The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1907-08-22
TALES OF
ADVENTURE
H. "A LAKE MICHIGAN EPISODE.

and Edward j. Igoe, able seaman,
sole survivors of the crew of the
schooner w. B. Phelps, found them
selves clinging to the fragment of
rail and pressed knee to knee on the
three square feet of ice-coated plank
ing, which was all that remained of
the forward part of the deck, it was
several minutes before either could
ind speech If they had escaped the
sudden death of their comrades, 1t
could only be because another and
more awful fate desired to mock
them in the last moments.
The vessel had been almost in
sight of the safe harbor at Glen Ar
Dor, Michigan, on The afternoon of
November 10, 1879, when a tremen-
eous northwest gale blew up, fol-
lowed by binding snowstorm, and
the Phelps was driven on the rocks
near shore stern foremost, about
mile from Glen Arbor dock. With
such force did she strike that in
couple of minutes her stern had sunk,
and amidships was nothing but a
tangled mass of spars, rigging, sails,
and deck planking, over which the
big waves pounded angrily. The cap
tain and four members of his crew
were Immediately swept into the sea:
but Hourigan and Igoe, who had
been well forward when the shock
came, found themselves raised aloft
on the small section of the bow, with
barely space enough to retain a foot
ing.
This was at seven o'clock in the
evening. The snow was still falling
heavily, and the gale was driving
the icy spray over the two survivors.
AT last Igoe spoke.
Where are tie others?" he
shouted
Hourigan's lips moved. and quick
ly he blessed himself.
Igoe nodded understandingly, and
again there was silence-a silence
that lasted for hours.
1t was the seaman who broke it
again. John" he yelled, ~ can't
hold on! My hands are numb! I'm
afraid I'm going"
No, you're mott" shouted the
mate. Get your hands under my
coat and hang to my waist! I'm good
for a few hours, if this piece of her
will only hold together"
And in this fashion they spent the
rest of the hours of darkness. When
daylight came, they discovered they
were not far from Glen Arbor, and
soon Hourigan gave great shout of
joy. Thank Cod" he cried.
They've seen us, and they are COM
Ing for us in spite of the storm, bless
'em!"
But he had little idea of how we'll
deserved was that blessing. 1t was
true that they had been seen and that
stout hearts were determined to at
tempt rescue. To accomplish this,
however, the men on shore had only
one dilapidated fiat bottomed fish
boat that had been so long out of SER
vice that it leaked like a sieve. New
ertheless, this was sledded to the
surf, and five heroes piled into it and
started in the teeth of the gale for
the wreck. But the sea was too
strong, and Hourigan groaned as he
saw the frail craft driven back to
the shore. He did not know the
spirit of those who manned her.
They had not the slightest intention
of giving up. Instead, they hauled
up the old boat, rapidly stuffed
cracks with pieces OF cloth, then
hauled it about two hundred yards to
windward, where strong current
would give them an advantage.
This time the boat did not have a
chance to fill before it was borne
against the stern. Making fast with
line to one piece of wreckage above
water, the would-be rescuers sur
veyed the situation. 1t was as bad as
1t possibly could be. To approach
the two sailors on the windward side
was to face sea SO terrible that the
boat would be swamped in an in
slant; to attempt the rescue from
leeward was to run into the great
tangle OF spars, rigging, and timber
which, bounding high On the waves,
would probably smash their craft to
matchwood.
For minute or two they deliber-
ated, and then another groan burst
from Hourigan as he saw the line cut
and the boat driven back to shore
stern foremost. The boat reached
the shore, and now hope fed, for the
two unfortunates saw its occupants
fastening inland Chilled to the
marrow and coated with Ice from
head to foot, the boat crew fastened
to their homes to don dry clothes
with which to continue the fight. AL
ready, however, they had determined
upon plan of action. In some way
or other the boat must be wedged
into the mass Of wreckage, and the
crossing made on foot II necessary
but the mate and the sailor must be
rescued.
BY the time the third attempt was
begun, the seas were bigger thar
ever, and despite the advantage Of
the current it seemed doubtful il the
n1d fno1yv hnnf would axyoc ro.~r IL