The Sisseton weekly standard. (Sisseton, Roberts County, S.D.) 1892-1929, 1907-06-07

SAYS If I'm not At to handle a ship.

man, and although / cannot explain
it, some day you shall know"
Until that time ONE you will find
me waiting for you right here" replied
Marion.
In due curse he presented himself
to the manager of the Fernald Trans
portation line in the city of Cleveland.
Michael told him of his dismissal as
first mate of the freighter Mansfield.
When he learned of the young mans
sacrifice and saw the statement
Thompson had given him he was i'm
mediately given charge of the Scioto.
The Scioto was a little "coal-up and
ure-down" boat of about 5000 tons
cargo capacity.
No man among the thousands who
piled the inland seas labored harder
to do his duty to the full than Michael
Sullivan.
After some weeks delay, the Mans
field, thoroughly overhauled and newly
sterned, took her place on the lakes
again.
On the morning of November 81, in
spite of the fact that the storm sig
nails were flying with every promise
of threatening weather, the Mansfield
cleared from Greysolon with 10000
tons of soft ore in her capacious holds.
The wind rose as the temperature
fell. By nightfall he was off Kewee-
nav point when the full force of the
tempest was hurled upon him. The
wind was blowing 60 miles an hour.
He retraced his course, therefore. and
headed as straight for the gateway of
Greysolon as the compass permitted.
Hard after the great ship came the lit
tie Scioto, loaded with coal and also
bound for Greysolon. Well along to-
ward noon Capt. Houston made out
land. Two o'clock found him heading
for the narrow opening between the
piers. Taking advantage of a sudden
let-up in the snowstorm. he headed the
Mansfield straight through the open
ing.
Houston pointed her nose fairly and
squarely in the center of the opening,
when the current which struck the
pier and vas detected, struck the
bows Of the ship. Although he put his
helm hard-a-port she fell off gradually
toward the lee pier.
Capt. Houston had one-thousandth
part of a second to decide upon his
course. He must go in or he must go
back. He gave the order for full speed
astern.
The Mansfield responded nobly to
the pull of the mighty engine. Now
she was in the entrance. In a moment
she would be clear. Then a mighty
wave picked her up like a toy and
flung her b%roadside on against the
massive end of the piel. She ground
on the pier-head a helpless mass OF
iron and steel. 1t seemed to the spec
tators that she hung grounded there
for hours. She was in plain sight of
all the terrified thousands, yet no one
could do a thing. The lifeboat was |
far away with another ship. Telegraph
and messenger were dispatched to
bring ~life-savers, and then there was
nothing to do but wait and pray and
watch.
Among the lookers-on from the |
shore was Marion Houston. She could
see her brave old father from the pilot
house trying in vain to communicate
with the shore through a megaphone.
But this picture of disaster was not
permitted to occupy the attention
alone. Another steamer was striving |
to make the harbor evidently. She
rose upo the top of a high wave and
they recognized her, the Scioto. Ma
riOn Houston rao1iool thot ~ +L~I
wreck of the ship which carried her
father was soon to be added that of
the vessel which her lover captained.
Keeling. tossing, whirling like a
cork, the little Scioto rushed toward
the channel. Just before she reached
the piers the snow came whirling
down again and blotted her out of
sight as it had been a curtain.
Suddenly, far over to %windward of
Although his blood was up, Sullivan
had never been cooler in his life in
every sense Of the word.
Out Of the storm and tempest the
Scioto rushed for the narrow opening
between the piers. The watchers on
shore held their breath. Down she
sank in the hollow Of a wave. Up she
rose. Down once more; up again.
Now farther-now nearer, and then
the smooth water beyond she
swung, into the haven where she
would be-!
Thank God and her captain! A
wild cheer heard above the roar OF the
tornado greeted the marvellous exploit
Of the daring young captain.
Taking off his hat in acknowledg.
of the cheers of the crowd. his
glance fell upon the storm-swept Mans.
field.
The Joy and glory OF his own
faded away. He knew
that among the watchers on the shore
would be the he loved. 1t was
NOT until the next morning that the
headed by Sullivan, reached
Mansfield. .
When they got Capt. Houston home :
ia bo could NOT raSf until he :