Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1894-12-06

the way down to the beach. and at
every step the gale seemed to In
crease in power. The sand. which
the wind carried, cut the face cruel
ly. The Doctor, with his muffler
wound partly about his head, fol.
lowed his guide. who made of away
from the direction of the town. Pres
emily, through the misty sDume
which obscured all objects at any
distance, a crowd of men came into
view. Their figures were magnified
by the atmosphere hugely. They
were all looking to the seward, ex-
cept when one of them would now
and then give an eager glance down
the beach where the men from the
life-saving station must first appear
The Doctor and his companion
stopped beside smaller knot of men
In rough coats and sou'westers who
were gathered about an old whale
boat. The men gave a stare at the
newcomers as they came up, then
fastened their eyes again upon the
sea.
Where does she lie?" asked the
Doctor, after minutes fruitless
scanning OF the mass OF tumbling wa
tiers before him.
straight ahead, of tn second bar !"
returned the nearest man, pointing a
scanned hand in front Of him. "She's
hard and fast there. The seas re
pounding her hard. By an by she'll
break; then may God ha' mercy on
those aboard herv
1t was an awesome sight. In an
cry majesty the huge pillows rolled
in from under the gray, kissing
wreath Of white upon their brows.
Then, with thunderous crash they
fell and rushed in seething foam up
the beach, up, until they almost
reached the anxious crowd of watch
ers. Suddenly one of the pillows,
more powerful than its fellows,
seemed to have lifted the mist upon
its shoulders, and, dropping, to have
left the curtain hanging in empty
air. Beneath its ragged edge and
over the tops of the waves the Doctor
saw a sight which sent chill to his
heart. 1t was only glimpse of
mass Of black, framed in spume and
driving water, splintered spar here
and there reaching up, and flying,
broken ropes, which. whipped the air.
Not sign Of life showed about the
hulk; but those who saw the sight
knew that men had been there but
short time before, and groan came
from the crowd. The gray mist fell
once more and blotted out everything
from view.
A moment the Doctor was silent,
his mind working quickly. Then, all
ut once, he sprung up and on the
bow Of the boat beside him.
Men" he cried. and his voice rang
out strong and clear, there's work
to be done and we must do it There
are poor souls out there and the guard
can't get here in time! But you're
not going to see them die because Of
that? Who'll go out with me, then,
and try TO bring them in9 Who Of
fers?"
The crowd had turned their faces
to him Us one. But there was no an
swer. They all knew the danger bet
ter than he. Stout-hearted as they
were, they stood appalled, at the idea
Of facing those tremendous seas.
The Doctor glanced from face to face.
Then suddenly he spoke again:
What, will you see them die?
Will you let me, landsman, put you
to shame? Who comes first? There
are but six places to FLIP
There was an instant more of 81
lence; but then the crowd to man
pressed around the speaker, each cry
ing that he would go.
The Doctor jumped from his perch
as broad-shouldered, weatherbeaten
fisherman pushed his way to the front
and clapped him on the shoulder and
spoke out.
Were with you, Doctor!' he said,
in his rough bass. But only the
best oars must go. I'll pick 'em and
take out the boat myself"
In five minutes the Doctor saw five
sturdy fellows, their peajackets and
oilskins cast off, ranged of along the
sides Of the whaleboat. He himself
at the bow-for he had insisted upon
going Invested of coat and hat,
stood ready for the word. AS il by
magic the boat had been stripped
of oil but the long ashen oars
which lay On the thwarts, ready at
hand.
Together the six showed the boat
down to the waters edge. Then
three of the men with the Doc
tor leaped in, and dropping their oars
between the tholepins, bent, ready
for the first struggle. The leader in
the stern, his steering oar over the
gunwale, watched the waves before
him. Suddenly he roared out, Let
her GO" and the two men at the
boats edge ran her out on receding
wave, wading to their waists before
they tumbled aboard and seized the
stroke oars. The long blades of the
six oars were bnried and the boat
leaped forward as the oarsmen threw
their weight upon them. Then
a huge wave came booming in,
the boat rose high to meet it, and the
Doctor in the bow saw a mass OF
water rush by him. The next in
slant the boat gave q sudden fling
and slid down into the dark abyss
between the waves. Again 1T rose,
and poised for an instant on the bill
lows summit, then rushed down the
decline once more. The Doctor, with