Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1894-02-22

strand. Rough seas and terrific gales don't
count, because they are embraced in the
sailors risk. but when first proof machin-
cry or gearing gives out, when safety ca
hles play false and life appliances happen
to be out of reach Just for once, the while
1t blows great guns what reason has poor
Jack Tar to believe in u benetcen6'Prov
dence? All these things happened tn the
crew and n party of castaways on board
the tug Protection during u fierce nor
wester on Lake Michigan in November,
1884 but just as they We're bidding one
another adieu to take the hopeless plunge
marvellous rescue was at hand.
The Protection pulled the lumber schoou-
err Arab off the beach near st. Joseph,
where she had stranded on Oct 81 and
Oh Nov 10 started TO tow her across
the lake to Racine The tug carried eight
men, the Arab 10. The latter was leaking
badly, and two steam pumps had been
placed on board to keep her anoat. The
night of the 9th was calm, and the yes
sea sailed along smoothly until near morn
ing. About daylight the men on the tug
heard cry of distress from the schooner
and saw her careen and settle head first,
leaving only small part of her quarter
deck above water. While the head was
sinking the sailors We're seen to rash aft,
and they chung there by the rail and cabin
roof. shouting to the tug for help.
The engineer of the Protection stopped
at once and began to back but the pro-
peller got entangled in the tow line trail
ing 500 feet a4tern. That accident. which
was No. 1 for the tug disabled her COM
pletely, but the schooners crew was
rescued in rowboats-all but one-and
taken aboard. The missing one was an
engineer, who had been cast overheard
when the schooner lurched forward under
an accumulation of water caused by II
faulty pump. Soon after the rescue the
wind arose, making a heavy sea, which
became so violent that the sailors could
not free the propeller from its chains, and
the tug drifted helplessly before "A stitfen-
ing nor'wester About noon on the 18th
the steamer II. C. Akeley of Grand Haven
hove in sight and at a signal of distress
from the tug steamed down and gave her
a line. Before night the wind blew 50
miles an hour, and the Akeley rolled about
with her decks awash and her cargo of
green lumber shifting at every lurch. Her
gear became useless, her engines stopped,
and her sails. which were hoisted in the
emergency, went by the gale. Her smoke
stack was SOON swept away, and ono OF
her boats as well. This was accident No.
2 for the tug the practical wreck of her
rescuer. Still she hung on all night by the
tow line, steering to the leeward and keep
ing clear of collision. AT sundown on the
18th the gale relented somewhat and the
twisted tow line having apparently worked
clear of her propeller the Protection cut
loose from the Akeley and started for Grand
Haven intending to coal up and return TO
help out her disabled consort.
But a 10 minutes run showed that wheel
and engine would not work, and there was
nothing to do but drift on hat surging sea,
the sport of the elements. She rode the
waves all night aud in the forenoon of the
18th cast anchor off the harbor of Sauga-
tuck, on the eastern shore of the lake.
The shrill whistles of distress borne on
lana from the tug aroused the tOwnspeo-
pie, but there We're no means of rescue at
hand Surfboats could not live III that
mountain of boiling breakers, and the tug
could not make q pier for the same reason,
for she was only a powerless hulk, rising
and falling with the angry tide. The ne1r-
est life saving station was at Grand Ha-
ven, several miles east of the scene, ard
although it seemed impossible that aid
could arrive before the tug would be lie
strO|cd nevert heess n straw il something
to u drowning man, and Il telegram was
rushed off with news of the impending dis
aste:. For a wonder the crew was nine
mil23 beyond the station at work on y
wreck only q few hours old. This was
mishap No 3. The next station was at
s., Joseph, GO miles away, and a dispatch
brought back the word 10 Saugatuck, "Aye,
aye. we're coming.N
Meanwhile stout hearted landsmen and
fisher lads tried to stem the breakers in
boats and at least carry word to the I'M
fortunateS ON the tug that hope was in the
air. They failed, and the poor fellows re-