The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1895-09-12

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count, because they are embraced In the |
sailors risk, but when first proof machiu |
cry or gearing gives out, when safety ca
bles play false and life appliances happen |
10 be out of reach Just for once, the while |
II blows great guns, what reason has poor
Jack Tar to believe IN heneiicent Provi-
dence2 All these things happened to the
crew and party of castaways on board
the tug Protection during a fierce nor
wester on Lake Michigan in November,
1884, but just as they were bidding one
another adieu to take the hopeless plungeA
marvellous rpscife was Mt hand.
The Protection pulled the lumber schoon
err Arab off the beach near st. Joseph,
where she had stranded on Oct 81, and
ON 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 afloat. The
night Of the 10th was calm, and the YES
sells 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 were seen to rush aft,
o
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 i'm the tow line trail
ing 500 feet astern That accident, which
was No. for the tug, disabled her com
pletely, but the schooncr's crew was
rescued in rowboats 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 n
/ faulty pump. Soon after the rescue the
wind arose, making heavy sea, which
became so violent that the sailors could
not free the propeller from its chains, and
the tug drifted helplessly before u stilfen-
| ing nor'wester. About noon on the 18th
the steamer II. G. Akeey Of Grand Haven
hove in sight and Mt Il signal of distress
| from the tug steamed down and gave her
line. Before night the wind blew SO
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.
9 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 shutdown ON the
18th the gale reented 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 10 minutes run showed that wheel
and engine would not work, and there was
nothing TO do but drift on that surging sea,
the sport of the elements. She rode the
waves all night and in the forenoon of the
18th cast anchor of the harbor of Sauga
tuck, on the eastern shore of the lake.
The shrill whistles Of distress borne on
land from the tug aroused the townspeo-
pie, but there were no means of rescue at
hand. Surfboats could not live in that
mountain of boiling breakers, and the tug
could not make pier for the same reason,
for she was only n powerless hulk, rising
and falling with the angry tide. The near
est life saving station was at Grand Ha-
ven, several miles east of the scene, and
although it seemed impossible that aid
could arrive before the tug would be de
stroyed nevertheless n straw il something
to drowning man, and n telegram was
rushed off with news of the impending dis
aster. For wonder the crew was nine
miles beyond the station Mt work on a
wreck only few hours old. This was
mishap No. g. The next station was at
st. Joseph, 60 miles away, and dispatch
brought back the word TO Saugatuck, AYE,
aye, we're comingp'
Meanwhile stout hearted landsmen and
fisher lads tried to stem the breakers in
boats and at least carry word to the un-
fortunates on the tug that hope was in the
air. They failed, and the poor fellows re-