The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1901-01-01
BRAVE LIFE SAVElg
AN EXTRAORDINARY RESCUE ON THE
SHORE OF LAKE SUPERIOR.

the nearest station was then at Ship
Canal, 10 miles distant.
However, the chance, meager as it
looked, was considered worth taking,
and arrangements were at once begun
to bring the lifeboat and its crew. A
telegram, which had to be carried six
miles by tug, was sent to the keeper
Of the station telling of the peril of the
sailors The managers of the railroad
offered special train to bring the surf
men and their apparatus to Marquette.
AS soon as the keeper received the
message he and his men, with the life
boat, wreck gun and all necessary APP
purtenances, were taken on the tug
which steamed as fast as she could to
Houghton, where was waiting a train,
consisting of an engine, passenger
coach and two fiat cars. 1t took the
life savers but short time, with the
helpers who volunteered, to put the ap-
paratus on board the cars and secure 1t,
after which the train sped swiftly out
into the night on her merciful errand,
followed by the resounding cheers of
the crowd Of persons who had come
upon the scene.
Perhaps no life saving crew had ever
before started out on journey so ex-
ceptional They were stirred TO the
noblest impulses by it's intense signif-
canoe and had determined among
themselves to do or die in the perilous
task before them. Although the track
was heavy with snow, the powerful
locomotive raced on at high speed
through the driving tempest at times
almost reaching the rate of mile
minute.
The coating Of snow made the en-
CINE and cars look strangely grotesque
as the train pulled into the railway
station at Marquette after run, with
it's necessary stoppages, that had never
been matched under the circumstances.
1t was nearly midnight when the
crowd of expectant and cheering men
helped the life savers and their appli-
ances from the cars Wagons and
sleighs had been provided to take
them to the lake and also plentiful
supply of food for the half starved
sailors when they should be brought
ashore.
After hard trip along the dark
beach in the wash of the surf, which
was thick with driftwood, the sta
ton crew finally arrived abreast of
the vessels A throng of people were
there before them, anxiously awaiting
their arrival. The bonfres, which had
been kept burning, gave needed light
to the workers, and. in view Of the
great seas that were tumbling in, 1t
was thought best to attempt first &
rescue by means of lines. One was
fired over the steam barge amidships.
but it appears that the sailors We're
prevented from getting it by the rush
of breakers across the decks.
The keeper now decided to use the
boat. There were two reefs to pass
over which the waves We're dashing
with frightful fury The lifeboat cross
ed the first one, shipping three seas on
the way, but the rudder becoming dis
abled the men were obliged to return
While repairs were being made anoth-
er shot was fired over the vessel, but
no one reached the line
At daybreak the boat was again
launched, and by strenuous and I'm
daunted exertions the oarsmen held to
their work, succeeded in crossing the
reefs, alive with foaming breakers, and
got alongside the barge. BY this time
the lifeboat was sheathed with ice, the
seas having frozen on the planking,
and, being thus weighted down, it was
considered prudent to take in only nine
Of the vessels crew. With these.a start
was made for the shore, which was re
gained after another valiant and peril
Gus passage.
Two more trips were made to the
wrecks by the life savers, their boat at
times being flooded and partially beat
en- back and once nearly thrown end
over end on the reef The men them
selves were drenched 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 were almost fro
zen and nearly starved and We're imme-
dIately taken by the citizens to the
fires on the beach, where there was
food.
/ cannot do better here than to quote
from the report of the general superin-
tendent of the life saving service touch
ing this memorable achievement of the
ship canal crew: ITO have come rush
ing through the night and tempest over
so many snowy leagues to the rescue Of
a group of despairing sailors and then,
with hearts greater than danger, to
have gone out again and again through
the dreadful breakers and brought ev-
cry man ashore was feat so boldly
adventurous that the current accounts
of 1t in the public journals reused at
the time the whole lake region to in
tense enthusiasm and sent thrills of
sympathy and admiration through the
country"