Columbia courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1902-1905, 1904-11-18
CHAPTER Nj.
Dan Laphan.

the memory of Dan Lapham"
"Then Dan is dead, Joep"
"Without any doubt" said man who
had just entered the place, the ralr
dripping from his hat and clothing
"We secured the bay and river about
the rocks, but no trace of the boy could
be seen. We recovered his boat, which
drifted under the wharf at the life saw.
ing station late in the afternoon, bu,
Marty 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 usual
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
cd. He was an extra at the life sta
tion, fisherman, carpenter, bartender,
clerk, deliveryman, or whatever he 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 boat with superior skill to any
other man, talked but little and was as
brave a. lion. He knew not the
meaning of fear. He was boon COM
panion on land or sea. He was fav-
orite partner in the games and good
player. He was missed tonight for
the first time in many weeks and the
boys at Hsyden's arose to man at the
invitation Of Joe Golden to drink to his
memory.
mo 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. "Here's to Dan Lapham g
health-memory!" said the veteran
rum seller as the crowd arose and drank
by rounds.
But old Hayden was wasting his
liquor, 80 far as sacrificing it to the
memory OF dead man was concerned.
And the fishermen, while growing gen.
eious over the memory Of one they con-
sidered dead, were extolling the vir-
tues of man who was living at that
very hour.
He was at that hour clinging to the
rocks near the dead line at the lower
end of the bay. His benumhed feet
were set upon the slight shelving that
jetted out Just above the waters edge
at that very moment, while his fingers
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 it's
limit.
When he reached his trap that NOM
ing he found that he had missed San
kala and Ringwold on the way. He
realized that the young girl would be
helpless against the strong undertow
and started out to render such assist
ance as might be within his power.
He beat back toward the shore dropping
lower and lower into the bay, for he
knew that the receding waters would
draw them that way.
Day had barely dawned when he saw
the boat Of his companions being car.
ried toward disappointment rocks at
rapid rate Of speed. He cut across
from the point Of discovery with all Of
Tia might to intercept them. But
even the strong and vigorous young
man over estimated his skill. He was
caught in the undertow like the grip Of
q cable car and carried as mercilessly
toward the breakers as were his friends
whom he would have rescued.
But he was not even granted the
privilege of following the course their
boat had taken. He had crossed the
dividing line OF the areceding undercuI-
rent and his boat was dragged away to-
ward Chinook rocks. He could no
.onger battle against the inevitable,
but he could influence the boat TO some
extent in the COURSE IL took to ruin.
The bleak rocks were preferable to the
uninterrupted breakers and the ocean
beyond, and he steered the best he
could for them.
There was one chance in a thousand OF
escaping death there, by clinging to
the rocks that would DESTROY him, but
once in the breakers. no earthly
hope was left. They had never yet
surrendered victim alive in all the
story OF disasters at the mouth OF the
Columbia. But fortune had favored
he man, Is the reader already knows,
though his escape was stiil by no means
certain. As the boat had approached
the rocks, Lapham watched like pan.
Their preparing to leap. The white
spray dashed upon the rocks with angry