Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1903-10-08
WRECK OF THE HYACINTH.

1t was wild night. The lightning
flashed, and in response the artillery
of heaven doomed and rolled. then
crashed, as if the very skies were rent
in twain TO deliver one mighty blow.
Streets were transformed into leaping.
rushing rivers by the terrible downpolr
of rain. while the breakers on that
lone, drelry New England coast seemed
to defy the challenge of the roaring
storm.
The fleet of small fishermen had sour
ried TO a safe anchorage early in the
afternoon.
May God help any ship and crew
that gets on lee shore tonight, lads"
soberly remarked Capt. Josh Hard
ing, of the lifeboat, to few of his men,
as he stepped to the door and pecred out
into the opaque darkness.
The government at that tune had not
erected the neat, cozy life-saving sta
tion with all its modern appliances to
rescue a crew from n stranded ship
which now adorns the long, barren
stretch of sand, but the crew were mer-
hers of the fishing fleet, and always vol
unteered their services without promise
of reward A whaleboat served thei.
plrpose then, and many a despairing
>ailor had good cause to praise her
stanchness and the bravery of her iron
hearted crew.
\ flash of Lightning in the early even
ing had revealed large bark trying to
weather the wrecli-bestrewn, fatal
Handkershoal, which caused the blulf
rugged mariner TO utter the foregoing
remarks.
where is John Lawrence tonight
lads? He is generally here a night like
this" he continued, in an anxious tone
Johns wife amt very well, cap'n; so
| heered as l cum daown," answered
Reuben Davis, one of the crew
"Well, 20 up, a couple of yen see.
should hate to mann the boat without
John. He's never missed a trip yet
said Capt Harding, pacing the small
room which served them as n shelter
from the storm and was located on the
beach, with the boat drawn up outside
Just above the reach of the kissing.
Seething waters, which seemed TO re-
cede with dispairing moans at failing
to drag it intc their depths.
By the bedside Of his wife, holding
her thin, wasted hand between the
large, horny palms of his own. sat John
Lawrence, one of the braveSt of the vol
unteers.
"Oh, if could but see Tom once more
could go easy, John" she hoarsely
whispered.
"The lads gone, Mary. n we don,
know where. It's bin nigh ontcr tcw
year sence heered he'd shipped in tn.
fo-cas'tle fer the West Indies, N he
hasn't writ word hum sence."
II know he was a bad boy, John
But don't you think that you was
little hard on him?" she continued.
"IIe was all we had, you know"
The large eyes filled with tears and
the frail form shook and trembled with
emotion as the mother pleaded for her
wayward boy.
81 don't know what's the matter with
your wife, John. It's either case of
broken heart or some new disease. Med.
icine don't seem 10 reach it," the doctor
had said, upon leaving, few hours be.
fore.
you'll forgive him when I'm gone,
John, won't you? He didn't mean 10 be
bad!" she said, between her sobs.
At this moment the door softly
opened and the captains messenger
stepped in.
John, there's a bark thst can't
weather the Han'kerchf, N ther cap.
tain sent US arter We" said Davis.
ITS no use, boys. can't leave her
ter-night. She wouldn't be here when
| got back" said Lawrence, softly, rub.