The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1906-07-28
A COAST ROMANCE

10 heart and left the town. He had
saved money and invested In Il schoon
er that was engaged In the coasting
business. He sailed a few weeks as
mate OF the vessel and then became
her captain. Meantime Whit wool
Dorothy more ardently than ever,
he got but little satisfaction from the
girl, who blamed him for driving Chris
TOPPER away. He believed that he
would win her for his wife sooner or
later and persisted In giving her at
tention. lie was not Il little surprised
one morning TO find that the night be-
fore Dorothy had disappeared from
town. Her friends went In search or
her and found that she had on Sc
cretly married to Christopher, who had
taken her aboard his schooner 20 live.
Whit, dispOsIng of his farm joined
the life saving station at Hereford In
let In the excitement of this wild life
he did his best To forget Dorothy. lie
was considered the brayest of the crew
There waspQ wind or weather IN which
boat, and he seemed happiest when in
the midst of a storm on the sea. Some
thought that his mind was unbalanced,
and the ACCESSIBILITY of dlscharging
him from the service had been consid-
cred, but the faithfulness with which
he always performed his duties argued
strongly In his favor.
utn
Jersey coast. The wind blew fearfully
inland, and the wreckers kept a sharp
lookout for vessels In distress. All day
the rain came down, but az shutdown
the clouds broke and fed. but the wind
increased its strength. and the surf OF
Hereford inlet ran higher by many
feet than the roof OF the life saving
station. About midnight the patrol of
the beach saw rocket curve through
the darkness. IL was quickly followed
by second and a third. A vNsel OF
some sort was in distress In the vick-s
ity or North bar. The crew was nrous-
ed ana the lifeboat got in readiness,
but II was impossible 10 launch IL. so
terrible was the surf. Answering sig
mails were given 10 encourage the un-
fortunates on the foundered vessel.
When day broke the wind began 10
die out and by sunrise the surf had
Iessened IN force.
Nearly mile from the shore the
masts and rigging OF a schooner were
visible above the tumbling waters. and
az the head OF the mainmast was seen
a dark object The vessel was com
pletely submerged. and the masts were
swaying like reeds. Evidently one OF
the crew had been lashed TO the mast.
After several vain attempts the II,
boat was finally launched, and I'M
sturdy crew sent II across the waves
as rapidly as IL was possible for them
to go. They finally came near enough
10 the wreck TO see that the object at
the masthead was woman. She was
alive and encouraged the crew In the
lIfeboat 10y waving her arms. As the
llfeboat came nearer IL was found that
II would be- extremely dangerous 90 at
tempt 10 take the woman of until the
waves had subsidized, for parts OF the
shattered hull projected above the wa
ter and 10 be dashed upon them meant
quick destruction. While the crew was
debating what II was best 10 do Whit
caught mp ieldglass and turned It
On the woman. An instant later the
other members Of the crew were sur
prlsed TO hear him exclalm, ITS Doro-
thy lie held the glass 10 his eyes for
a few seconds, as IL 10 make sure that
be WAS right. then tossed IL into the
cuddy and snatching up life pre-
server fastened II under his arms and,
lying n rope around his waist, ordered
The men 10 pull the boat as close to the
wreck as they dared to- The captain
with the man, but he
calmly told him that II the boat wasn't
put nearer he would jump In there and
Try 10 swim TO the womans rescue.
The captain saw II was useless TO
protest. and he told the crew 20 do as
Whit desired. Whit fastened one end
n the rope that was around his waist
70 cleat In the boat and waited for
favorable moment 10 leap into the sea.
AZ last. when the boat was on the
rect OF wave that was sweeping to-
ward the wreck he Jumped overheard
ind the next instant was battling with
he strength OF three men with the
water.
The wave ran like a race horse and
iashed Whit against the rigging He
'raspcd the ropes, climbed 10 where
he woman was dashed 10 the mast and
n few seconds had fastened the life
,rescrver around her. Tying the rope
Iround her waist he slgnaled the men
n the boat 10 haul her aboard. II was
! terrible trip TO make. but Dorothy ar
lived safe ana sound The problem
low was how 10 rescue the man
The life preserver was fastened 20 n
ope and thrown overheard I'm the hope
hat II would float within Wint's reach.
,ut u didn't reach the mark Again
nd again II was hauled ~ and casm
verboard without striking'cse rigging
II every wave the masts showed that
hey were growing weaker. and II was
by the men in the liteboat
hat they would 20 by the board be-
ore the life prcserver could be got 20