Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1901-01-31
managers Of the railroad otfered .

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
1oughton, where was waiting a train
consisting of an engine, passenger
coach, and two flat-cars. It took the
hfe-savers but a short time. with the
helpers who volunteered. to put tho
apparatus on board the cars and Sc.
cure 1t. after which the train sped
swiftly out into the night on her mer.
ciful errand. followed by the resound,
ing cheers of the crowd Of persons
who had come upon the scene.
Perhaps no life-savlng crew had
ever before started out ON a journey
SO exceptional. They We're stirred to
the noblest impulses by its intense
significance, and had determined
among themselves to do or die in the
rerilous 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 engine and cars look
strangely grotesque US the train
pulled into the railway station at Mar.
Quette, after run with it's necessary
stoppages) that had never been match.
ed under the circumstances. 1t was
mi Init nd oS
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 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 thei.
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 a 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 rush of break.
ers across the 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
repairs were being made another shot
was fired over the vessel. but no one
reached the line.
AT daybreak the boat was again
launched, and by strenuous and un
daunted exertions the oarsmen held to
their work, succeeded In crossing the
.eefs, alive with foamlng breakers.
and got alongside the Large. By this
time the lifeboat was sheathed with
ice, the seas having frozen on the
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 val
liant and perilous passage.
Two more trips were made to the
wrecks by the life-savers. their boat
at times being flooded end partially
beaten back. and once nearly thrown
end over end on the reef. The men
themselves were drencned with icy
do hai h
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 frozen and nearly starved. and
were Immediately taken by the citi'
zens to the fires on the beach where
there was food.
cannot do better here than to
quote from the report OF the general
superintedent of the Life-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
bl eakers and brought every man
ashore, was feat so boldly adventur.
Gus that the current accounts OF it in
the public journals reused, at the
time, the whole lake region to Intense
enthusiasm, and sent thrills of SYM
pathy and admiration through the
country"