Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1903-08-08


1t lost its force as the lake widened,
but It was strong enough to ham,
mer the raft against the rocks. They
pulled the raft as high on the beach
as they could. The water rose at the
rate of foot a minute. The roar
of the surf beyond the cliffs was
like the sullen thunder. And as yet
not breath of air.
Across the bay they saw men on
the stone deck reckoning them to
return. 1t was half-past three
o'clock. They had promised to have
the raft on the south shore at five.
Both agreed that they must wait for
Vincent and Pence. 1t seemed strange
they did not appear.
The arch was overhead. 1t looked
like u mass of writhing snakes. The
moan in the air took a higher key.
The lake was shrouded in a dark
ening pail.
Sidney felt q puff of hot air on
his face. The moan from the sea
became roar. Three hundred feet
above, the crown of a palm tree
bowed to the west.
"This way, MIR. Kent" shouted
Sidney. He grabbed the older man
by the arm and they dashed to the
shelter of an overhanging rock.
And not q moment too soon.
The hurricane broke on the island
with fury which seemed incar-
nate. A tree which had withstood
the storm blasts of generations was
torn from the heights above and went
whirling across the lake. In q mo-
Inent it was dark as night.
From where the two men were shell
tered they could judge of the storm
only by the tuinult. 1t came from
the southeast and passed over their
heads. From above there came q
torrent of water and a shower Of
rocks, stones and logs. 1t did not
seem possible q human being could
survive such a storm for a minute.
There were occasional flashes of
light. The sky became tremulous
with it's sickening flicker. Gradu-
ally this became more intense. Then
there was glare as if the universe
had burst into flame. The hills
seemed to rock in the explosion
which followed. Those who grow
frightened at the puny manifesto
tions of nature in a northern thun-
derstorm, cannot afford to cavil at
an apparent extravaganza of Ian
guage essential to word picture OF
q tropical hurricane.
As night came on the storm in
creased in fury. They gave Vim
cent and Pence up as lost, and never
expected to see them alive again.
All night long they crouched under
the ledge of rock; wet and hungry
and sad at heart. The crash OF fall
ing timber, the rumble of tumbling
rocks, the incessant reverberation of
thunder, the lashing of the rain, and
the spectacle of a sky aflame with
writing skein of lightning made an
impression ON their minds never to
be effaced.
But at five o'clock there was a
lull in the storm. There was a faint
CLEAN of the dawn of day. Nature
mustered her forces for one more
terrific blast. When exhausted, the
light broke through the clouds. AS
by magic the hurricane was over.
The wind died to refreshing
breeze. Of sudden, the foliage or
the ridges across the bay was radi'
ant with sunshine.
Sidney and Mr.. Kent came from
behind the sheltering rock. They pre-
scented a sorry sight. Their duck
suits were streaked with mud and
their faces tense and drawn by ex
element and lack of sleep. They
washed their hands and faces in the
lake, and then climbed the ridge,
where they obtained an unbroken
view of the bay. To their delight
they saw the figures of four men
on the stone pier. Sidney waved his
hat and was greeted by an answer
ing signal. The people of the bunga'
low shouted across the water, and
Sidney and Mr.. Kent yelled in re-
turn. Mr.. Morton, Mr.. Carmody ano
his companions speedily built and
launched a new raft and were soon
rowing to the relief of the missing
ones.
"Where are Pence and Vincent?'
shouted Mr.. Morton, as the raft
neared the shore.
"They did not return" said Sid
ney. 81 am afraid they were lost in
the storm"
Sidney would not listen to the
proposition that he return with MT.
Kent to the bungalow. Though wet
and hungry, he joined Mr.. Morton
and plunged into the forest to find