The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1904-12-22


in so many sounds. The moanin
winds in the boughs Of the tall tree
on the hills sung it in dismal notes
The angry surges ON the beach hisse'
out like the warning of an adder. Tn
gloomy mist which surrounded oil,
Cape Disappointment lighthouse hun
like pail over the river and bay.
Yet the water was dotted with tn
boats OF the needless fishermen. The.
had seen the signs a thousand time
and had never known them to fail
They knew that no frail craft could b.
reasonably expected to survive such 1
storm as was indi :ated tonight. Il
was the night after the battle between
the fishermen. 1t was the night upor
which Sankala had started out to ses
to find Dan Lspham. 1t was the
night upon which Dan Lapham left
sand island upon raft of driftwooS
for the tn shore.
This was typical night storm at the
mouth OF the Columbia. The people
of the village had been on the alert,
kindling beacon fires and walking the
beach to render aid to their friends on
the bay.
The morning broke forth with many
stories OF hardships, disaster and death
The fishermen ON either side had been
slow to yieiG their position. In spite
OF the fact thss they were warned in
many ways of the approaching storm,
they stood in the teeth of danger from
force of habit. The southsiders were
determined to destroy the objection
able traps and the northeiders were
firm in standing by the defense Of their
property.
But all had eventually been COM
PEELED to yield to the elements. The
northsiders had beeL driven one by one
to the north shore, while the south
siders had been compelled to take ref
uge on the island. They had not the
time to make it to the south shore.
Fishermen on both sides, it is true,
had remained too long. They had
been caught in the angry sea and
dragged like captives toward the bar.
The dawn had found the life savers
active. 1t was the same old story.
They succeeded in rescuing some OF the
men from watery grave. A few had
gone over the bar never to return
Some of these had been swept away
long before the life savers could see
their way to go to the rescue.
The wind did not lull until we'll up in
the day. The southsiders nestled
along The shores of Sand islanS, like
90 many water bound animals. The
northsiders rushed up and down the
bank looking for missing ones and pre-
pairing to return to the defense of their
traps 30 soon as the waves should sub
side.
Women were wringing their hands
over the loss of their dear ones and
children were crying for fathers they
would never see again. The loss OF
life was 90 common among the fisher
men that only those actually bereaved /
bore sad hearts on such occasions.
The sudden making of widows and or
ohans had been going on for years, fol-
Every storm claimed its victims. A
heavy wave, swamped boat, a lost
fisherman, told common story. 1t
vas expected. Those who battled with
ieath knew that they must eventually
ose.
where is Sankala?" was asked OF
he fishermen as they arrived ashore
the night.
where is Sankala?" asked Dan
.apham when he had visited her cabin
nd found it vacant.
"Where is Sankala?" was the ques-
ion passed from lip to lip throughout
be day.
Dan Lapham had steered his crude
aft straight Tor the north shore. He
ad been buffeted by the waves, it is
rue, and had been carried far to the
1uth, but fortune favored him and he
adj butted into the boats Of his
iends who had taken him ashore. But
OF one Of all the men returning had
EN- Sankala. They were indignant a
tat she should have been permitted
leave the village.
eve have no time for grieving over
ie lost, +" said old seadog, walking up
I'd down the beach like an angry =
on. "See, the men on the island u
e in action and will soon be upon our q
apps. To your boats, men, to your
atsl We must protect those traps
tn our livesl" s
1t was late in the afternoon. The o
,rm had again subsidized. The men e
the island decided to take advant- U
e Of the northsiders while they were III
bore and destroy their traps. III
The northsiders were quick to see Of
is and hustling their arms and am a.
milton aboard they Ieaped into the n
ats along the beach and rowed with X
their might to the defense OF their u
Use.
The southsiders also started out
sky to peat them to the traps. The
ter bad slight advantage in dis -,
zee but their opponents were refresh -
by warm meal and many Of them a.
secured few hours sleep. "a "a
rbe small feet on either side was d. az
led into squadrons as II by common "
angement, and while one squad made 90
the defense of group of traps along sn
J line which stretched up and down %
river channel on the bay side, q "
lad from the other side started for W
same point to destroy them. no
n the meantime reinforcements were