The daily Republican., 1902-12-26
! The Law Upon Deep |
! 2slg Waters. W. |
BY ZEN1AS TUGG.

THE Ignace Island Mining compan,
l bought for a trihe the decayet
river steamer Mascot, boarded up he
sides, and offered for sale 20,
tickets from Astoria to st. Mi
claels. Most people are aware thar
a stormy ocean lies between the Co
lunlhia river bar and the mouth OF
the Yukon, but 200 miners from the
east paid their passage money
slowed their outfits on the Mascot
and waited impa tiently for the start
On Sunday afternoon the tramT
collier kaffir Chief passed line and
stood out to sea with the Mascot in
tow. Everyone was in a cheerful
mood. from the prairie-bred men in
the cabin Of the ramshackle craft tc
the "Company"- who preferred the
safer quarters on the collier.
1t was summer time, and long,
gentle roll welcomed the Dovce Mas
cot TO her credit. She stood it for
two days. Then, just as the paSsen-
gers were reeaining their legs and
spirits after season of seasickneSS,
the hog chains snapped, doIIop Of
water plucked over the clumsy stern
wheel and she settled down in the
trough of the sea with IA lmpuess
that b"ded in.
An hour later the collier, after tax
IN in h., 4 Il
the wreck and the captain viewed
the situation with highly seasoned
profanity. The "Compauy," com
posed Of two men. listened calmly to
what he had T." say.
"I thought" said the master Of
the IA fir Chief. rcgaining arlicuIatc-
ness, that III" inspectors passed
that as a steamer that was SraW0r-
thy. Looks like il, doesn't she2
Opened out like a dead elan. wheel
gone. funnel dropped over like
trollcy-pole. hog chains busted inst
bnrrlN ahoat. and that owing to her
hold being full up with rordwood
! say. you men. what am to do"
at is really distressing" said the
president of the, company, 1--WE leave
it so your Judgment
But what can | doe" vociferated
the captain. "What can | do with
that rubbish heap? I'm no beach
comber. cant tow il; she's coming
apart every minute. She'll not hold
fnf haI r.. l,n,.l IL
Columbia river
The secretary treasurer lit a cigar
and smiled meaningly, "Do anything
you like, old chap. Only don't get
there. They might blame us, when
-" He paused gently.
"When what?' asked the captain, :
with Il scowl. Here the "ConDany"
made mistake. They did no, un. !
derstnnd that the master of the KAT /
fir Chief was both honest and had !
sense of responsibility. II was the
president who finished the sentence |
by rcmarking when it's bad sea-
that's to blame. The in !
sprrtors said the Mascot was ft 10 !
make the trip TO st. MichaeIS. and |
you've wrecked her out here"
Captain MearS stared at them with. |
out u word of reply.
An hour later he came alongside he .
Mascot and swung himself from the
smal! boat to her upper deck. now al |
most aWash, He was greeted by a
silence unhroken save by III" noise .
Of the s1atero"m doors Namming as
the St'anlcr rolled.
Th" men sat ssjleuly on piles Of
baggage rescncd from the lower
dcck. Their faces were not pleasant
to look up"u. and their eyes, to the
experienced captain. h,)d evil. lie
Wasted no Words on preiminaries
1T lies vi1i Nru what's to be done" .
're said hru>4u"1l. "Sp~ak up, some
body"
"Whcrr'S the president of the com
pany"' asked a Nuirv. Tie captain
hcstrat"d. lie meant 10 l." Ioya' to
his cmrIol,rs. bon hI~ srn'c Of JUS
iice was toMchch. "rhct"'s no use
chem in'o it," hr answered
'li,cy won't h"ip ,oU.
"Nc want oor m,G", rar>.' shout.
ri AN old n;n.
"~a'r your rmns rrst." >u@grAted
ihr captain.
Silence ruNUcd oEge more. and he
trrd a@Hiu. "Ih> hing want hold
together nwIrh longer ILe narhin-
Fry hIaN 90 tirougn her bottom ANY
inmate and let THAT ruriWuuu out.
h,r y"u I! drown"
"Iuile ns On lhe Eatlir Chi"f, said
another
"Ies and take us to st MichaclS.'
Lnoihcl pat ~.
ih,re were er,r. "f "No. Nr,cr.'
ard ptnd"moNium rri&u"d fui ny
| determined H.: ,,,nH u."u ru@htn h,A
way Hp the sHLgiuy urrk aud the
lujst nied AWAY. 'NNtNr haif rf uq
ost ear uH,ht.." h" logan. "anh an
If n,. are oi,t Il good lot. N,W what
good yin II dc II. It. Il; landed hrokc
Nitint:t aurtlIn,r f. tatr iltu are
y" ir Hrt into the minr@T II. ID
."m"h country IT. mrth.'
"it." I" I;n, :"
lh"rr was n' nu<w"r, ana he
Ia nrd to the ,.yJtuin "EnN. siI. al,