The Helena independent., 1893-12-04


throw mast and sail overheard Darkness
came ON, Six hours had elapsed since the
boat left thelwrcck, and only one mile 81
the 10 thpE lsy between them and the shore
had been traversed. Though the mercury
stood ut 10 degrees below zero, the men
were forced 10 anchor and toss upon the
waves till morning. Next morning, with
sll hands on board nearly dend from cold
and exposure, tbG gallant craft effected
landing. For ~ hours her crew had been
Mt work. In awarding medal to Keeper
Chase, the Secretary Of tho treasury COM
inendcd him for 'supcrb senmanship. I'M
erring Judgment and dalIntless courage"
Was ever medal OF honor more wOrthtly
bestowed2
A Thris:,g story.
One OF tho most extraordinary incidents
known To the history OF tho life saving
service--onc which illustrates the resources
and peculiar adventures incident to this
work for humanity--oc some years
ago near the barbor OF Frankfort, Lake
Michigan. The schooner iartzell had gone
ashore Mt n dreadful spot, where the surf
bent with wild fury against n crumbling
cliff. The nearest life saving station was
10 miles away, by rough and sandy road.
Messengers were dispatched to the station.
and while waiting for the coming Of the
lifebont the men and boys who had nssem-
bled at the scene of the wreck. acting I'm
der the inspiration OF some genius, built OF
driftwood a gigantic sign, ''L-i-f-e-b-o-n-t
coming" and placed 1t 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-
mnined to them.
THE lffal,o,t 1s,no oo,p;p,, 1,,,< <I,ro,,,r1,
frightful obstacles. For two hours the
men and pair OF horses struggled through
the sands and over the hills with the heavy
craft and finally reached the base OF hill
within half a mile Of the wreck. just as
the keeper was ordering his men to start
OH q long detour q citizen dashed up and
said he would show them 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 q 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 81 brewny
men and span Of horses to gain the sum
nit, only about 20 feet being made at q
time. BY these efforts the top Of the hill
was reached, but the crowd was now all
brought up standing by belt Of woods,
which bristled on the crest of the eminence,
and in which lay fallen trees, half buried
in brush and dense underground. The OBJ
stacle seemed to inspire all present with re-
ncwed energy and gave occasion for q 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 COM
bat. The hilltop resounded with their
blows, the heavy thuds of fallen timber
lifted and flung aside and tho shouts Of
the brigade Of pioneers mingled with the
bowling wind and the Kissing of the de-
scending rain and hail. The woods seemed
tumbling asunder and were alive with
rude figures in every variety Of action. In
some places men were showering blows
upon standing timber. 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 upTOOGluS bHu Tcuuiu6 away AunnseS
of brush and underground. Sometimes 10
men would fling themselves upon u 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, and the
mortar cart was dragged forward to the
brow of the hill
A Leap For Life.
The way having been cleared. the life
savers found themselves upon the summit
of bluff nearly 800 feet above the sea- Be
( low was the nearly snnken wreck, its two
masts still standing, but the hull rapidly
breaking up. Standing in the lower rig.
| ging was the captain, and 40 feet above
him, on the swaying crosstrees, were hud.
died the crew. A line was fired from the
mortar, and by this means the entire crew
was rescued after herculean labors on the
part of the surfmcn and citizens
Another remarkable incident in the his
tory Of the service occurred at Cleveland
where the schooner Sophia Minch was
, wrecked in attempting to enter the harbor
The life saving crew went to the rescue
and the keeper advised that the vessel be
scuttled as the only means Of preventing
! her pounding to pieces on the rocks. The
schooner in short time sank in shoal wa
ter, all on board except two men taking tc
the forerigging for safety, these latter be