Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1893-12-19
1 II RECk,

A little 20 ton schooner ashore, almost
In the identical spot off which one Of the
large lake steamers had grounded one year
before. Up in "A shady spot on the shore.
just above the little schooner was the
wreck Of a small shanty, likewise an evil
dence Of the severity OF the gale, it having
come down upon the heads Of its inmates
during the same night.
These two-Ned Fairly and Fred Can
feld-were camping In the open air since
the disaster, and sleeping under the prop
ped up roof, the interest in a gang of men
working on the beached schooner being
too strong for them TO find time TO patch
up the shanty.
A tug had parted 2% inch hawser try
Ing 10 draw the Plow Boy off.
Captain jackson, a short, sandy bearded
man, with very red face, was shouting
orders and encouragement all day long.
She was dug under and long beams used
In attempts TO pry her up and oil, in the
manner Of the Mississippi steamboat men.
On the fifth day OF the little crafts
stay on the shore she was deserted by the
workers in body. They held "A council
at the noon hour; asked for their pay, and
when it was not forthcoming threw up the
job.
At first Captain jackson went and sat
on the cabin house Of his little vessel i'm APP
parent indecision. Toward night Fred
saw him picking his way up the sand bank
toward the ruins of the shanty.
He had come TO ask them IL they would
be shipkeepers for him while he ran down
to Buffalo to try TO raise the funds; he
could not offer them provisions, for the
last OF the little vessels stores had gone
to feed the hands who had deserted her.
But the boys were only too delighted TO
exchange the tumblcdown shanty for the
snug cabin OF the little Plow Boy, and
they began shifting the hardtack, soups
and other canned edibles Of their store
aboard cheerily.
The next night the western sky looked
threatening This was late in September,
and fall gales might be expected at any
time Ned took long look about before
he drew the cabin slide.
BY midnight the storm had broken, and
the pounding, gushing surf made shout
ing the only mode of conversation practic-
able. The wind whistled through the
rigging Of the little vessel In long walls.
Barrels and barrels of water were being
hurled upon the top of the cabin and her
decks-she could even be felt to sway at
the blows Of some of the heavier seas.
"Let's take a look out" Fred proposed.
To have opened any Of the cabin win
dows would have deluged the little apart
ment. The chums crawled down through
the door into the hold and thence To the
forward deck by way OF the forecastle.
Climbing upon the bulwarks and cling
Ing to the forestay, stirring sight lay be-
fore and about them.
The Plow Boy was as completely sur
rounded by water as though she were
afoat, the seas breaking far up on the
shore and all about her. 1t would have
been hazardous undertaking TO have at
tempted to have gone ashore.
"Fredp halloed Ned in his companions
ear suddenly. "this L. as big gale as she
came ashore in, and the waters higher,
because it's blowing down the lake. I've
been thinking-are you In for big tripS"
"You don't mean we can do anythingl"
shouted Fred back.
"We might get her Off and riding to the
anchor II we could get the cable forward.
The way it il made fast just now would
only make her bow swing in further If she
works loose"
Wet to the skin--more nearly drowned
they managed to reach the wheel, when,
working knee deep In swirling water most
OF the time, they were able to cast off tn.
heavy cable from the sheet bits at last.
Fortunately the ships end Of the long
cable was still at her bow, so that they
only had to cast the part they loosened
overheard, or they might have been drawn
over the side In the attempt to carry 1t for
ward.
Clinging to the bulwarks like parrots,
they worked their way forward again,
manned the windlass and took In the slack
Of the big line as much as they were able
Nor were they any too soon In doing so.
"BoomP' great sea struck the little
vessel and the boys felt her rise from the
sand. The rushing power Of water tried &c
sweep her down the beach and In, but the
cables resistance could be distinctly felt.
III the long line held, the boys knew IL
would draw the little craft off with every
sea that tried to wash her farther in and
down the dark shore.
With a thrill that set both boys shout.
Ing they soon felt the little Plow Boy ris-
Ing, falling and pitching on the inrushine
waves as she swung loose from the shore
the little schooner was OF
Then followed night Of heaving and
rolling and backaching work at the pumps
for the vessel leaked quite little-that
Ned and Fred say they will never forget
They did not grow seasick, because
there was no time to think Of it But they
have since declared that they would not
have missed the experience for worlds.
The storm eased up In the morning,
when the lighthouse skiff brought old
Captain jackson out to them nor was there
| ever a very much more pleased man than
ne.
They helped him sail her into Erie har