The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1900-04-12
Clinging to the Mast
By Porter D. Nedford
DR. WILLARD MERCER was fast
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DR. WILLARD MERCER was fast
asleep in a small cottage short
distance from the life-saving station
erected on the shore of New Jersey
and situated in village rapidly work
ing its way into prominence as sum
mer resort. Many of the summer resi-
dents had departed, and the season,
fast drawing to close, had taken Oh
the character of the fall of the year.
The doctor was awakened about
four o'clock in the morning by re-
peated rappings at his door and the
shoutings of men. Giving answer that
he would be below in few moments,
he made a hasty toilet and descended
the stairs, opened the door and found
two men from the life-saving station,
who excitedly urged him to accom-
pany them, stating that some bodies
had been cast ashore: that they did
not know from what ship, but that
one of the bodies, that of fine-look-
ing young woman, had some life left
In it yet. The doctor secured his hat,
threw on an overcoat and followed
the men. The night was fearfully
tempestuous; the rain swept down in
torrents, and the poor doctor drew
hard breath between his teeth and
shuddered to his toes when he found
himself in the open air, hurrying for
ward.
splashing at every step They soon
arrived at the life-saving station and
were ushered into the midst of par
" of the life-saving men. now busily
working over the body Of young
woman.
"Ah, doctor, little too late, l fear"
said one of the men. 81 have done
all / can. Do you think this woman
can be saved? l think there's a
spark of life left
In an instant the physician was on
his knees beside the apparently life
less form of the woman. Life was not
extinct, and under his judicious SUI
perintendence he saw the lids unclose
from tho eyes of beautiful young
woman. By the use of proper RENE
dies, this unfortunate being continued
gradually to recover strength.
The young woman was carefully
done up in blankets and told to try
to regain her strength by resting
quietly
BY this time dawn was breaking
and n considerable assemblage of
persons had collected on the shore
consisting principally of the cottagers.
The morning was clear and bright;
the sun was fast ascending towards
the horizon; but the weight OF the
northeaster was still rushing in,
might and main. throwing the break
ers upon the shore with tremendous
fury.
Just beyond the shoal water it was
evident vessel had sunk, for there
were two masts by this time perfectly
discernible. standing up almost per-
pendicularly, immersed about as far as
the tops. as they are technically
termed; that is, the broad framework
which affords footing at the junction
of the mast and the topmast. OF
these, the foretops, being lower than
the other were rather below the
level of the sea, but the maintops
were above it, and on these the out
lines of four human figures could be
seen with tolerable distinctness from
the beach, standing out against the
moving stay, although so little raised
above the water as to be partly i'm
mersed by every wave as it swept
past.
AS soon as this had been ascertalned
by the life-saving men there was a
cry for boats.
The doctor was standing on the
shore, occasionally raising his glass
TO his eye and taking a survey of
the mast and those clinging TO II;