lives, | sta
toned myself toward the south side, and
beckoned and sesticulated for the men
to come that way yelled also, but
could hardly hear my own voice The
group of three and the young sailor,
however, kept right on. The sea was
dashing over the rocks with terrific
force, every wave completely submerg-
ing them The holes and crevices were
6lled with water, and through these the
men waded or swan, clinging to the
rockweed OF the slippery rocks as each
wave struck them.
.,a,7ntED AWAY
Young Lawrence had scarcely covered
twenty five feet Of the distance when q
wave struck him and he disappeared.
He was the last to leave the vessel and
the FIRST 70 drown Kissouth and Row
ley had now arrived, and Webers and
Lund, who had crawled and swan IN,
were hauled ashore. while | ran over to
the other side, toward which the cap
tain. mate aud steward were struggling.
The mate had caught hold of a cake OF
ice and was eudeayoring 10 keep ahoai
on it, but soon let go.
/ 1t was only FIVE minutes since they
had left the ship, but it seemed an age
TO the men on shore who were watching
the brave struggles Of the unfortunate
sailors Inch by inch they fought thel
way along the treacherous, slippery
rocks. holding on for their hives IN the
crevices and by the weeds when the big
breakers dashed over them As the
waves receded would rush down the
slippery rock on which I stood in the
vain hope that they would get neal
enough for rae to seize them. The min
utes seemed like hours, but stlll the mer
held on.
! Now they are within ten feet, but an
other wave breaks over them, If had
had a ten foot rope l would have saved
them AL The suspense was awful as
the men. with their drawn faces anc
shut teeth. held ou and looked toward
the refuge SO near them. Now the wave
goes back a strong effort aud they
sre safe. They press forward; are al
most there, only ave feet more, when
monster roller bigger than the otner'
strikes them, Ii tears their weak grasT
from the rocks and buries them out o.
sight. All but Rooney. he, Invested
Of his coat ANA boots, has better chance
than the others, and as the waves y
back he lies struggling almost at my
feet Il IS but the work Of a moment t
seize him and drag him safely on tn'
rock
/ The Others were washed up on n,
! shingle amid tue drlftwood of the YesSe
the next day The steward 5 body wy
entirely stripped Of clothing, his s az
smashed in and his scalp torn OK
. Providence Journal.