Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1891-07-23


ever he reached terrace that he could
stand upon he rested few seconds,
hitched uphis trousers. and began the
ascent again.
Near the top the cliff bcetled out above
his head, and he crept along the ledge,
first to one side aud then TO another,
looking for some part OF the rock above
him where he could get hold for his
steel hooks. He tried one place and an
other, but was afraid 70 trust himself,
and at last discovered a small rift through
which a tiny stream of water tricklcd,
and into that he thrust both his gaffs,
lifting himself lightly upward. This was
the most perilous spot Of all, for above
him was stretch of ABOUT 10 feet OF
bald cliff; below him lay an abyss nearly
400 feet deep. with surging sea and cruel
rocks at the bottom. To turn his head
and look down would be terror aud i'm
mediate destruction, so he climbed on
and on, shifting his gals from one hold
ing point TO another. sticking his knees
hard against the cliff and hardly ever
finding a spot to place his foot. Then
the summit was reached and he sprang
lightly upon the rim of sod.
The two breathless watchers below
pulled off their caps and hurrahed, but
he stood silently at the dizzy top till the
echo Of their voices in the cliff had died.
Raising his hand to get their attention he
shouted in strong, mournful tone: II
can never go back. Don't wait for me,
buttry If you can get help" Then he
sat down upon rock, exhausted from
the desperate climb.
The top of the island was about three
acres in area and was inhabited by more
than 3. 900 birds. 1t would be almost
impossible to take a step in any direc-
tion without trcading into q nest and
the mothers became Infatuated as George
walked about, and rose with shrill cries,
brushing his face with their wings and
pecking savagely at him. The wings of
the other birds lowering about and fly
ing across the island fairly darkened the
ground, and there were tumult and anger
among all the cormorants at the intru-
sion upon their abode. George struck
several of the birds with one of his gaffs,
and. after killing them by pounding
their heads against a rock, threw them
over the preciplce to the boys below, for
he knew they would linger about the
base of the island for awhile before re-
turning home.
Then with despair in his heart he sat
upon the sod near TIE verge of the cliff
and watched for the departure of the
skiff. The air was filed with the harsh
cries of the birds, and the echoes in the
-cttrs- -turnod- piuco iuvo- utter
Babel. He sat there for half an hour.
and by that time the sun sank in the far
western water. Now he noticed the
sails of the skiff, and the brisk breeze
carried her swiftly around the nearest
headland and left him there with the
gloomy shadows creeping upon the
island, leagues from everything human
and surrounded by screaming, angry
birds. whose eyes CLEANED in his face as
they brushed past in the gathering dusk.
Night very soon fell upon sea and
land the birds ceased their tumult and
settled among the rocks and upon the
lodges, but the. WIND, freassheRpfffae resi-
less moaning cry of the sea came to him
from below. Not star was to be seen,
but huge, black clouds came troopng
out of the south, filling the heavens to
leeward. 1t was not long before the
night was suddenly riven with flame
awful thunders beloved across the
heavens, seeming to shake the island and
the cliffs about it; then torrents of rain
were loosencd, drenching to the. skin tho
poor boy as he lay there upon the bleak
sod.
George had a brave heart. but he felt
that his chances of escape were very
slim. Down the island wall he could
not 90, and in what other way could he
leave the placer Then arose in his heart
feeling OF Temorse that he had con-
ccaled from his parents his intention of
clint lag the island, and far more bitter
to him than his own misery was the
thought how his mother would feel when
his brother and cousin reached home
without him. He knew they had been
crying out some words to him before they
left, but the noise of the water, dis
turbed by the freshening breeze, had
prevented him from hearing what they
said.
So he sat there through the pitchy
dark. hour after hour, terrified by the
binding lightning. and deafening thun-
The great black birds everywhere about
him crouched close upon their nests and
huddled behind the rocks for shelter.
Not once through that long and terrible
night did he close his eyes in sleep, and
when the gray dawn appeared in the
East great throb of hope went through
his heart
The clouds had rolled away and the
sun burned up on the edge OF the sea.
like large scarlet furnace. And with
tho - IL h. h. x,osnne 80
his parents and friends from the main
land asking how he had Jared during
the night, and telling him to keep up
his spirits. He could see his mother in
the group, and he saw that she was
weeping her voice came distinctly from
among all the rest telling him that God
was good and that he would in some
way be rescued. Then some of them
tried to throw across food made up in
tins and parcels, but they all fell short
aud dropped into the gulf below. He
was now tortured with hunger, and on
the advice OF his mother, who stood in
the front of the assemblage, on the
mainland, he built fire out Of the de-
cayed grasses and weeds, the dry bones
OF birds and nest materials, and roasted
half-dozen eggs, selecting the fresh
ones when cooked and eating them.
So far no one could devise any means
of reaching HIM. 1t was impossible 70
stretch ladder across, and access from
below was equally impossible. A number
OF fishermen had gathered around the
Lape OF the island in their boats, but they
Were nonplussed like those on land. His
fataer and several of the fishermen tried
for hours to fly rope across the chasm.