The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-12-01

landing. For "a hours her crew had been
at work. IN awarding medal to Keeper
Chase, the secretary Of the treasury COM
mended him for superb seamansnip. un-
erring judgment and dauntless courage"
Was ever medal OF honor more worthily
bestowed?
A Thrilling Story.
One of the most extraordinary incidents
known to the history of the life saving
service-one which illustrates the resources
and peculiar adventures incident to this
work for humanity-occurred some years
ago near the harbor of Frankfort, Lake
Michigan. The schooner HartZeli had gone
ashore at dreadful spot, where the surf
beat with wild fury against crumbling
cliff. The nearest life saving station was
10 miles away, by a rough and sandy road.
Messengers were dispatched TO the station,
and while waiting for the coming of the
lifeboat the men and boys who had assem-
bled at the scene of the wreck. acting un-
der the inspiration Of some genius, built Of
driftwood a gigantic sign, "L-i-f-e-b-o-a-t
coming" and placed it against the white
background of the cliff, thus encouraging
the six sailors in the rigging of the wrecked
vessel to hang on as long as strength re-
mained to them.
The lifeboat was coming, but through
frightful obstacles. For two hours the
men and a pair of horses struggled through
the sands and over the hills with the heavy
craft and finally reached the base of hill
within half mile of the wreck. Just as
the keeper was ordering his men to start
on long detour a citizen dashed up and
said he would show them a short cut over
the hill. The path led up the overhang
ing hillside, through the brush, and the tug
with the loaded cart was tremendous. So
steep was the ascent that man and beast
had fairly to climb, and almost to hoist the
cart after them. Nothing could have been
done but for the aid of a crowd of sturdy
town folk who had assembled there, and
anticipating the arrival of the life saving
party had cleared away with axes and hand
spikes great deal of the underground and
fallen trees. Even with these impediments
removed, so precipitous was the activity
that it took the united efforts of q brawny
men and a span of horses to gain the sum-
NIT, only about 20 feet being made at a
time. BY these efforts the top of the hill
was reached, but the crowd was now all
brought up standing by a belt Of woods,
which bristled on the crest of the eminenee,
and in which lay fallen trees, half buried
in brush and dense underground. The OBJ
stscle seemed to inspire all present with re-
newed energy and gave occasion Tor strik-
ing scene.
In an instant, and as by simultaneous
impulse, all hands-citizens and crew
flung themselves upon the woods with axes
and work began which resembled a COM
bat. The hilltop resounGed with their
blows, the heavy thuds of fallen timber
lifted and flung aside and the shouts Of
the brigade of pioneers mingled with the
bowling wind and the kissing of the de-
scending rain and hail. The woods seemed
tum bling asuEder and were alive with
rude figures in every variety of action. In
some places men were shewering blows
upon standing tim Der. In others they were
prying and lifting aside great fallen trees,
encouraging each other to renewed efforts
Groups here and there with frantic activity
were uprooting and reIrding away masses
of brush and underground. Sometimes 10
men would fling themselves upon a young
tree or sapling, pull it down and throw it
out Of the path. In an incredibly short
space of time the wood was cleared, ana the
mortar cart was dragged forward to the
brow Of the hill.
A Leap For Life.
The way having been cleared, the life