Alpena argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1893-1909, 1893-11-08


and merciless reef!
The second cable parted almost
simultaneously with the first, and
when the mate in obedience to the
masters orders, had seen that sin
gle sail hoisted, ne called:
"Lay aft, all hands! For when
she strikes, the masts will pitch
forward over the bowl
Well he knew what the effect
would be when the ships keel
touched the bottom; for no sooner
did she "bring up" on the rocks
than the three lofty spars toppled
and fell with deafening crash.
With bravery born of despair,
the seamen sprang to clear away
the wreckage. Axes and knives
were welded, and soon the yards
and rigging went floating shore
ward, bearing in the tangled mass
more than one poor fellow who had
been so unfortunate as to be caught
in their deadly embrace.
With the masts gone, although
the hull was upon the rocks, they
did not "labor" very heavily, for it
seemed to be wedged in, yet the
condition of the survivors was ex-
ceeding dangerous as sea after sea
broke completely over the vessel.
As the sun arose, shedding bale
full glare over the scene Of desola-
ton, a gun was fired from the
beach and a shot to which line
was attached came tearing towards
the stranded craft.
But, alas, it fell short many
fathoms.
Again, and again, the life-savers
attempted to communicate with
the wreck, but without avail as the
shot would not reach them.
Then the noble fellows of the
beach patrol essayed to launch their
life-boat, but the frail craft was
stove to pieces by gigantic breaker
almost before it "foated" from the
truck.
The captain of the Bounding
Billow shook his head when he saw
the destruction of the life-boat, for
he felt that the men on shore had
now done their utmost to render
assistance, and murmured:
"Our lives now rest in the hands
of the Almighty. Those brave
fellows can go no farther"
"Can not we get a line ashore
from the vessel, sir?"
"How?"
81 will take one"
you" exclaimed the master
Then grasping the others meaning
he said:
"Why, you would be dashed tc
pieces on the rocks"
Nevertheless, my body would be
there, aud the rope around it, and
if they (pointing landward) get
hold of the line they will be able to
haul your hawser ashore, and by SC
doing, save all your lives"
The captain paused a moment,
then emphatically exclaimed:
Mr.. Deering, | refuse to permit
you to make the attempt"
"Then, sir, ! shall rebel" and
apparently ignoring his chief alto
gether, the mate called to the men
"Come, boys, make this line fast
about my waist and pay it out"
The next moment Deering with
a piece of new ''rat-line stuff" firmly
secured around his body approached
the captain, and grasping his hand,
said:
"Good-by, sir! l make the at
tempt for the sake of the one in the
cabin. Good-by."
And without waiting for reply
the noble man sprang into the boil
ing, freezing surf.
Look! look, lads! There goes
another poor fellow! Couldn't
hang on any longer, / suppose"
you're wrong there, Pete," re-
piled the captain of the coast-pa-
troll, who was gazing at the wreck
through glass.
THAT man took to the water on
purpose, and, see! some of the crew
are paying out line after him."
I'm sojer, if he isn't trying to
make the beach. Stand by, all of
you, to catch him when he rolls up,
or he'll be dashed to pieces!"
Anxiously the life-savers watched
that frail form as it rose on the
crest Of each sea, being rapidly
borne landward. The patrol-men
rushed into the surf as behring's
body came toward them.
They seized the inanimate form,
and though themselves badly torn
| l. Al