The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1907-03-13

~ ing Of the wrecking contract.
&92J The Lizzie, with Bradley, the
captain and Alvin Bearse aboard, had
left the Orham wharf an hour or more
before. They had stopped at the Point
to pick up Peleg Myrick and Bill Tay-
lor the new hands, whose services the
captain had secured without much
trouble.
Barney ran the little wrecking
schooner under the tilted stern of the
Ruth CHM, and Bradley sprang from
the shrouds to the rail of the stranded
craft Then, one by one, all but Bar
ney, who stayed behind to look after
the Lizzie, they clambered aboard the
wreck. Most Of the hard pine boards
that formed the deck load were in
place, having been dashed well and be-
ing out Of the reach of the heaviest
seas, which had spent their force on
the stern and after portion of the yes
sci.
The patent windlass was in good
condition and so also. to their delight,
was the donkey engine. Peleg, work
ing manfully at the pump, reported
that she had some water I'm her. but
that it didn't "seem to be gainin'
none"
Bradley got steam up in the donkey
engine. and the big anchor Of the Ruth
CHM. attached to a heavy cable was
lowered carefully until It's shank rest
ed across the stern of the dory. To this
main cable. near its middle, were spite
ed two others just as heavy; to each OF
these another anchor was made fast
The dorles were rOwed out almost at
right angle from the wreck into the
deep water Then the anchors were
thrown overheard and a three fingered
iron hand with It's spread talons deep
in the sand, held the lumber schooner
fast
Now, Brad" commanded the cap
tain, haul that line taut."
Bradley started his engine, the wind
lass turned, and the cable, that had
hung loose from the bow Of the wreck,
lifted from the water and frightened
till IT groaned.
"All she'll stand. is itT' asked the
skipper Good. Make her fast.
They say tidell wait for no man. so |
guess Wen have to do the next best
thing and wait for the tide Now
boys" as the men climbed aboard
from the dores, git to work and strip
her"
Bradley and the captain knew that
they could not hope TO get out all the
lumber i'm the hold of the Ruth CHM
If she was allowed to lie in her present
exposed position. One more gale and
she would be almost certain TO break
up Their hope was to tighten her by
getting rid of her deck load and to
work her Off the shoal into deep water
and then tow her mp to Orham harbor,
where she could he unloaded at their
leisure
She lay almost hroadside 10 the shoal.
but NOT quite Her bow was we'll up
ON the sand but her stern overhung
the edge OF the B)neyard. which on
that side was. as Captain Titcomb said.
steep as the back of "A barn" The
' fI'lit Il as iI'' NIf.'Il w IlllliNNN
could draw it. led of from her bow to
the spot where the anchors were plant
ed under many fathomS Of water
Where the tide turned it's pressure
against the schooner would bring her
TO bear on the cable with tremendous
pull. The waves. growing larger as
the water dcepcncd, should. if their
plan was a good one loosen her keel
i'm the sand, and every inch she gave
the cable would retain. The more she
lOoseued the easier she would move
The slack thus made i'm the cable
would be taken up by the windlass.
She might gain but a foot a day for
awhile. but some day or other, if the
weather held fair. she would have
worked herself through the sand and
clear of the shOal
They stripped her. cutting away her
tangled ropes and sails and taking
them aboard the Lizzie. Everything |
except Of course the lumber, !
they transferred thus or threw over
board. II was hard job and took |
them all day. Bradley was a tired /
man when he reached home that night, !
but he had - answer countless ques- |
tons put to him by the interested old |
maids. lie saw Gus for a moment or |
two and reported progress. Then he |
went to bed.
Next morning was clear and calm, |
and they were delighted to find that |
the wrecked schooner had gained a |
little and that the cable was Stacker |
than they left it. They frightened it
again with the windass and then set |
10 work throwing overheard the lum-
Der on the deck They rugged a tackle
IN the stump Of the foremost and with |
he donkey engine swung great bun
lies OF the planks overheard, while
Alvin and Barney, standing on the
ioating timber with the water swash-
ng around the knees Of their fisher
mems boots, made ii into RATS to be
owed up to Orham.
That night they hired Ira Sparrow's
ishing boat, the You and I, to tow the
umber RATS. She was a stout little