The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1902-09-06
The Law Upon Deep
W. Waters. W. /,
33333$3&33&33$$&333t3$333tt3333t$$t3tt,
BY ZENlAS TUG0.


/ bought for trifie the decayed
river steamer Mascot, boarded up her
sides, and offered for sale 200
tickets from Astoria to st. MI
chaels. Most people are aware that
a stormy ocean lies between the Co
lumbia 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 impatiently for the start.
On Sunday afternoon the tramp
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 to
the "Company"-who preferred the
safer quarters on the collier.
It was summer time, and long,
gentle roll welcomed the novice Mas
cot. To her credit, she stood 1t for
two days. Then, just as the passen-
gers were regaining their legs and
spirits after season of seasickhess,
the hog chains snapped, dollop OF
water plucked over the clumsy stern
wheel, and she settled down in the
trough of the sea with a limpness
that BODIED i'll.
An hour later the collier, after TAX
ing in the hawser, steamed around
the wreck and the captain viewed
the situation with highly seasoned
profanity. The Company" COM
posed of two men, listened calmly to
what he had to say.
81 thought" said the master OF
the Kaffir Chief, regaining articulate-
ness, "that the inspectors passed
that as steamer that was seawor.
thy. Looks like it, doesn't shei
Opened out like a dead clam, wheel
gone, funnel dropped over like q
trolley-pole, hog chains busted-just
barely afioat, and that owing to heI
hold being full up with cordwood
I say, You men, what am to do?"
''It is really distressing" said the
president of the company. 1--WE leave
it to your judgment"
"But what can do?" vociferated
the captain. "What can I do with
that rubbish heap? I'm no beach
comber. / can't tow it; she's coming
apart every minute. She'll not holt
together even to get back to thu
Columbia river"
The secretary-treasurer lit cigal
and smiled meaningly. "Do anything
you like, old chap. Only don't ge
us mixed up with those men on
there. They might blame us, whel
-" He paused gently.
"When what?" asked the captain
with a scowl. Here the Company
made mistake. They did not un
derstand that the master of the KAT
fir Chief was both honest and had
. sense of responsibility. It was tn
president who finished the sentenc
by remarlcing-"When it's bad sea
manship that's to blame. The In
spectors said the Mascot was At Z
make the trip to st. Michaels, an
you've wrecked her out here"
Captain Mears stared at them with
out word Of reply.
An hour later he came alongside tn
Mascot and swung himself from tn
small boat to her upper deck, now a
most awash. He was greeted by
silence unbroken save by the nois
of the stateroom doors slamming q
the steamer rolled.
The men sat sullenly on piles {
baggage rescued from the lowe
deck. Their faces were not pleasar
to look upon, and their eyes, to tn
experienced captain, held evil. II
wasted no words on preliminarie'
ut lies with you what's to be done,
be said brusquely. Speak up, som'
body"
where's the president of the con
pany?" asked a voice. The capital
hesitated. He meant to be loyal
his employers, but his sense of ju
tice was touched. There's no vi
bringing them into It," he answere
"They won't help you"
sWe want our money back" shou
\. ed an old man.
~ .save your skins first," suggests
1.-The captain.
Silence ensued once more, and