Columbia courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1902-1905, 1904-11-04

telephone. 1t was occupied night and
day by one man at time. One was
on watch from noon until midnight
and the other from midnight until
noon. Not even light was allowed
for it was not needed by day and by
night it would blind the watch so that
he could not look out upon the ocean
and river.
Throughout the day he peered out
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 out 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
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 theii 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, cartain!"
"Hello, lookout"
"Signal distress off west end of Jetty
Sand spit. A boat is heading for the
breakers"
"B,ng, bling, bing!" went three
guns.
After few minutes pause the cap
tain's phone rang again. (
"Hello, capta,n!"
"Hello, lookout"
"signal distress off Disappointment
rocksl Boat showing for breakers
like a rocket! Girl at the oars; is
power less-think it is Sankala, the
old chemists daughter"
"Bing, bling, bling, bling, 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 HAD lost their
lives.
The swift receding current for ned a
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 life savers knew the signals az
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 bcye
lying off that point bent to their oars
with all their might.
The life savers were divided up into
crews and each of these divisions COW
eled gwen points. The men selected
for 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 calle Of distress the captain had ~.
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 busy appearance.
A speck here to the natural eye was
revealed through the strong glasses to be
a fisherman's boat struggling with the
nets or waves. Some were going, some
were coming. Each was oblivious Of
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 go COM
mon as to bring no excitement to the
veteran captain Of the crew he sur
veyed the waters as general does his
battlefield.
This morning, however. a change
came over his face. He saw a frail
fisherman's boat being swept toward
disappointment rocks. Standing W
wnl king hel useless oars with all hel