The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1900-04-12

such a moment his tribute OF heart
felt admiration at the conduct OF
those noble fellows, who, when the
stoutest heart quailed, had manned
their slight craft and braved the dam
gers of that angry sea? They had
succeeded, moreover, for the great
danger was passed. the bar having
| been surmounted, and they had now
only the long swell of the deep sea
to encounter. There they were, their
forms straining steadily and grace
fully over their oars.
Every few minutes saw the mast
lightened of it's human burden. One
soul more was swept into eternity.
The day as it advanced enabled the
wretched woman to see the object of
her affections distinctly--to mark his
struggle to preserve himself and his
companions--to see him lashing the
exhausted boy to the mast with a
piece of rope-to become aware OF his
intense sufferings from cold-to note
his anxious and imploring looks to-
ward the shore. Much of this she
could see herself and more of 1t she
gained by report from the DOCTOR
whose glass seemed the interpreter of
her destinies.
The woman, no longer able to con-
trolherself. rushed frantically towards
the beach, and would in all probability
have plunged into the breakers in her
frenzy if she had not been laid hold of
by bystanders and forced back.
BY seven o'clock there remained only
the boy hshed to the mast and one
mamie to whom this woman's exist
ence clung.
The question now was whether the
man on the mast had strength TO hold
out till the boat would arrive. there,
and it was a fearful interest tAAt was
experienced by the whole assemblage
of spectators, as they saw the strain
ing of the crew in the distance, and OBJ
served at the same time that the poor
man was growing weaker and weaker,
and apparently did not see the succor
that was so near him.
The steersman showed his Judgment
by keeping we'll out to sea, and as close
as possible to the wind, so that they
might not only ride more dryly and
more easily but be able to drop down
alongside the mast, rather than have
to strain up to it. In this way they
would find it easier to render assist
ance to the man on ii, and be them
selves less exhausted in any exertion
they would have to make in doing so.
The object of their endeavors was
every moment in a more cyitical situa-
ton. The gradual rising of the tide,
and, as was supposed, the setting down
of the vessel, had brought the sea up so
as to cover the secure footing in the
tops entirely, and he was now forced to
depend for his whole support upon the
rope which still adhered to the top
mast, and even so every wave which
happened to rise above the rest swept
over his legs. AS each wave subSded,
the eyes of the people on shore conf
IDENTIFY looked to see the mast relieved
from the clasp that clung to it, and
yet there still hung the powerful man,
clinging instiuctivsly, as it were, to his
only hope.
To paint the emotions of that poor
being on shore would be a weak and
presumptuous attempt. The powers
of language are far too limited to ven-
ture on description of feelings, the
intensity of which can only be meas
ured by the depths of woman's heart.
Meantime, the little shiff, which had
pushed boldly out to seaward, had now
stretched sufficiently far to effect her
object, and accordingly she began to
let herself down in the direction of the
mast, and at the same time the crew
tended effect. by making the sufferer
aware that help was at hand. He was
distinctly seen to raise up his head and
look around' in the direction of the
sound. He saw his preservers within a
hundred yards of him!
"Yes!" cried the agonized woman,
''he sees them! Look. there he at
tempts to wave his hand over his head.
VIII he hold out? Another wave has
washed over him! Strain, strain. for
your lives, courageous men! His life.
our lives, depend on yop!"
The interest of the assemblage was
at the highest pitch. Loud exclama-
tions and cheers were heard on all
sides.
They are within few boat lengths.
The crowd, from the extreme of
clamor and confusion, become gradual
ly more and more still. As the boat
goes nearer the mast every breath is
heidi for few seconds win decide the
fate of two lives. The woman stands
like a statue-not word escapes her
she looks straight towards him. her
eyes fixed, her hands clasped. The
crew drops little on one side of the
sunken vessel. making motions to the
man TO hold his place, and has just
brought the boat up so as to app oaeh
the vessel by her leeward side, for the
purpose of passing by the mast and
ordering the man and the boy to drop
into the boat as it swept by, when
n wave, more tremendous than the rest
struck the boat with great force
sweeping 1t back some yards; and