Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1904-11-11
CHAPTER XII.
Dan Lapham.
'Play, Nelse." "

body's drink. Men we will drink TO
the memory of Dan Lapham!'
"Then Dan is dead, Joe?"
"Without any doubt" said man who !
had just entered the place, the rain
dripping from his hat and clothing.
owe secured the bay and river about
the rocks, but no trace Of the boy coula
be seen. We recovered his boat, which
drifted under the wharf at the lie saw
ing station late in the afternoon, OUT
marry a trace of Dan, poor Dan, the re-
liable"
The fishermen had gathered at Hay
denis place the night after the storm
and were seated at the tables as usuai
plying cards for the drinks.
They had been interrupted by Joe
Golden, who had just arrived from the
life saving station. Joe was a utility
man about the bay. He was town
marshal when such an officer was need
ed. He was an extra at the life sta
tion, fisherman, carpenter, bartendeI'
clerk, deliveryman, or whatever ne Was
called upon to dc.
He had been called to the life saving
station that day and had worked
throughout the storm. He had wit
messed all of the disasters and came In
to report them.
Dan Lapham was one of the most
popular men in the village. He was
Young, strong, even-tempered, could
pull a boat with superior skill to any
other man, talked but little and was as
brave as lion. He knew not the
meaning of fear. He was boon COM
panion on land or sea. He was a fav-
orite partner in the games and a good
player. He was missed tonight Tor
the first time in many weeks and the
boys at Hayden's s arose to a man at the
invitation of Joe Golden to drink to his
memory.
The men resumed their games, but
they did not dlop the name of Dan
Iapham from their conversation:
First one would speak of some good
trait of the boy and then another would
recall an incident in which Dan was
concerned. All of the fishermen knew
of something good and none spoke Ill
of the young man. who single handeo
had rowed boat and tended trap Tor
more than year.
"No one has ever been missed as we
shall miss Dan," said old Hayden,
who had broken his rule and called
upon all present to drink at his ex-
pense. "Heres to Dan Lapham s
health-memory! said the veteran
rum seller as the crowd arose and drank
by rounds.
But old Hayden was wasting his
liquor, so far as sacrificing it to the
memory of a dead man was concerned.
And the fishermen, while growing gen.
e1ous over the memory of one they con-
sidered dead, were extolling the vlr-
tues of a man who was living at that
very hour.
His life, however, was not at that
time assured and his position was not
one of ease, but Dan Lapham still lived
and was planning to live a great deal
longer.
He was at that hour clinging to the
rocks near the dead line at the lower
end of the bay. His benumeed feet
were set upon the slight shelving that
ietted out Just above the waters edge
at that very moment, while his hngers
were deeply clinched in crevasses above
He had climbed to the highest point
that could be reached, but he also re-
membered that the tide had reached its
limit. =,
He had dragged himself ahead of II
like a half-drowned serpent throughout
the afternoon and he now welcomed
the fact that it was time for the water
to Iecede.
When he reached his trap that nom
ing he found that he had missed San
kaia and Ringwold on the way. H'
realized that the young girl would b'
helpless against the strong undertov
and started out to render such assist
snce as might be within his power
He beat back toward the shore dropping
lowe, and lower into the bay, for h
knew that the receding waters woul'
draw them that way.
Dav had barely dawned when he saw
the boat of his companions being car
ried toward disappointment rocks at
rapid rate of speed. He cut aclos
from the point of'discovery with all o
his might to intercept them. Bu
even the strong and vigorous youn;
man over estimated his skill. He va
caught in the undertow like the grip Q
a cable car and carried as mercilessl
toward the breakers as were his friend
whom he would have rescued.
But he was not even granted tn
privilege of following the course thei
hoat had taken. He had crossed tn
dividing line OF the receding undercuI
rent and his boat was dragged away to
ward Chinook rocks. He could n
.onser battle against the inevitable
but he could influence the boat to som
extent in the course it took to ruin
rba bleak rocks were preferable to tn
white-capped breakers and the ocea
beyond, and he steered the best b
There was one chance in thousand {
escaping death there, by chnglng
the rocks that would DESTROY him.. br
once in the breakers. no earth