New-York tribune., 1905-11-25
FESAVER'S BOLD PLUNGE
HAULED TO SHIP By LINE.
Thrilling Rescue 50ith the Brooches
Bu0u on Lake Michigan.

Holland, Mich, Nov. 24-Wherever the story
is told of the wreck of the passenger steamer
Argo from Chicago. which struck a sandbar to-
day while attempting to enter this harbor in the
early hours of the morning the name of Robert
Smith, a life saver, will be held in veneration
The life saving crew had labored hours in
futile attempts to reach the stranded ship Men
and women passengers and the crew stood help
lessly at the end of the lifeline not knowing
how TO manipulate the breeches buoy that would
carry them five hundred feet over the slender
line to safety ashore. Then it that Robert
Smith tied about his body a line thrown from
the wreck to the struggling Iifeboat and
dragged through the foamng waves to the deck
of the Argo sending safe ashore first the four
women passengers and a little girl and then one
after another the other passengers and those OF
the crew who had not chosen to remain with
Captain John Stewart on board
For hours the life savers had vainly tried to
row the lifeboat to the wreck. and had after
repeated efforts been compelled to deslst and
resort to the cannon and the lifeline, as it was
impossible for a. small boat to make headway
in the ffty-mile southeast gale that RACED on
Lake Michigan during the morning
Finally line from the Argo was caught by
on.. OF the life saving crew. Without a mo
1nent's hesitation Robert Smith tied the line
around his body and plunged into the boiling
lake to be dragged aboard the wreck in a few
moments badly bruised. but still able to direct
the sending ashore of the passengers and crew
in the breeches buoy.
Twenty-Five passengers and thirteen of the
crew were hauled ashore but Captain John
Stewart with a few picked members of his crew,
refused to desert the ship. This evening they
were still board. the breeches buoy BENG
kent in readiness for their rescue the moment
,,of,r, Of Otr1crr to 1fap
REPRESENTATIVES of the Graham 6 Morton
steamer line assert that the steamer, in trying
to make the harbor struck shoal, and losing
headway was tossed helplessly against the north
nier During the day she worked northward
along the beach. lying tonight 1.SOO feet north
of the piers and within 200 feet of the shore.
Displaying remarkable self control. the Argos
passengers and crew betrayed no tendency to
go into panic. as they anxiously watched for
hours the desperate efforts being made for their
rescue. Not only was the wreck spectacular
and thrilling as it was, devoid of fatalities.
but more remarkably still no serious injury
was reported in the case of any OF the passengers
or crew of the steamer.
When the purser summoned the women pas
sa,ears to the breeches buoy the women
| uoIoo4ad 70 make the first trip looked at the
| slender. sagging line, shuddered and stepped
| hack giving place to Mrs. P. j. Niskern, of Chi
l A.
| caeo who was the first to ride ashore through
the drenching clouds of spray During one OF
The return trips of the buoy the cable parted
worn In two by friction the steamers rail.
IT was nearly noon then. and only eight or nine
had been sent ashore. while the vessel had neen
stranded since 8: 80 o'clock in the morning Ihe
humps were working we'll and Captain Stewart
had sent word ashore that his vessefs seams
were not leaking 10 any dangerous extent,
though he was pumping her full OF water 10 hoId
| her steady on the sandbar
The Ifeboat was resorted to once AGAIN pu'
| efforts TO reach the Argo were futile; WIN tne IN.
| beach cannon another line was finally snot out
| To the wreck and made fast about CLOCK ~
! the afternoon. The rescue then proceeueu "ttil-
| ont further n1ishap Darkness had faIieh peIors
| the life saving crew had finished the long dIG
| thrilling days work, and when the men retlreu
To the station they left guard on watch 10 give
/ The alarm should the men left on Doard the
wreck appear to be in more immediate DANGER