The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1892-01-09
WRECK OF THE SALLY.


mate and our baby Is the crew. The
.crew" isn't big enough to steer the
mules yet or throw stones at them
when they stop TO dine on the bushes
along the tow path. but he can do his
share OF yelling. and rs tho mules
think the yells are for their benefit
and start up little when they hear
the disturbance the Grew" earns his
salt.
The cargoes we carry are OF coal
from the mines and our trips often ex-
tend to the seaboard, where we see the
ocean blue In the distance. while The
Sally lies moored to the dock. Some-
times in late fall while anchored that
way In salt water, the canal will freeze
over so we cannot get bnck. and we
are then forced TO spend the winter In
or on the edge OF the city. for We OF
course. 1.-Two aboard our boat as we
own IL.
My first mate enjoys this hugely, as
she he's been told it Is quito fashionable
TO spend the cold weather in town. II
also gives her I'm opportunity 10 GO
a-shopping. hear the opera and at
tend scientific lectures--same ms city
women do | take much pride in sail
ing our mule yacht and many race
I've run and won with her on tho canal
by snc,.ning past the boats ahead Of
us while they were heaved 10 for the
night
Folks think a canal boat sailor Is
something 10 make fun OF. and they
always get OIL their little jokes about
getting wrecked In storm on the
raging canal. They take delight in
speaking OF the larboard mule and the
starboard mule, and like TO ask il we
ever they see the baby. They like to
call out Breakers ahead" when the
mules stop to kick ut a fly. and Low
bridge and "All hands to tho pumps.
and let go the main sheet" and
Weigh anchor, and other ridiculous
things
II makes my first mate mad when
The Sally is treated with such disre-
spectful lovity. and sometimes lose
my patience. too. but the baby don't
mind 1t SO after ALL what difference
does 1t dop II the small boys catching
catfish out OF the canal think 1t smart
to display their ignorance Of seaman
ship in those ways or II the grown up
people attempt to show Off their
nautical knowledge In such silly man
ners they can. Buff they knew that
the Sallie had really been to sea IN a
raging storm and properly wrecked
and that those aboard only saved their
lives by thorough understanding OF
what Is required in such emergencies,
the laugh would BIO on them and not
on the captain, first mate and crew OF
mule yacht
Two years ago we were spending
the winter on The Sally moored along
side one OF the great coal docks OF
Jersey City opposite New York. Our
small cabin was handsomely decorated
by my wife ard in it we were as cosy
and comfortable as possible. The
baby was then about ten months old
and In his hammock enjoyed life i'm
mensely The mules were snugly
stabbed In the forecas'le after thescoal
had been taken out and extra planks
laid on the floor to prevent their kick
ing a hole in the bottom, and every
thing looked favorable to all hands
leading serene and happy existence
aboard till spring.
But Man proposes and God dis
poses" as the saying is. About the
middle OF January a terrific wind storm
set In. blowing great guns from the
northwest and every day getting worse.
The cold was intense the mercury
going to fifteen and twenty degrees
below zero. Forty degrees below in
the western state9 was hot along side
OF 1t for the damp. chilling AIR OF the
coast eats right Into the vitals and
freezes the very marrow In the bones.
Keeping warm was out OF the question.
II we could keep slive was enough TO
be thankful for.
The ever increasing and colder
growing gales had ragged for week
without lull and the fearfully angry
waves in the bay were feaping noun
tains high and causing destruction
and wreck all around.
Old sailors who had lived Mt sea for
years said they never saw the ocean
any worse Ships we're dragging their
anchors and dashing ashore by dozens
and many lives were nightly lost in
vain efforts to save the vessels.
] had stout and extra lines from our
fresh water boat 10 lis dock. but In
spite OF them our frail and unseoworthy
craft was wrenched and tossed till
began to feel we had no business to-
risk remaining aboard while the storm
lasted.
My wife wouldn't listen to our leav-
ing the only homo we had. and vowed
II talked OF deserving The Sally
again she would head mutiny to pre-
vent It. So both OF us being only
fresh water sailors and knowing but
little OF tho force OF salt wafer
storm. settled down to remain aboard
In spite OF the warnings given us by
the men on tho dock.
1t was the fifth night OF the awful
and almost unprecedented gallo and
the chilling cold was at its Lowest
point BY stuffing all the crevices OF
our little cabin room and keeping tho 4
stoye red hos. we made out to be
comparatively comfortable. Baby was
sleeping soundly In the m 'ddle OF
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