The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1895-08-22


&&asSNh. ~ IT, pals nerited the
highest reward
in the service. That is what they re-
ceived--the gold medal. The night of
Nov 10, 1879, the schooner Phelps was
driven ashore by a northeastern about one
mile from the dock at Glen Arbor,
Mich. Her decks We're broken up and
swept away, leaving only a fragment on
the bow where the mate and one sailor
took refuge. The lee rail lay under Wa
ter, the weather rail had gone piecemeal
with the decks, and all that remained
was coated with ice. At day break citi
zen discovered the plight Of the two men
and gave the alarm. Some Of the towns
people sledded to the beach an old leaky
flat bottomed tishboat, the only life craft
available. Five volunteers manned the
boat and put off, but We're quickly driven
back by the terrible sea and wind. The
boat was half filled with water and the
crew drenched.. A second attempt was
at once made by four of the first crew
with fresh volunteer.
Making start from point to tho
Windward Of the wreck, they succeeded
in reaching it astern, where the boat
was made fast. The bow, where the i'm
periled sailors were, could not be reach
ed owing to the heavy sea beating on
the windward side and the mass Of
tangled spars, rigging, sails and deck
.plan1l! which hnn,.. the length Of the hull
On the leowa.d side end th.,'cH,sshed the
water with every movement of the ship.
While the crew were surveying the stu
alton their boat half filled with water
and was with difficulty rowed ashore,
sternforemCst. By that time the orig
inal four of the crew were covered with
ice and chilled to the bone. Leaving
man Oh the beach to cheer the forlorn
sailors by signals, they ran to their
homes for dry clothing and returned to
the task with fresh volunteer and a
new and daring plan. Meantime the
force of the winds and waves had in
creased, and in spite Of their best efforts
the boat at times fell astern. But at last
they drove their weak craft under the
shelter Of the lee of the wreck and there
lay to until an opening was found in the
heaving mass of wreckage wide enough
to admit the bow Of the boat. Into the
opening the boat was driven until it be-
came wedged fast For time all the
strength and skill Of the brave crew were
required to prevent the boat getting
CRUSHED by the spars and timbers which
Almost irc cilocs55;1. It. The sailors were 60
feet away, across that heaving, shifting
mass A line thrown to them was caught
by the mate, who passed it round his
body and began to crawl toward the
boat. The seas at times threw him down
but the line saved him from being wash
ed underneath the wreckage, and he
finally reached piece Of the old decl
chasm lay between, and there was {
deadlock for moment. Not to be balk
ed in the presence Of the miserable men
the brave life savers worked the boa
high up on the very top Of the tossing
mass Of wreckage. In this way the mat
was safely taken on board. The sailo
attempted to follow his companion, bu
being much weaker came near bein
lost When half way, the crossing spar
and timbers caught his limbs and hel
him fast.
Two Of the rescuers quickly spran
from the boat, and setting him fire
hauled him 20 feet along spar to til
piece Of deck where the boat rested &C.
ting him on board, the crew watched
favorable chance to lower the boat whe
the wreckage was awash. Much waite
was taken in in the operation, and the
dare not turn in the terrible sea for fe
Of capsi2ing, SO backed the boat all tt
way to the shore, where it was met
the surf by delirious crowd Of spect
tors who fairly lifted the boat, crew al
all to their shoulders and bore them I
the beach, No men better deserved t.
nations highest token than William
Clark, Charles A. BOSNIAN, Welby
Ray, John Tobin and John Blanchfe]
From situation fully as desperate
that Of the crew Of the Phelps one he1
almost unaided, saved two perishi
seamen at Cape Elizabeth, Me-, on j
%, 1885, Early in the morning, W:
the weather 10 below zero, the school
Australia went upon the rocks. 7
crew had barely time to take to the r
ging before the decks were dismantl
and the powerful seas even leaped
tall masts and swept the captain av
before he could climb beyond their rea
Two men remained perched in the to
where they suffered terribly, be
drenched to the skin. Through
binding snow the masts were seen fr
the lighthouse, where Keeper Hanna
asleep after q long nights tour at
fog signal. He was aroused and inn
diately ran to the shore, followed by
assistant The rough water told
that boat was out Of the question,
he instantly thought Of life l
Weighing the end Of the rope vii
piece Of metal, he clambered out on
ice coated rocks almost into the S
Hanna had just got up from long
ness, and his night Of vigil at the
signal had nearly FRUSTRATED him ag
He could barely maintain footing
the slippery rocks, where the Sigh
misstep would be fatal The line