The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1904-10-27

Fishermen would venture forth In
dangerous storms and this compelled
the life savers to stand on constant
guard. They would enter their boats
and beat along the danger line like
sentinels to keep the fishermen from
rowing to their death. And in spite
Of this precaution scores find watery
graves at the mouth OF the Columbia
every year.
As the fishermen fought theil way
cut on this stormy morning the life
savers shot out from under the cliffs
toward the bar. Here bordering on
the danger line themselves they pa
trolled the river to rescue those less
capable than themselves to Withstand
the receding tide.
"Hello. cartainp"
"Hello, lookout"
"Signal distress off west end of Jetty
Sand Spit. A boat is heading for the
breakersI"
"Bing, bing, bing!" went three
guns.
"Hello, captainl"
"Hello, lookout"
"Signal distress off Pacific rockg.
Boat seems to be capsized aEd men
clinging to upturned hulll"
"Bing, bing!" went two guns.
After few minutes pause the cap
tain's phone rang again.
"Hello, captalnl"
"Hello, lookout!"
"signal distress off disappointment
rocksl Boat showing for breakers
like a rocket Girl at the oars; is
oweiless--think it is Sankala, the
old chemists daughter" !"
"Bing, bling, bing, bing, bing"
rang out five shots from the cliffs be-
low. This was the most dangerous
point at the mouth Of the river and
was called the hell gap, for it was here
that 80 many fishermen haG lost their
lives.
The swift receding current for ned q
sort Of maelstrom at the point of the
rocks and when once fairly in its
clutches boats were swept like chaff
into the breakers and disappeared like
shot thrown into the water.
The lie savers knew the signals as
we'll as their alphabet and rushed to
the rescue like fremen to the call Of
fire. And when the signal came for
disappointment rocks the sturdy boys
lying off that point bent to their oars
with all their might.
The life savers we're divided up into
crews and each Of these divisions cov-
eied gwen points. The men selected
Tor the most dangerous places were the
most experienced and dared the ele-
ments as veteran soldiers face the death
line in battle.
While the rescuers were hurrying to
the calls Of distress the captain had as
cended to the lcokout's station. Day
was already dawning and while signals
were given at night by the discharge Of
firearms, they were given in day time
with flags from lookout point.
With the advancing day the river
and bay presented Q busy appearance.
A speck here to the natural eye was
revealed through the strong glasses to be
fisherman's boat struggling with the
nets or waves. Some were going, some
were coming. Each was oblivious oi
the other. One was dashing to its
ruin at another point and life savers
were going to its rescue, while the men
in danger were often unconscious of the
fact.
But in the work which was so com.
mon as to bring no excitement to the
veteran captain OF the crew he sur
veyed the waters as a general does hii
battlefield.
This morning, however, a change
came over his face, He saw frai
fisherman's boat being swept toward
disappointment rocks. Standing uE
wol king her useless oars with all hel
strength was Sankala. The glasses re.
vealed her firm features and while she
looked into the jaws OF death she was
as calm as the rocks which awaited hei
approach, Ringwold lay motionlest
in the boat. Whether dead or asleep
the glasses did not disclose. 1t was
evident that they had never reached
the fish trap for the boat was as empty
as it had been when they had first
started out.
The captain raised the signal flag
high above his head and waved it five
times in succession. But here the life
boat which was giving Sankala's boat a
stern chase, passed behind some rocks
that had just hidden her and several
seconds must pass before they would
appear again.