Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1894-10-20
CHAPTER XII.
THE SURVIVORS OF THE WRECK.

Quitting the storm-swept shore, ! climbed
halfway up the crags, and endcavored, with
straining eyes, to penetrate the darkness
eaward; but although II was broad day, the
clouds Of wind-blown vapor still covered the
troubled sea.
Greatly agitated, / made my way up the
cliff, and reached the summit, where l found
that an excited group, composed OF fisher
men and miners, had already gathered.
Among them was my uncle, who addressed
me eagerly the moment l appeared.
did you say the lights. lad? Sure as death,
there be a ship on the rocks out thar"
ION the South Stack" said an old fisher
man, naming an ugly reef which lag right
across the mouth of the bay, three quarters
Of mile from shore.
"Are you sure she's there?' I asked, Gag
erly.
"Sure enough" was the reply. "When
the last light went oop, l saw fun-ieast-
ways, summat black amang the mist and
foam"
There was nothing for II but TO watch; for
10 20 TO the rescne in the teeth of such q
storm was out OF the question, even IL we
had been able to launch the life-boat through
the pillows madly breaking on the shore.
The wind still blew with extraordinary fury,
though signs were not wanting that It's
strength was partially broken; and still, with
t~hunderous roar, the waves came rolling in,
sending up a cloud of white foam that reach
ed 10 the very summit OF the cliff where we
were crouching; and still, trailing as II were
on the waves and beiching hi,her and thith-
er, like thick smoke from a furnace, the mist
came driving shoreward, blotting the sea
from sight.
From time TO time the gun sounded again;
then 1t ceased altogether; N no more rock
cts rose, TO indicate the whereabouts Of the
hidden vessel. Was all over? Had the cruel
seas deyourcd her, with the helpless souls on
board? Sick with suspense, we waited and
watched; almost certain that the last appeal
had been made, and that all was over.
Suddenly, the storm-smoke blew upward
here and there, leaving visible wild patches
Of tossing water. simultaneously. the wind
lessenod, coming not in solid phalanx, but In
gusts, htfnl though terrible-very cannon
blasts OF air.
A wild cry rose, and all hands were sud-
denly pointed seaward.
Then, straining my eyes through the blind
ing rain, l saw something like q white wall
OF vapor rising out OF sea In the direction OF
the South Stack. and right In its center the
black outline of a large vessel, wedged firm
ly on the jagged rocks. For q moment she
was visible, then the yapors blotted her once
more from sight. A minute afterward, she
was again visible, this time more distinctly,
80 that l could clearly discern q black funnel
and two masts. q mainmast intact, q fore
mas broken of just above the decks. She
was a large screw-steamer, with her back
broken right across. and only saved from
sinking by the very rocks which had destroy
ed her.
How she had got into that fatal position, It
was difficult to tell. Possibly her propeller
had snapped, as Is not uncommon with such
vessels, or the water had swamped her en-
gines and put them out; In either of which
cases, seeing how little sail she would be
able to carry at the best 1t had been q vain
task TO attempt to beat of q lee-shore In the
face of such q gale.
She was so far away. and the mists were
still so troublesome, that 1t was difficult to
tell II there were any souls still left on board.
More than once / fancied that l discerned
shapes like human forms clinging to or lash
ed to the rigging Of the mainmast, but It was
impossible to distinguish them with any GER
tainty.
However. my mind was now made up.
xhe life-boat must be launched and manned
without delay. l turned to the men and said
as much, but they shrank back In
cd terror at the mere proposition. And, In
deed. II seemed a hopeless AFFAIR." Although
the wind had certainly fallen q little, Its fall
Ing seemed to augment rather than to lessen,
the fury OF che sea. The waters between us
and the vessel were terrible even TO look up
on; and 1t seemed impossible that even .
life-beat could live among them. Even II she
lived, how could the strength OF men propel
her right In the teeth Ct the tempestp
While the men stood hesitating, the mists
rose all round the ship; and we saw, 10 our
amazement, that n str WIS liking place up
un ncr uecka Yes: there could be no doubt
OF the fact; a boat was preparing to leave.
her sidcs and freighted with human beings
push away for the shore.
Never shall l forget that sightl Jast In
the lee Of the crippled vessel. under the clond
OF white smoke which rose for . moment
high above her remaining mast, there was o
heaving patch where the boat could float In
safety: but beyond L. and nearer 10 us the
waves rose again In awful crested pillows
whiriing and swfrling toward the shore.
Seen from our point Of vantage. tho boat
,ecmod q mere cockle-shell: but we saw the
tiny specks crowding into II while the brok-
IN water streamcd like milk over the vessels
decks and down her shoreward sides.
God help them r. l cried aloud, and moro
than one voice echoed my prayer.
The boat pushed on. The under-swell
taught her and rushed her along at light
ping speed. and In q few moments she reach
Cd the broken water. There tho wind seennr
a to smite her sidelong. and she was buried
lnstantaneously In the trough Of the seA
hut she r~eappeared. half smothercd In surf
and flying foam. Then We aaw, rapidly ap%
psoachlng her. : mountainous and awful
Wavel
The little boat - n Il were . living thing,
seemed 70 ~ Il too, and to struggle 70 -
cspei Sick with horrox, l covered my eyes;
1 Souid no( look. Than 1 heard : dep sroan
fppm the men around n,e. and looked again.
The boat had gone, never 10 roappear.