The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1904-03-19

II not that of all hands,
II heard the men trying to swing
over dory on the lee side. Through
the open skylight could hear them
lower 1t down; then on would come a
sea. and with crunch the boat would
crush alongside the vessel. One after
another they tried to launch the boats,
and one after another l heard them
crushed alongside. a..
"Then the men came aft In confu-
sion to get away from the seas break
ing over us. l heard voice cry, It's
no use, cap,n! Every man for himself
now!'
81 began to wonder what / could do
for myself, and II the men would leave
me as l was in the cabin.
Don't you worry, Peter!' sang out
the cap'n, down the companionway.
I'll look out for YOU said he, and
knew him to be the kind of man who
would do 1t to the last minute of his
life.
"He came below, and standing beside
me, calmly drank mug after mug Of
strong coffee before he said word.
Then in his quiet way he said:
"'Peter, we're in bad place. l was
away off my reckoning. You're here
helpless, and it's hard to say what is
best to do for you. She's likely to go
to pieces at any minute and
There came a terrific crash, and we
lurch ed ahead on a sea and brought
up with thump. Then back we shot
and struck bottom with a jolt that
made the Lucille CULVER from stem to
stern. Over we listed to the weather
rail, broadside to seas.
"'Go for the rigging while you cant
heard sung out overhead, and the
cap'n ran up to deck again.
Sea after sea took us and back and
forth We slid and bumped on the rocks.
Once we held for a second; then we
swept along again on the top of a
comber, the booms and sail Stating
and thrashing about.
Almost before l knew it the cap'n
was standing beside me again. Peter,
said he. 4 believe we're done for to a
man. You might be just as we'll off
down here as anywhere. But If you're
on deck you'll have one. possible chance
to get washed ashore, the chance we
all have now, and you won't get that
down below. The men have all gone
into the rigging or out on the bow
spirit, waiting for a chance to jump.
II you want me to- I'll carry you up on
deck and get you into the rigging or
| anywhere else you wish. One place is
as good as another now, it seems to
me-.
THE cap'n stood there calm and
quiet. staring down at the floor, wait
ing for me to decide. decided quick
If you can get me UP on deck and
anywhere above the seas, cap'n,' said
|, III be glad to go and take my
chance. A man surely has no chance
down here
He turned in a clock-tick Put on
my oil Clothes said he, stripping off
his jacket.
No. said I. I'll go as | am
STOPPING over, the big skipper
picked me up in his arms. With my
splinted leg drawing along behind, up
we went through the narrow compan-
ionway TO the deck.
IL heard tremendous crash forward
| just as we got on deck, and sea came
sweeping aft that threw us in heap
Hang on to me, my boy!' gulped
the cap'n as we thumped and thrashed
round the stern on the powerful sea.
Il felt rope swing across my face,
n nln o. INV mi oil In
both hands, | hung on and thrashed
about the wheel-box in the twirling
sea.
II rose with lunge of the vessel.
AS fell back on deck, l realized that
the cap'n's strong arms had let go their
hold of me.
'Capn!' I sung out, with all my
might; but never a word came back
to me.
1T was so thick and black that |
could not see the main rigging, but I
caught the voices of the men forward.
called out to them, but no answer
came back.
81 heard terrible roar coming. 1t
Numbered nearer, drowning the con-
tinuous roar beside us. On it came,
the core of the sea taking us fair in the
fore rigging, and the vessel rose up
before it, and with sweep, bow first,
drove in on the rocks.
IL reached up to the main boom
above my head and found the top'n-
lift running along the boom. Bringing
all the strength l had to bear on IT,
and placing my sound foot upon the
wheel-box, up climbed on the boom,
drawing my splinted leg up behind me.
Out l climbed toward the end until
struck the backstay, and there hung,
determined to hang on as long as I
could.
I'm the lull between seas heard a
voice sing out. I'm ashore, boys!'
gained a little hope.
But in the next instant the same
voice gulped, No, amt! Don't jump!'
zone little forerunner of the next
sea slapped against the side of the ves-
sel-then another. caught the sound
Of voices from away up aloft in the rig
ging; then on came the sea, tum-
bling, roaring mountain Of water. lay
fiat on the boom and Rugged Il with