The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1894-12-27

tigable surfmen, who are ever alert for
the call to duty. The extensive ocean
and lake coasts of the United States
make it impossible to patrol every
stretch of beach Or plant a crew Of
life savers within reach Of all ex
posed points. In order to remedy this
defect in the system, the telephone is
used to connect stations with each other
and with the settlements along shore.
Signal flags are also provided at places
where they may be seen from long dis
lance, and since stranded vessel usual
~ enjoys several hours lease Of life,
sometimes a day or more, it is hardly
possible for a ship to get into desperate
straits without all alarm Of some sort
making its way through the air Or along
shore, arousing coast and river boat
men, farmers Or villagers, and SO spread
ing to the nearest life saving station i'll
time to bring help. |
A striking instance of the play Of
chance in connection with Uncle Sam's
well devised resources was afforded IN
the case Of the Canadian schooner Ari-
adne, which stranded during binding
snowstorm in Mexico bay, on the north
ern coast Of New York, Dec 2, 1875
The vessel was engaged in the grain
trade, and at the time Of the disaster
had On board q cargo for Oswego, N. Y.
The season for lake navigation was over,
but the masters CT the Ariadne needed
the profits Of one more trip to tide over
the long winter of idleness, and al
though buffeted back by high winds on
several attempts to get to sea they per-
sisted and finally got under way on Dec.
/ and reached the middle Of tho lake
with a moderate breeze and fair wealth
er prevailing Suddenly a snowstorEl
set in, and the wind increased to gale,
stirring up q powerful sea. But the
schooner ou5rode the gale, and at 6
O'Clock sighted the Oswego lights, about
two miles distant. The lake, however,
was too rough for harbor tugs to ven
ture out and bring in the tow, which,
Of course, could not work up unaided
to the harbor entrance. Her masters
made the attempt on bare chance and
got near enough to sight the breakwater
and see danger signals sent up from the
Oswego life saving station. Unfortunate
ly the strain Of the wind and seas sprung
some of the seams Of the schooner and
tore open her sails SO that she became
unmauageable, and with dangerous land
all about the Oswego coast there was no
alternative but to make for Henderson's
bay, over 30 miles distant, where there
was prospect Of good lee and shelter
from the gale, but the vessel was une-
In +bo ho ho1 r.
~, and her creaking timbers and rising
water in the hold showed that she must
speedily go to pieces or sink, and her
captain decided to turn her head to land
and beach her in Mexico bay. In chang
ing her course the main boom snapped
and split the mainsail SO as to render
it useless. The pieces of the broken boom
also fell across the pumps, rendering
them useless, and to make bad worse
the schooner shortly struck upon a reef
over half mile from shore and over
five miles from a life saving station
It was o'clock in tho morning, Dec.
2, when the Ariadne struck. TWAS still
showing, and the thermometer stood ct
IS above zero. The sea broke over the
decks with such power as to drive all
hands below, where they remained un-
til the water rose over the cabin floor.
Then the crew rushed for the main rig
ging, but the captain, in spite Of the re-
monstrances of his men, climbed to the
top of the cabin, from which he was al.
most instantly swept away by a wave
which carried the cabin top overheard.
The unfortunate man chung to plank
for some moments and then disappeared
forever. In the course of another hour
the schooner worked over the reef anc
drifted shoreward until she reached an
other bar, 200 rods from land. Abou
that time the mainmast broke loose a
the deck and fell against the foremost
Warned Of danger, the crew had aban
doned the main rigging for the forerig
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