The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1901-03-09
rescuers telegraphed to a regular life-

/ tleu dI oulp Cdudl, d uuIluleu dtil tCb
miles distant! However. the chance,
meager as 1t looked. was considered
worth taking. and arrangements wec3
at Cnce begun to bring the llfe-b"at
and its crew. A telegram, which had
| to be carried six miles by tug. was
cent to the keeper Of The station tel.
ling of the peril of the sailors. The
| managers of the railroad offered a
special train to bring the surfmen and
their apparatus to Marquette. AS
soon as the keeper received the mes
| sage, he and his men. with the life
boat, wreck-gun. and all necessary ap'
purtances, were taken on the tug,
which steamed as fast as she could to
Houghton, where was waiting train
consisting of an engine, passenger
coach, and two f1at-cars. 1t took the
llfe-savers but short tine. with the
helpers who volunteered. to put the
apparatus on board the cars and Sc
cure 1t. after which the train sped
swiftly out into the night on her mcr-
Ciful errand. followed by the resound-
ing cheers OF the crowd Of persons
who had come upon the scene.
Perhaps no life-saving crew had
ever before started out on a journey
SC exceptional. They We're stirred to
the noblest impulses by it's intense
Significance, and had determined
among themselves to % or die in the
rerilous task before them. Although
the track was heavy with snow. the
powerful locomotive raced on al high
speed through the driving tempest. at
times almost reaching the rate OF
mile minute. The coating Of snow
made the engine and cars look
strangely grotesque us the train
pulled into the railway station at Mar
Quette after run with its necessary
stOppages) that had never been match
ed under the circumstances. 1t was
nearly midnight when the crowd o.
expectant and cheering men helped
the life-savers and their appliances
from the cars. Wagons and sleighs
had been provided to take them to the
lake, and also plentiful supply cf
food for the half-starved sailors when
they should be brought ashore.
After a hard trip along the dark
beach, in the wash of the surf, which
was thick with driftwood. the station.
crew finally arrived abreast of the vec.
sells. A throng of people were there
before them. anxiously awaiting their
arrival. The bonfires which had been
kept burning gave needed light to
the workers. and. in view Of the great
seas that were tumbling in. it was
thought best to attempt first rescue
by means of lines. One was fired over
the steam-barge amidships. but it ap-
pears that the sailors were prevented
from getting it by the lush Of break
ers across he decks. The keepers now
decided to use the boat. There were
two reefs to pass. over which the
waves were dashing with frightful
fury. The lifeboat crossed the first
one, shipping three seas on the way:
but, the rudder becoming disabled, the
men were obliged to return. While
re pairs were being made anothe' shn.
was fired over the vessel. but no ous
reached the line.
At daybreak the boat was again
launched, and by strenuous and un-
daunted exertions the oarsmen held -
their work, succeeded in crossing the
:eefs, alive with foamlng breakers.
and got alongside the Large. BY this
time the lifeboat was sheathed with
ho hov VIM
planking and being thus weighed down,
it was considered prudent to take in
cnly nine of the vessels crew. With
these a start was made for the shore.
which was regained after another va
iant and perilous passage.
Two more trips were made TO the
wrecks by the lifesavers. their boat
at times being flooded end PARTIAL?
beaten back. and once nearly thrown
end over end on the reef. The men
themselves were drencned with icy
water, which made their work much
harder to endure.
Their heroic and indomitable efforts
were crowned with full success, every
one on the two vessels. "a in
all, being saved. Many OF these Wore
almost frozen and nearly starved, and
were Immediately taken by the ciii-
zens to the fires on the beach where
there was food.
/ cannot do better here than to
cuotc from the report OF the general
superintedent Of the Liee-Saving Ser
vice touching this memorable achieve
ment of the Ship Canal crew: ITO
have come rushing through the night
and tempest over so many snowy
leagues to the rescue of group OF de-
spairing sailors. and then, with hearts
greater than danger, to nave gone out
again and again through the dreadful
b1 eskers and brought every man
ashore, was feat so boldly adventuf-
Gus that the current accounts Of 1t in
the public journals reused, at tho
time, the whole lake region to Intense
enthusiasm, and sent thrills OF sym.
pathy and admiration through the
country"
On the List.