The St. Louis Republic., 1901-07-28
Their Launch Was Disabled and
They Were in Imminent Dan
ger of Death.
WORKED WAY TO AN ISLAND.
Remained There Three DAYS Be
fore a Vessel Came Along
and Picked Them
Up.
REPUBLIC SPECIAL

REPUBLIC SPECIAL
Duluth, MINI, July T.-Perfl gave spice
to the experiences OF a fishing party of four
at Isle Royale. Doctor Magies gasoline
launch, the Mud Hen, became disabled dur
ing an electric storm, and. after narrow
escape from being dashed on the reefs dur
ing a severe squall, the occupants of the
boat faced a new danger: the wind was
blowing them out to sea After experiencing
great hardships and labor with the oars.
they finally reached point of safety. and
were picked up by the steamer Argo. near
Sisk;wit Bay.
Doctor Magic invited D. D. Fleming Of
Chicago and Royal Bruen of Terre Haute to
accompany him and his son Woodbury. to
Siskiwit Bay on fishing expedition. The
four men were UP and had breakfast at $50
q m- and few minutes before o'clock
the Mud Hen loafed out of Washington and
Grace Harbors into tho open lake on the
east side of the island A thunderstorm
was threatening in the west and after they
had got well under way II broke over the
island and lake with great fury.
The Mud Hen working her miniature
Mississippi River padile-wheel industriously
up between the Islands, when a ellnong
flash of lightning put the batteries out OF
business. Just about that time severe
equaIl struck across tho water. and the Mud
Hen helpless as q log. began drifting swift
ly toward one of the many reefs that are
er and the smaller Islands in the neiShpor-
hood
The cruel reef. Rock Of Ages. whose name
is nisnomer to which Doctor Long CD,
tects, and which has claimed many good
ship as its prey. was not far distant inc
squall lashed the waters into whitecaps,
and the Mud Hen began shipping water;
There were oars in the boat for three anu
the fourth man baleo the boat with pan
all of them working with the desperation
which inspires men when common danger
hovers near and threatens to crush them.
The launch at one time was hatf Tiled
with water. and the men at the oars toi!ec-
without exchanging a word Tine man pc
hind the pail divided the honors in tho
struggle for life with the men at the ash
blades.
For an hour and half the occupants of
the Mud Hen worked rs they had never
worked before. Drenched with rain ana
the binding spray with water almost up
to their knees. they were nearly exhausted,
when the wind began to subside and veered
at the same time TO the north.
The incipient sea that had been Kicked up
by the sqllall also began to run smoother
as soon as the wind lulled, and the storm
shaken and drenched fishermen managed TO
get The Mud Hen into a little cove out Of
the swell of the lake. where they made an
investigation of the boat and wrung out
their drenched clothing.
Repairs were made to the machinery. ana.
the storm had passed over, they pro-
ceeded toward Siskiwit Bay. Near Fisher
mems Point the engine stopped once more
and. while there was no longer any danger,
II was case of rowing again.
The party csmped three nights with moth
Ing for covering except a oinnket or Two
1T was found that repairs could not he made
10 the machinery without facilities other
than were at hand. and the party were
forced to wait for assistance
The steamer Argo picked them III and
the Mud Hen and the fishermen OF this ad-
venture. together with the ladies' OF the
party. who had remained at Washington
Harhor, Duluth