The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1902-12-18
I'M THE TRACK OF THE TOW.
By Albert w. To1rr1an.

waited. Soon came the huge bulk of
an empty barge, rising high above the
water. 1t passed so near that I backed
another stroke to be out of the way Of
the one which I felt sure was follow
Ing it. Soon heard another tow-rope
whipping the surface, and a second
barge the size Of the first swept by.
I listened for several seconds, but hear
ing no further sound, bent to my
oars again, feeling sure that there
We're 10 more barges.
1 had gone perhaps thirty feet when
something struck the bottom Of my
skiff. \ large cable rose squareIy
beneath the boat, swapping it into
the air. AS my boat dropped back
it fell stern first and capsized, throw
ing me out. When I went under
lost my grip of the oars, and on coming
to the surface again I moved my hands
frantically about in the hope Of find
ing them.
Two or three inches above the water
my fingers encountered something
round and wet, and closed about it like
4 wise. It was the cable which had
capsiZed me. a third barge had been
towing after the other two, and its
hawser had proved the cause of the
disaster.
Higher and higher it rose, lifting
me above water until I was only waist
deep. The waves rippled against my
body as was dragged along. I caught
q last glimpse Of my oars and water
logged boat drifting away in the fog.
Then they were swallowed up and I
was left clinging to the sodden rope
I did not dare let so Of it to attempt
to regain MY sisiff. Indeed, so con-
fused was that the idea did not enter
MY head until the chance was gone.
The hawser began to sink again.
Lower and lower it fell until I was
submerged to the neck. Deeper it
went, and deeper still. had no choice
but to let so, unless wished to be
dragged under. I released my hold
and was left struggling in the waves.
padding to keep afoat.
Should I abandon the cable and
strike out for shore? was not a
strong swimmer, and the land was a
milo o. two distant. To start for it in
that fog would be suicide, as I should
soon lose all sense Of direction and
circle aimlcssly about until I sank.
My only salvation was to keep near
the rope, SO that might grasp it when
it rose. Once let me lose that, and I
should drown or be run down by
some passing boat.
Up came the haWser again with 4
snap, catching me violently across the
chest. Regaining my hold with diff.
Guilty, I was lifted up, up, until only
my legs dragged in the water. Then
down I sank again, till the rope passed
below my reach in a line of phospkor-
escent bubbles. This could not last
forever. If, after the cable had sunk.
the barges should make turn and pull
it from beneath me, SO that I could not
regain my hold when it rose. my posi-
ton would be serious indeed. Every
time let go those twisted strands my
life hung in the balance.
saw that the only thing for ME to
do was to make my way at once to one
Of the barges before my strength be-
came exhausted. The boat behind was
Of course the easier to reach, for she
approached me q little every time /
let go the rope.
Splash to the right! Splash to the
left! The hawscr was rising again.
Once more it lifted me into the air.
Before it sank 1 had worked myself
some feet toward the barge. After it
was gone I padded in the same direc-
ton. Again and again 1 did this.
An easterly wind was rising aud the
water was growing rougher. The fog
still chung to the surface. Far up and
down the sound the whistles blew con-
tinually, some faint and distant, others
louder and nearer. My fingers were
numb from clutching the coarse
strands.
At last knew that I was drawing
near the barge. The cable no longer
sank beneath my reach. I could hear
the rush of water before the Prov.
And now the rope was above the sur
face altogether. High in the air above
me q blunt stem loomed through the
mist. It was the barge at last, with
the cable rising at sharp angle and
disappearing over its bow.
Wearied by my efforts felt that l
could never climb that steep slope
without help. l shouted, but my voice
could not be heard above the rushing
foam. Despairing It last Of attracting
the attention of anyone on board, l
saw that my only chance was to as
cend the hawser. I was fairly strong
in the arms, and had it not been for my
previous struggles the feat would have
been an easy one. In my present state.
it seemed a tremendous task; but /
had no choice in the matter. My life
hung on my power to lift myself hand
over hand. If let go. the barge would
ride over me like marine car OF
Juggernaut. drowning me at once. /
began the ascent.
The rope frightened, lifting me so that
my toes barely touched the water.
Again it srew loose, and I was sub
merged to the waist. was now fairly
in the spume in front Of the boat.
Inch by inch 1 drew nearer. Once
more the hawser tightened, and hung
SUSPENDED over the surge boiling be-
fore the PROV. 1t slackened, and l
was thrown against the stem.
This continual motion was my worst
trouble. Had the rope been perfectly
still 1 could have climbed much more
easily: but it was a dead lift, and
every inch cost me untold agony. over
and over again 1 gave up all hope OF
being saved. Then I would resolutely
put out of my mind the thought of the
antiro distance and f0cuS nv whole