Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-02-18
GRACE DESMOND'S PERIL.
Bx HARRY o'coNSoR.

the western coast of Ireland.
Every voice in the company ceased
speaking at once. The roar of the
neighborlng surf and the wild tumult of
the tempest, as it whistled and shrieked
without, broke distinctly OH the hearing,
but for moro than minute, during which
all listened intently, nothing else was
heard.
'sIt was merely fancy, Pierce" said
one of the group. You ought to
The speaker stopped short, for, at that
instant, the deep boom OF cannon, out
at sea, sounded distinctly and fearfully
across the night.
"There is ship on the coast" said
Pierce. 'Hark! third gun. and it
sounds nearer than the last" "And the
wind is right on the shore and blowing u
hurricane said another. "Lord be
merciful to Them" calculated Pierce.
"but let us hurry to the coast and see II
we can help them in any way"
With one consent the purity moved
toward the door, first, however, calling
to the landlord to bring lanterns and
ropes in case the latter might be needed.
| As the door was opened gust of wind
eddied into the ROOM faring the candles
| in their sconces, .and whistling kecnly
around the corners of the apartments.
| When the adventures stepped outside
they were almost borne down for mo-
ment by the intensity of the gale. which,
sweeping unchecked across the plain
that Law betwixt the inn and the beach,
burst on the house with almost incred-
ible fury. II was showing violently, and
the flakes, Kissing and spinning in the
hurricane, almost blinded the eyes of the
adventurers but drawing their friezC
topcoats around them. the warm hearted
travellers bent their heals against tho
wind and hurried to the coast.
The shore to which they turned theil
steps was high, bold, rocky coast
against which the surf was now beating
with Il violence that shook the cliffs e
their base and flung the spray in shower
over their edge 100 feet above the raging
deep below. The party had stood som'
time, however, OH the summit of til
rocks before they could distinguish any
thing through the storm.
At length light, shadowy objec
gradually assumed the outlines a shi
flying before the tempest und started on
of the misty distance. For one moiner
she was seen driving up toward the spec
} tators. That moment, seeming TO thei
an age, was spent in breathless horro
I Each one involuntarily clenched h
: hands tighter together and gazed wit
straining eyes on the powerless craft tn
was sweeping onward with such ma
2 velocity to the cliffs at his feet. On. Q
she came, driving amid the white foam
Q A moment more and there was a cras
y followed by q shrek that rose even abo'
" the storm, and froze the very hearts
the listeners. 1t ceased and tho hurl
cane alone was heard.
a 1T is all over" said one of Il
Q listeners.
y May the good heaven give rest to &
souls of those who have gone to their 10
account this blessed night"
II amen, said another, and again
breathing silence followed. At leng
d Pierce Ryan spoke.
% "Did you hear that cry ?"
al did. 1t sounds like the wall of
child"
80 II is inst. beneath the cliff 80
- Pierce. "Listen! there it is again-it
~ a woman's voice"
.. There was no doubt any longer tina
living being was crying for succor FRI
the foot of the cliffs, and n dozen lantei
at were Immediately lowered over the ed
is For an instant, and IN instant only,
~ the light Of lantern lowered furtl
down the precipics, but almost imme
ately shattered to pieces, the face Of
n female had been seen, cast upward
e. earnest supplication. But what could
30 done for her? The frenzy of the gale I
bade any attempt to rescue her by
scending the cliff, and it was certain &
no she could not live until morning, expo
m to the driving snow, the intense cold.
on washing of the surf and the fierce edo
of the gale around the precipice.
spectators looked ut each other in dism
and when, in lull of the hurricane,
cry Of agony came again to their ear'
< shiver ran through their frames. Me
o while the cliffs were becoming crow
Q with people, who, npprised of tho wr
4 by the signal guns she had fired, pou
% forth from their cabins to render "
y assistance was possible TO the suffer
Is A fire was soon kindlcd the verg
. the precipice. AS tho fire flung its Il
across the countenances of the gro
q there might be traced in every fac'
Is expression of the most anxious conc
s9ss while each spectator gazed out TOW
sax the ocean, striving to catch through
feecy storm a sight of the wreck
~ peered down over the cliff to disc
81 the exact position of the sufferer bel,
3! During all this time persons had
20 20 arriving at the scene of the disa
bringing ropes, tackle, and other al
20 ances by which aid might be rend
2I TO the crew and passengers OF the
~ s,x mantled ship. AT length, the
.ss flinging its rudy blaze far and
:. around, enabled the spectators to c
50 momentary CLEANS of the wreck.
rs appeared TO be q ship of heavy tom
AZ ~ and had run SO high up on the
.Ssx that she stuck there as If impaled
stern falling of seawnrd, while her
"a overriding the boiling vortex on the
.ss aide OF the sharp rock on which she
% Tbe rackino of the sea had by this
LIS broken her hull in two, and the for
' az mart. crowded with living beings
AZ awnv into the gulf below, just Al
GO ruddv bIove of the flames enable
soy SPECTATORS 10 catch their first glim
.sSs the wreck. One wildshriek rose ov
IS the uproar Of the gale and then q 81
Las if silence there could be amid that
800 cane. fell on the scene.
.7s There is not n soul lett alive.
l.oSx the sufferer below is the sole survi
.s1 said Pierce.
80 "Cnn nothing be done TO save
D.7s asked some OF tho spectators.