The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1904-11-26

AuM uoQn Until Midnight
and the other from midnight until
noon. Not even light was allowed
Tor It was not needed by day and BIZ
night 1t would blind the watch do thai
ne could not look ont upon the ocean
and river.
Throughout the day he peered ont
through his glasses over the sea and
river and bay. At night he followed
the great revolving light in the light
house above his head and watched for
objects on the water while he looked
further cut for the smaller lights Of
vessels.
1t was on the morning that sankala
and Ringwold had put forth into the
storm that the conversation took place
over the telephone between the look
out and the captain of the Life saving
crew recorded at the beginning of this
chapter. =
The lookout had seen the small
craft battling with the surf on the
bosom Of the bay in the dim light
shot out from overhead. He could
feel the storm blowing against the
structure which enclosed him; be.
sides the register showed high We.
locity of wind.
1t foreboded day Of hard work.
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
sentinele 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 thei, 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
breakers!"
! "BIng, bling, bing!" went three
guns.
''Hello, captain!"
"Hello, lookout"
"Signal distress off Pacific rocks.
Boat seems to be capsized and meu
clinging to upturned hulll"
"Bing, bingl" went two guns.
After few minutes pause the cap
tain's phone rang again
"Hello, captaIn!"
"Hello, lookouti''
"Signal distress off disappointment
rocksI Boat showing for breakers
like a rocket Girl at the oars; il
, powelless-think it is sankala, the
old chemists daughter"
"Bing, bling, bling, bling, bingl'
rang out five shots from the cliffs be
= low. This was the most dangeroui
point at the mouth of the river anc
t was called the hell gap, for it was herr
that so many fishermen HAD lost thei
, lives.
3 The swift receding current for ned {
sort of maelstrom at the point of tn
7 rocks and when once fairly in it
Y clutches boats were swept like chat
8 into the breakers and disappeared likC
shot thrown into the water.
The lie savers knew the signals a
= we'll as their alphabet and rushed t.
: the rescue like fremen to the call o
fire. And when the signal came TO
Disappointment rocks the sturdy boy
lying off that point bent to their car
with all their might.
The life savers we're divided up int
crews and each of these divisions GOV
eled gwen points. The men Helecte
n for the most dangerous places were tn
most experienced and dared the ele
, ments as veteran soldiers face the deaf
o line in battle.
q While the rescuers were hurrying t
the calls of distress the captain had al
:. cended to the lcokout's station. Da
+ was already dawning and while signal
q were given at night by the discharge {
I firearms, they were given in day tim
# with flags from lookout point.
With the advancing day the rive
q and bay presented busy appearance
II A speck here to the natural eye wa
y revealed through the strong glasses to b
fisherman's boat struggling with tn
q nets or waves. Some were going, som
s were coming. Each was oblivious {
d the other. One was dashing to il
: 1uin at another point and life saver
were going to Its rescue, while the me
v in danger were often unconscious of th
h fact.
q But in the work which was so con
l. mon as to bring no excitement to ii
q veteran captain OF the crew he SUI
IL veyed the waters as a general does b
l. battlefield.
# This morning, however, q chang
Ia came over his face. He saw a fra
# fisherman's boat being swept towal
n disappointment rocks. Standing u
Working hel useless oars with all h
ia strength was sankala. The glasses r
20 vealed her firm features and while sh
N looked into the jaws Of death she WI
as calm as the rocks which awaited h
= approach. Ringwold lay motionle
p in the boat. Whether dead or aslee
a. the glasses did not disclose. 1t WI
~ evident that they had never reache